Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have announced the departure of Des Hasler as head coach, effective immediately.
The Sea Eagles confirmed the news in a statement that the club's Board had unanimously resolved to pursue a new direction in 2023.
“After careful consideration, the board of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles has today unanimously decided that, in the best interests of the Club, Des Hasler will not be Head Coach of the Club for NRL season 2023,'' Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Chairman Mr Scott Penn said.
“The board and the Club would like to acknowledge Des and his long history with the Club as a player and as a coach, enjoying two premierships with the Club as a player and taking the Club to two more premierships as a coach.
"We are grateful and appreciative to Des for his dedication to the Club, the team, all of its supporters and the sponsors over a long period of time. Des will always remain an icon of the Club and an integral part of the Club’s history.
“The Club is in discussions with Des and his management to try to reach an amicable resolution which is acceptable to the parties."
A former player at Manly throughout the 1980's and 90's, Hasler began his coaching career at the Sea Eagles in 2004, quickly leading the team to the semi-finals the following year before clinching the NRL Premiership in 2008 with a record-breaking 40-0 win over Melbourne in the decider.
After clinching his second Premiership in 2011 and being named Rugby League International Federation's Coach of the Year for the second time, Hasler joined Canterbury as the Bulldogs' head coach in 2012.
He was named the Dally M Coach of the Year that season as the Bulldogs made it all the way to the decider, where they lost to Melbourne, while a second Grand Final defeat followed in 2014 to South Sydney.
Hasler returned to Manly in 2019 and coached the Sea Eagles for the past four seasons, taking his career coaching tally beyond 450 games in 2022.
The Sea Eagles made the Semi-Finals in 2019 and the Preliminary Final in 2021 while missing the finals in 2020 and '22.
He will leave the Sea Eagles having coached the second-most games in the club's history.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles CEO Tony Mestrov said the Club would make further announcements in due course, including its coach for the next season.
“I also want to thank Des who has been a great warrior for Manly for many years, and everyone wishes him and his family well for the future,'' Mestrov said.
“I believe the Sea Eagles have a strong playing group and a list with depth and talent that can be forged into a successful team to challenge for premiership success.”
