Damning vision has provided further evidence Manly is at war with itself as the club finished its miserable 2022 season at breaking point.
It was revealed on Saturday the club’s disastrous season could cost coach Des Hasler his job.
Hasler will reportedly have to accept a “raft of changes” or simply move on with a full season still to run on his contract. He will reportedly meet with senior figures at the club this week.
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Hasler’s future is one of several spotfires at the club and the full scope of the club’s crisis has been further exposed by a bombshell report by News Corp on Monday.
The report reveals superstar brothers Tom Trbojevic and Jake Trbojevic are unsettled at the club as a result of the state of affairs and could potentially consider exploring options away from the Sea Eagles, despite both players being on long-term contracts.
The unrest is highlighted by a series of recent reports that the brothers have a frosty relationship with captain Daly Cherry-Evans and that there are sections of the dressing room that want Cherry-Evans to replaced by Jake Trbojevic as captain next year.
The playing group fractured in spectacular fashion on the back of the club’s Pride jersey debacle.
Manly were still in finals contention in round 20 when their season imploded.
The drama saw seven players withdraw from the match and reportedly create factions in the sheds as the Sea Eagles lost their last seven games to finish the season in 11th.
The broken dressing room was further exposed in a stunning farewell social media slap by wrecking ball forward Marty Taupau when he shared vision of himself claiming to have been cut out of the play by teammates.
The vision shows a frustrated Taupau being relegated to decoy runner with passes instead going to other teammates. Taupau will not return to the club next year.
With instability rocking the club from the executive level all the way down to the playing group, it is easy to understand why the Trbojevic brothers could potentially be interested in moving elsewhere.
However, Tom Trbojevic spoke on Sunday to declare his commitment to the club.
One sentence from the NSW State of Origin star, however, will make it hard for Manly fans to sleep tonight.
Trbojevic has gone public with his support of Hasler and appeared to suggest his future may change if Hasler does not coach next year.
“I don’t have any plans of leaving because as far as I’m concerned, Des is still the coach,” Trbojevic told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“Des is the best person to get us out of the hole we have got ourselves into at the moment.
“I want him to be the coach next year and for many years after that, and I’m speaking on behalf of a lot of people in our club who feel the same. The club has been down this path many times now. Change isn’t always the answer. Stability is what is going to get us out of this.”
He also insisted his relationship with Cherry-Evans is professional, but his comments show it is far from a perfect relationship.
“I think people assume in a football team that everyone is best mates,” Trbojevic said.
“There are so many different personalities and characters within a football club that it’s only natural for some people to be closer than others. But to suggest there is any personal unrest from my end to anyone in the team is untrue, especially not with Chez.”
Meanwhile, the Sea Eagles are reportedly looking at moving on the likes of assistance coaches Michael Monaghan and Chad Randall, as well as the likes of Noel Cleal and Don Singe, who are close to Hasler.
Randall had been linked to a move to the Bulldogs as part of Cameron Ciraldo’s staff.
New Sea Eagles boss Tony Mestrov said the performances had revealed the necessity for change.
Late last month, Nine journalist Danny Weidler said Hasler’s position was “safe” but there was “anger brewing about their performances”.
Club legend Max Krilich also said Hasler has “probably had his time”.
