'Perfect for the role': Des Hasler floated for Laurie Daley's job
So, the smart money has Des Hasler's NRL coaching career coming to an end sometime soon. It could even arrive as quickly as next week if Gold Coast fail to beat the Warriors on Saturday. If the axe does drop, Hasler's time as a club coach will stall on a neat 500 games.
It's unclear what his next step would be, but you can rest assured he won't stop moving. Hasler may be 64 but the two-time premiership-winning coach has no intention of clocking off and browsing Scenic Luxury Cruise brochures or test-driving campervans.
On the eve of his 500th game, he told the Daily Telegraph: "I want to coach on. I'm enjoying coaching and I will continue. There's a real purpose in what you're trying to do. There's the interaction and it's about the people involved. That's the reason I enjoy coaching."
With ugly exits from Manly and Canterbury – both ending in court cases – and the possibility of more acrimony if the Titans cut him loose early, it's highly unlikely a club will go down the Des road again. His hard-arsed methods, it seems, are no longer suited to the precious mentality of some current NRL players.
Des Hasler perfect for State of Origin
When Hasler was in his first stint at Manly - and in his years at the Bulldogs - there would not have been a player brave enough to clown around in the showers after a loss. But there remains a world where passion and pride in the jumper is still paramount and you don't have any concerns over players' professionalism and care factor.
It's called State of Origin and NSW will be looking for a new coach this time next year if Laurie Daley fails to win the 2026 series. Hasler would be perfect for the role. His intensity and attention to detail – he once had a club lackey go to an away ground during the week to assess what time the sun would be in the wingers' eyes - would ensure the Blues did not miss a beat in their preparation.
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Daley has been accused of lacking the necessary ruthlessness for Origin. Hasler doesn't care who he upsets or offends if it means winning football matches.
For those who think his approach might be too over the top for elite Origin players, just remember the name of the bloke who coached NSW before Daley. We were told Michael Maguire would be too intense for the Origin arena, that the players wouldn't cop his obsessive, 24-7 devotion to the task. How did that turn out for the Blues?
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