An email exchange between Manly administration and its football department is expected to feature heavily should Des Hasler go ahead with taking legal action against the Sea Eagles.
It was revealed earlier in the week by The Sydney Morning Heraldthat Hasler is weighing up a $1 million lawsuit against Manly for “compromising his ability to fulfil his contractual obligations”.
Whether that happens could hinge on whether Hasler receives a contract extension for the 2024 season, with Josh Hannay or Anthony Seibold heavily linked to the club this week.
Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup LIVE & Exclusive to Fox Sports, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Desperate Dolphins turn sights to Moses | 00:37
Hasler’s grievance with the club reportedly centred around management’s decision to launch the ‘pride’ jersey without the consent or blessing of the players and football department.
A top-six finish would have seen Hasler automatically activate a contract extension for 2024 but instead the Sea Eagles fell apart, casting doubt over his future as head coach.
There has been a twist in the ongoing saga though, with The Daily Telegraphrevealing an exchange of emails which Manly is expected to bring up should Hasler take any legal action.
The emails were between Sea Eagles commercial boss Luke Tucker and Manly’s general manager of football John Bonasera on May 24.
The Telegraph, which obtained copies of the emails, revealed that Tucker wrote at 4.46pm: “I just want to double check before production commences that we won’t have any issues with any players wearing these jerseys for this one-off game.”
To which Bonasera replied at 5.52pm: “Don’t see an issue at all mate.”
The pride jersey was announced to the public two months later in July.
MORE NRL NEWS
WORLD CUP WARM-UPS: Kiwis’ brutal 14-try statement; Fifita’s stunning display
OFF-SEASON ISSUES: Cleary’s huge Panthers headache; Cowboys’ $2m scramble
‘WHOLE THING STINKS’: Twist in Dragons farce as Matty Johns theory emerges
However, The Telegraph reported that the email was not forwarded nor raised with Hasler, with Bonasera said to have apologised to the Sea Eagles coach for not notifying him.
Hasler’s camp, therefore, is also expected to use the email to argue he had no prior knowledge of the jersey designs as any information surrounding it was not passed on to him.
The Herald reported on Monday that Hasler, who is set to earn nearly $950,000 in 2023, has a termination clause in his contract and would be paid out for around $450,000 if the club moves him on prematurely.
Speaking on Sky Sports Radio’s ‘Big Sports Breakfast’ on Monday morning, The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield said the “next 48 hours” would be key in determining both parties’ next moves.
“A couple of weeks ago when it looked like it might go belly up with Hasler, Manly started looking for alternative options,” he said.
Rothfield went on to add that Laurie Daley is set to join the club as an advisor, with Seibold seen as the leading contender to take over as head coach should Hasler exit.
SEASON REVIEWS
SEA EAGLES: How Manly’s season came unstuck — and why it’s not Des’ fault
EELS: Eels’ dream season fell short — and now they must face a cold roster reality
RABBITOHS: Latrell question that must be answered as Demetriou’s gamble pays off
Punches thrown in police footy brawl | 00:34
“Anthony Seibold’s name came up and was the favoured choice, but they also think the whole football department needs an overhaul and this is where Laurie’s name came up,” Rothfield added.
“What this is all about is a power struggle and they feel Des has been head coach, head of recruitment, head of football, almost CEO for too long.
“Even if Des was to stay, I think there was going to be a role for Laurie as a part of the club restructure to spread the workload.
“To make sure that Des isn’t doing as much as he does now and is just 100 per cent focused on coaching the team.”
Rugby league legend Mark Geyer, meanwhile, said on Triple M that the situation “appears untenable” and that Hasler seems to be a “dead man walking”.
“Manly are saying Des won’t be coach in 2024, the big question is will he be coach in 2023,” Geyer said.
“I can’t see it, as far as football terms go Des is a dead man walking and it seems to be all off the back of that pride jersey fiasco that happened at Manly.
“It won’t go away, it is one of the biggest issues of the season, if not the biggest, and the way Manly handled it as a club was the way not to handle things.
“The carnage is still falling, the collateral damage is still falling and unfortunately for Des, he appears to be a part of it.”
