Manly vs Des Hasler: Tom Trbojevic wants club and coach to smoke peace pipe
The contractual brinkmanship between Des Hasler and the Sea Eagles has escalated with club superstar Tom Trbojevic taking sides.
Dean Ritchie
Manly risks alienating their superstar fullback and club figurehead, Tom Trbojevic, by allowing coach Des Hasler to walk away – effective immediately – over an increasingly ugly contract drama.
It comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed (
see below) Hasler was considering quitting his job if Manly’s owners cannot offer him – and the club – immediate stability.
Trbojevic has told his close friends he would be “gutted” if Hasler left Brookvale. Hasler is seeking a one-year extension for 2024 – a request so far denied by Manly management.
Manly’s owners could plunge the club into further crisis by unsettling Trbojevic – and probably his brother Jake – over the Hasler contact breakdown.
Well-placed sources say Hasler is uncertain whether to coach next season – the final year of his current contract – if he cannot secure an extension for 2024.
The influential Trbojevic wants Hasler to remain in charge and has let his feelings be known to close mates.
One friend told The Daily Telegraph: “Tom said he would be gutted if Des left. Tom thinks Des should be Manly coach for as long as he wants and that he has earned that right.
“It was clear that Tom believes Des is the best man to lead Manly.
“The club needs everyone on the same page and working together and that’s not happening at the moment and Tom doesn’t think Des walking away would help that happen.
“A few of the Manly players can’t understand why it’s Des’ job to offer up a succession plan. Isn’t that the job of the club?
“Tom is
es is the coach Manly needs to sort through this mess.”
Neither Manly camp wants to upset the Trbojevic brothers (L-R) Jake, Ben and Tom. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images
Trbojevic has told friends he has no plans to leave Manly given the club’s current confusion.
Hasler hasn’t discussed the possibility of him quitting with any of his players but the two-time premiership-winning coach is undecided about his immediate plans.
He has unwavering support and dedication of his playing roster but feels he needs additional support from the board.
Hasler has some allies who believe he should tell Manly he is walking away before working out a financial exit settlement.
It is known other Manly football club employees are also considering their immediate futures.
One source close to Hasler said on Monday: “The longer this goes on, the more unstable it is for the players and football management and the more untenable Des’ employment for 2023 becomes. You can’t have a high-performance environment without stability.”
Manly want a succession plan but the Hasler camp claim that is all but impossible given the turmoil currently engulfing the club.
Sea Eagles chairman and co-owner Scott Penn has flown back to his home back in New York.
Hasler isn’t commenting publicly on the matter.
Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans told 9: “I endorse Des, I‘ve got a massive rap on Des and I think he is the person that will help us get out of the rut we’ve been in this year.
“There‘s a lot going on behind the scenes with that so hopefully it gets settled soon. My gut feeling is he stays. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t see out at least (next year) of his contract. He’s too successful as a coach for this to be the end. ”
DEAL-BREAKER: WHAT WOULD FORCE HASLER OUT?
Des Hasler is now considering a prospect that would have been unthinkable just 12 months ago — walking away as Manly head coach, effective immediately.
It would be a decision that would rock the famous NRL club to its core.
The Daily Telegraph has been told Hasler will contemplate leaving if he cannot secure stability from the club’s owners.
Other Manly football club employees are also considering their immediate futures.
Friends say
Hasler is uncertain whether to coach in 2023 — the final year of his contract — if he cannot be given a new deal for 2024.
One source close to Hasler said: “The longer this goes on, the more unstable it is for the players and football management and the more untenable Des’ employment for 2023 becomes.
“You can’t have a high-performance environment without stability.”
Coach Des Hasler’s future at the Sea Eagles remains up in the air.
Debate continues about what was said and offered inside a clear-the-air meeting between Hasler, his manager George Mimis, Manly CEO Tony Mestrov and club chairman Scott Penn in North Sydney last week.
Some say Hasler was offered a new one-year extension for 2024 but the club denied an offer was made.
Manly want a succession plan from Hasler but the current issues are making that request, according to sources, virtually impossible.
Hasler is genuinely torn.
He has an unbreakable bond and devotion to his players but feels he has not received that same support from management.
His preference would be to stay but remaining at Brookvale for just one year would be, as one source said, “a waste of everyone’s time”.
Manly would be left in disarray if Hasler quit the club.
Players could return from an off-season break without the club having a head coach and possibly both assistants with Chad Randall being linked to Canterbury and Michael Monaghan to Canberra and Gold Coast.
It was just a year ago that Hasler guided Manly into the NRL’s top four.
No timeline has been discussed for a decision with Manly management looking at all their options.
Despite the drama, Hasler continues to complete season reviews for all his players.