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The Manly Sea Eagles pride jersey fiasco is still causing issues nearly a month on from when the drama began.
Manly unveiled the jersey which featured rainbow stripes and trim but the issues began when seven players refused to play in the jersey, citing religious reasons.
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At the time, coach Des Hasler was praised for his handling of the delicate situation when he fronted the media, speaking on behalf of the club.
The situation torpedoed the club’s season as the side has lost every game since to drop out of finals contention.
But now, nearly a month on from the drama, Hasler’s place at the helm of the Sea Eagles is being questioned.
Speaking on Channel 9’s 100% Footy on Monday night, journalist Danny Weidler said Hasler’s position was “safe” but there was “anger brewing about their performances”.
Since the Sea Eagles’ 20-10 loss to the Roosters in the pride jerseys, Manly have lost 36-20 at home to rivals Parramatta, 44-24 to cellar-dwellers the Gold Coast Titans and thrashed 40-6 by the Cronulla Sharks. It was Kieran Foran’s last home game as a Sea Eagle.
Reports of a divided dressing room over the pride jersey fiasco won’t go away, and it has led to Manly club legend Max Krilich declaring Hasler has “probably had his time”.
“We were beaten and overwhelmed by a very good side,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
“But on Des, to be very honest I think he’s probably had his time, not that it’s for me to say or decide. Others can judge that.
“I’m saying the club might need refreshing. He’s been a very astute coach but some of the tactics of late look a bit stale to me.
“I don’t like bagging Des because he’s done some terrific stuff for Manly over a long period of time.
“But everyone has their day in the office and his time might be up.”
Krilich said the Sea Eagles season was already done before the pride jersey boycott and said the players had “been playing c**p footy for weeks”.
But league great Paul Gallen has hit back at the claims Hasler was the issue, arguing club management still had plenty to answer for.
“That Women in League round or pride round incident — that was the club, that wasn’t Des,” Gallen said.
“There’s no doubt, I agree: they’ve fallen off the perch since then. They were really pushing towards that top eight and (were) a big chance, and they’ve gone down hill since then.
“There’s no doubt (the pride jersey drama) affected the team. But wasn’t it someone at the club who made that decision?
“So, why should Des wear all of it?
“I thought when I saw (Hasler) at the press conference, ‘What’s he doing it for?’
“The person who made the decision should have been doing it.
“And I don’t care what they say — that affected their season no end.”
The schism at the club has widened in recent weeks after some of the boycotting players showed support for teammate Manase Fainu after he was found guilty of a violent attack outside a Sydney church in 2019.
Josh Schuster, Josh Aloiai and Haumole Olakau’atu were all part of the pride boycott and were slammed by fans for their post-try celebrations.
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