Des Hasler is expected to coach Manly until the end of 2024 after a productive meeting with club powerbrokers that will likely result in the removal of performance clauses from his current contract.
Hasler is contracted for next year and needed to make the top six this season to trigger an extension until 2024. Sources with knowledge of Thursday’s meeting told the Herald that the parties will consider removing the extension trigger and ratify Hasler for the next two years unconditionally in a bid to bring stability and prevent similar speculation about his future in 12 months time.
Hasler, his agent George Mimis, Sea Eagles chief executive Tony Mestrov and chairman Scott Penn emerged from a meeting in North Sydney late on Thursday afternoon in agreement that the two-time premiership-winning coach remained the best man to move the club forward. The quartet were aligned in the belief that the club required stability after a period of turmoil, which included a winless run since the “Pride” jersey incident. Suggestions that Hasler would walk away from the job, or be forced out, proved unfounded.
The results of a season-ending player survey were also tabulated and unequivocally concluded that Hasler and captain Daly Cherry-Evans had the support required to continue in their roles. The developments came as an American firm, using former Manly CEO David Perry as an intermediary, tabled a $20 million offer to purchase the Sea Eagles.
There was conjecture over whether Hasler would attend the meeting, which was convened in North Sydney on Thursday afternoon. However, the coach spoke about his blueprint for the club, as well as a desire to help formulate a succession plan.
Hasler, Mimis, Mestrov and Penn emerged from the talks confident that the Sea Eagles can again be a genuine premiership force after a disappointing 11th-placed finish.
There may, however, be other matters for Manly’s owners to contemplate. The Penn family has had majority control of the Sea Eagles since buying out former co-owners Quantum back in 2014. Several overtures, some more serious than others, have subsequently been made to the Penns, who have opted not to sell.
Des Hasler emerged from a meeting with his future assured.Credit:Getty Images
Sources with knowledge of the situation have told the Herald that the latest offer is a legitimate one. It has been made by a group of investors entrenched in the American sports industry, seeking to diversify their interests and acquire a premium property in the Australian market.
Their interest has been brought to the table by Perry, who has acted as an intermediary between the parties. Given the club churned through more than a dozen chief executives since the Northern Eagles demerger, Perry’s stint on the northern beaches was one of the longer and more successful ones; he presided over the club’s 2011 and 2013 grand finals and helped it get back into the black financially.
Perry has been advising the prospective investors on the club’s market worth, although the Sea Eagles aren’t the only Australian sporting property they are interested in. Should the Penns knock back the offer, the focus will switch to other sporting franchises or opportunities.
Penn was unavailable for comment but has previously indicated he has no interest to sell.
Stream the NRL Premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.
