Pressure is mounting on Manly coach Des Hasler following an 11th-place finish and according to reports there are fractures within the club that could see several stars walk out.
The Sea Eagles wrapped up a tumultuous season with a 21-20 loss to the Bulldogs on Friday.
Skipper Daly Cherry-Evans said afterwards that the pride jersey saga was “absolutely not” to blame for the club’s late-season fall amid reports senior players are set to meet with Manly’s management this week.
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But it seems the Round 20 drama is just the tip of the iceberg with News Corp reporting there are internal concerns over Hasler’s handling of rising players and a list of replacement coaches is being prepared despite him being contracted until the end of 2023.
Sea Eagles owner Scott Penn told News Corp that new CEO, Tony Mestrov’s “mandate” is to “do whatever it takes” to “win premierships again.”
“There has been a bit of friction and it all came to a head with the inclusive jersey,” Penn conceded.
“That wasn’t the sole reason. I think the reality is that there has been a lot of soul searching since but then we have lost a lot of other players.
“We had a number of injuries and just haven’t played well the last seven or eight weeks. Yes, we certainly have had a disappointing end of the season and yes, we need to make some changes… But there doesn’t need to be wholesale changes.”
There is also infighting that has “deeply troubled” Manly’s brightest stars — Tom and Jake Trbojevic — who are said to have fallen out with Cherry-Evans, while long-term five-eighth option Josh Schuster has considered a release, according to the report.
Tom Trbojevic has, however, since hosed down claims of a feud with Cherry-Evans, per The Sydney Morning Herald and thrown his support behind Hasler.
News Corp also claims Penn and Mestrov are aware of tension between Hasler and members of the Fulton family. Kristie Fulton is Manly’s pathways manager, while Brett Fulton is the pathway academy coach.
The crux of the issue between the Fultons and Hasler is reportedly his handling of the club’s next generation of players.
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One of those players is Josh Schuster, who was considered a future captain by the late Manly icon Bob Fulton.
Schuster has always seen his future in the NRL in the No.6 jersey, but Hasler has played him in the second row over the last couple of years with veteran Kieran Foran at five-eighth.
The 21-year-old will now get his shot as Manly’s first-choice five-eighth given Foran is off to the Titans but News Corp reports Schuster, who is contracted until the end of 2024, is now considering requesting an early release.
Manly are set to take action on their pathways by ending their relationship with New South Wales Cup feeder club, Blacktown Workers, and will instead bring the reserve grade side in-house.
That’s among the changes that the board are keen to make.
As part of the performance clauses in Hasler’s contract, the Sea Eagles needed to make the top six to trigger another season beyond 2023.
News Corp claims should Manly part ways with Hasler the likes of Billy Slater, Jason Ryles, Shane Flanagan and Dean Young are being considered as replacements.
But Penn said the club is “still backing” Hasler for now despite the external people who “have guns for him.”
He also confirmed an improvement needs to happen before extension talks can begin.
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“What we have to do is work together as a group to make sure that we hit the ground running in ‘23. This isn’t a witch-hunt,” Penn said.
“We need to sit down and have an open conversation about our expectations and say this is what we expect. We have to come off the blocks strong.
“The contract situation is fine. It is like any employee. He will get (an extension) when we get the performance.
“Of course it (rugby league) is a different style of business but it is about man management and getting the best out of the team.
“It is as simple as that. There has to be give and take.”
Hasler has the support of the Trbojevic’s as well as Cherry-Evans, but the report claims some players want assistant Steven Hales to be more involved.
The Trbojevic brothers, who wanted Foran to be re-signed, are said to be “frustrated” by the situation unfolding at their beloved Sea Eagles — particularly the “lack of unity and coherent direction” — and fear things won’t get any better next season.
Amid the mess, there is a push by some for a leadership change with Jake Trbojevic to either take over the captaincy or share the load with Cherry-Evans.
