Hasler must win back disgruntled fans, not just win games

Central to the Des Hasler rebuild at Manly is the need to re-engage with the disenfranchised Manly fan base.

Of course, it will be football first, but the Manly club is on the nose with a large number of fans who complain to this columnist and via various forms of social media about how they have given up on the Sea Eagles because of the politics or people involved. This is more prominent with Manly than with any other club – even a basket case such as Parramatta.

Hasler has sat back and watched what has gone on and addressing the fans anger will be part of his second coming.

Hasler is a single-minded individual and a winner, but he is going to have to rely on his fighting instincts as Manly simply dont have money to spend on players. At least that should appease the critics of his list-management skills. It will be his charm and his renowned love of his players that will help attract talent to the club.

There are few players who dont like Hasler. And no shortage of stories about the quirky mentor. Including the time he decided he was going to run a marathon.

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He told his Bulldogs players he had worked out that the distance from his home on the northern beaches to Belmore was about the marathon distance and the next day he was going to run to work.

With no preparation. He said hed leave home at 3am and would be there in time for training.

The players couldnt believe their ears, so a group of them decided to get to Belmore at 6am to watch him limp in. Some time before 7am Des arrived in running gear … in his wifes car.

I reminded Hasler about it during the week. He says he didnt factor in the hills around Cremorne and found himself facing the prospect of running on busy roads as the sun was coming up. He knew hed cop it from the public, so he called his wife to pick him up. I was hoping to do it under the cover of darkness, he recalled with a laugh.

In other words, he wants to be under the radar. That wont be easy to do, but under Hasler, with the community on board and with the world against them, Manly will be nuisance value to start with and a growing force again as the team lives and breathes the Hasler way.

Benji-man Button says 2020 is not out of the question

Benji Marshall cant quite close the door on playing on in 2020. He thought his playing career was going to be over this year before signing a one-year extension in August.

I approached the season we just had with the view to enjoy every moment because I thought it might have been my last, he said. I went to training every day wanting to enjoy it in case it was the end for me and that really helped me with my season.

Now Ive got that same attitude going into this season. I have got a plan for post-football, but that seems to change a fair bit … I might not finish at the end of this year [2019]. If my body is good, I might feel even younger this year, you know Benjamin Button.

It all depends on my form and my body, but I suppose the plan is that this is the last season, but I cannot say that it will be the end for sure.

Marshall has no problem if Tigers coach Ivan Cleary follows his dream to coach his son Nathan. Becoming a dad changes your perspective, Marshall said. Family comes first and I understand it from his point of view.

Maguires Rabbit cull has Broncos nervous

The private concern the Broncos have when it comes to prospective coach Michael Maguire is the way he finished up at South Sydney.

He was moved on as players complained privately of burnout. Thats the element of his coaching career that the Broncos are said to be looking at closely and its why Anthony Seibold was pinpointed as Brisbanes No.1 choice to replace Wayne Bennett in 2020.

Souths are well aware of the level of interest the Broncos have in Seibold and have put a considerable offer to him. Its been with Seibold and his team since Souths bowed out at the end of the year.

Its my understanding that Maguire is also the second choice at the Wests Tigers, behind Bennett.

Manly in demand

Despite Manly being a basket case of a club, there are a number of consortiums waiting in the wings to buy the Sea Eagles. The word is that major sponsor, United Resources Management, tried to buy out the Penn family to take control. The offer is believed to have been knocked back.

Penalty rates

The NRL referees union is living in fantasy land if it thinks its members should be getting paid as much as the players. During the week the union threatened strike action in round one next year unless their pay demands are met.

At a time when most fans are lucky to get a 2 per cent pay rise in line with inflation, the referees want a whopping 30 per cent increase during the next four years. That would see the top referees paid more than $300,000 a year – about the same as the average first-grade player.

There is no sport in the world where the officials get paid as much as the players. And, after the performance of the referees this year, the NRL whistleblowers are lucky the NRL isnt proposing a pay cut.

Unlike the players, the referees are not united in their pay demands. Many would simply boycott any strike next year. Some of the top referees are not even members of the union. The referees will get a pay rise, but it wont be the exorbitant increase being proposed. And round one of next season will go ahead with referees for all matches.

Tough times for Inglis

Greg Inglis is in the process of sorting through his settlement with his wife, Sally. They split close to 12 months ago and have been working out their separation as amicably as possible. Inglis has taken up with a new partner – an NRL employee – and everyone from Sally to the bosses of the game are aware of the situation.

Inglis underwent neck surgery during the week to repair an issue that plagued him throughout the season. When we first reported that it was a concern, he went out of his way to deny the problem.

Inglis has been hit hard by his drink-driving charge and some of his high-profile mates have been trying to reach him, but have been unable to do so and are concerned.

In all likelihood, Inglis will walk back into the Australian captaincy. However, Boyd Cordner has impressed in the role in Inglis absence. They lost to the Kiwis, but Cordner got the players player for his robust effort. He has also been inspirational at training and impressed in meetings.

With this busted toe, I thee wed

Yvonne Sampson often recounts acts of courage on the football field in her role as a Fox Sports host. She showed her own resolve at her wedding to Nine reporter Chris OKeefe on Friday. Vonny broke her toe kicking her jeans off before she hopped into bed on Thursday night. It didnt stop her elegantly shuffling down the aisle, though.

There was no shortage of league heavyweights at the wedding, including Immortals Andrew Johns and Wally Lewis, coaching legend and Channel Nine commentator Phil Gould, NRL boss Todd Greenberg, and greats Matthew Johns, Michael Ennis, Gorden Tallis, Danny Buderus and Mark Gasnier. Also there were media types Ken Sutcliffe, Patrick Delany and Steve Crawley.

For Pete's sake

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie got an extensive spray in this column last week. The two areas he was most aggrieved about were rumours hed suggested the Sea Eagles should be relocated to Perth and me having a crack at him for his efforts during the NRL grand final presentation.

We received the following text from Beattie: Two quick points; I have never ever suggested the Sea Eagles for Perth. Whoever told you that has been in the sun too long. And, as for the GF, I was trying to look after the representative from Telstra hence her meeting the players. Have a look at your vision, she is right next to me. Bearing in mind how much money Telstra puts in the game that is the least I could do and it was off stage. I have no sensitivity to criticism Danny, but always happy to correct the rumours.

Thats fine, but doesnt change the fact that Beattie likes to be seen. He presented the best and fairest medals last Saturday, not just for the Kangaroos match, but for the Junior Kangaroos and Jillaroos as well. Surely thats a role that should have gone to someone from the Rugby League International Federation or New Zealand Rugby League?

It all supports those in the game who say Beattie is desperate to get himself into the spotlight. Beattie continued to promote the fact that he will not remain ARLC chairman much longer during the week by announcing his likely successors and promoting his achievements in the job.

In a strange twist, Beattie said there were three people in the running to replace him: Racing NSW boss and current ARLC board member Peter Vlandys, existing commissioner Amanda Laing and a new candidate who will join the commission in February. Delighted club officials noted that you dont announce successors unless you plan to leave soon.

Taken by Storm

Channel Nine tennis recruits Lleyton Hewitt and Jim Courier know their new network is a rugby league station. Im a Melbourne Storm man, Courier said. I have not been to a game but, from what I have seen, they are a professional set-up. Hewitt is a Rabbitohs man. Russell Crowe got me at the Rabbits and Im not going against him, ever, he said.

Rooster tale

Spotted doing some serious road running last Monday in Maroubra were former Roosters stars Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney.

Danny Weidler is a reporter with Channel Nine news.

Danny Weidler is a sport columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald.