The Birdman
Rep Player
Steve Mitchell clearly implies in that article that he didn't believe Holbrook was pushing the players hard enough to improve. Best buddies/comfortable kind of vibes.
Des Hasler new Titans coach
- Thread starter Titslover
- Start date
DIEHARD
Administrator
Des Hasler contract clauses reveal Gold Coast Titans must finish in top eight or coach could be terminated in 2025
Des Hasler’s tenure at the Titans could end as early as this year after revelations of strict clauses that places his fate at the mercy of Gold Coast management. See the contract details that leave Hasler’s future in doubt.
Des Hasler could be terminated as Gold Coast coach as early as this year with revelations his deal with the Titans is laden with performance clauses that protect the club against a significant financial hit.
It is understood Hasler’s three-year deal comes with strict clauses that protects the Titans should their poor run of form continue.
The clauses mean that Hasler needs to finish in the top eight this year in order to be guaranteed a third season at the Titans.
Gold Coast may be able to part ways with Hasler as soon as this year – it is believed without any financial repercussions – if it becomes a mathematical impossibility that the side will play finals.
Titans chief executive Steve Mitchell declined to comment on Hasler’s contract when contacted on Tuesday afternoon.
“We can’t speak to the terms of employment or any employee’s conditions,” Mitchell said. “It is confidential.”\
Gold Coast are next to no chance of playing finals football this year with the club sitting second last on the premiership ladder with just two wins.
Their six competition points includes a bye and has them four points outside the top eight.
The TAB is no longer taking bets on the Titans in their “to miss the top eight” market, and also have Hasler’s side the $2.75 favourites to finish the season with the most losses.
Hasler’s recruitment was trumpeted as a three-year contract, but with just 10 wins from 31 games he is facing an uphill battle to ensure he remains in charge at the club next year.
He has the second worst winning record of any full-time Titans coach and after initial hopes that he could turn the club around, the signs have been discouraging for the Titans and their long-suffering fans.
In a bid to lift the club out of the doldrums, Hasler dumped star forward David Fifita to the Queensland Cup last week – only a fortnight after he was their best player in a loss to St George Illawarra.
Fifita has since taken an indefinite break to take care of an ankle injury that has troubled him since the pre-season.
Hasler’s future is just as murky given the emergence of clauses in his contract that are believed to give the Titans the option to cut the cord with the two-time premiership-winning coach within months.
Des Hasler - Coaching Stints
The Titans are fighting issues on several fronts. Aside from the future of Hasler and Fifita, the club could also have a battle on their hands to retain captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui given he has a series of clauses in his contract in coming years.
Hasler, though, is in the most immediate danger given the clauses in his deal. If the Titans decide that his time has come, it could signal the end of his coaching career.
At the age of 64, he is only 10 games shy of hitting the 500-game mark after stints at Manly, Canterbury and now the Gold Coast.
Only Wayne Bennett, Tim Sheens, Craig Bellamy, Ricky Stuart and Brian Smith have coached more games in the premiership than Hasler.
He also won two titles with Manly but his relationship with the club came to an inglorious end after he commenced legal action because of the Sea Eagles’ decision to sack him at the end of 2022.
His final year at Manly was plagued by the pride jersey fiasco which saw the club lose seven consecutive games. A finals finish would have triggered an automatic extension but instead he was axed and took the club to court, eventually settling on the steps of the courtroom for a confidential sum of money.
Hasler had previously taken the Bulldogs to court after his $1.2 million contract was terminated. Again, he settled on the court steps for a significant sum. The Titans, no doubt wary of Hasler’s litigious history, put provisions in their contract to protect them from the same fate.
Newcastle’s Adam O’Brien activated an extra year on his contract last year after his side finished inside the top 12 to ensure he will remain at the Knights until at least the end of 2027.
Des Hasler’s tenure at the Titans could end as early as this year after revelations of strict clauses that places his fate at the mercy of Gold Coast management. See the contract details that leave Hasler’s future in doubt.
Des Hasler could be terminated as Gold Coast coach as early as this year with revelations his deal with the Titans is laden with performance clauses that protect the club against a significant financial hit.
It is understood Hasler’s three-year deal comes with strict clauses that protects the Titans should their poor run of form continue.
The clauses mean that Hasler needs to finish in the top eight this year in order to be guaranteed a third season at the Titans.
Gold Coast may be able to part ways with Hasler as soon as this year – it is believed without any financial repercussions – if it becomes a mathematical impossibility that the side will play finals.
Titans chief executive Steve Mitchell declined to comment on Hasler’s contract when contacted on Tuesday afternoon.
“We can’t speak to the terms of employment or any employee’s conditions,” Mitchell said. “It is confidential.”\
Gold Coast are next to no chance of playing finals football this year with the club sitting second last on the premiership ladder with just two wins.
Their six competition points includes a bye and has them four points outside the top eight.
The TAB is no longer taking bets on the Titans in their “to miss the top eight” market, and also have Hasler’s side the $2.75 favourites to finish the season with the most losses.
Hasler’s recruitment was trumpeted as a three-year contract, but with just 10 wins from 31 games he is facing an uphill battle to ensure he remains in charge at the club next year.
He has the second worst winning record of any full-time Titans coach and after initial hopes that he could turn the club around, the signs have been discouraging for the Titans and their long-suffering fans.
In a bid to lift the club out of the doldrums, Hasler dumped star forward David Fifita to the Queensland Cup last week – only a fortnight after he was their best player in a loss to St George Illawarra.
Fifita has since taken an indefinite break to take care of an ankle injury that has troubled him since the pre-season.
Hasler’s future is just as murky given the emergence of clauses in his contract that are believed to give the Titans the option to cut the cord with the two-time premiership-winning coach within months.
Des Hasler - Coaching Stints
The Titans are fighting issues on several fronts. Aside from the future of Hasler and Fifita, the club could also have a battle on their hands to retain captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui given he has a series of clauses in his contract in coming years.
Hasler, though, is in the most immediate danger given the clauses in his deal. If the Titans decide that his time has come, it could signal the end of his coaching career.
At the age of 64, he is only 10 games shy of hitting the 500-game mark after stints at Manly, Canterbury and now the Gold Coast.
Only Wayne Bennett, Tim Sheens, Craig Bellamy, Ricky Stuart and Brian Smith have coached more games in the premiership than Hasler.
He also won two titles with Manly but his relationship with the club came to an inglorious end after he commenced legal action because of the Sea Eagles’ decision to sack him at the end of 2022.
His final year at Manly was plagued by the pride jersey fiasco which saw the club lose seven consecutive games. A finals finish would have triggered an automatic extension but instead he was axed and took the club to court, eventually settling on the steps of the courtroom for a confidential sum of money.
Hasler had previously taken the Bulldogs to court after his $1.2 million contract was terminated. Again, he settled on the court steps for a significant sum. The Titans, no doubt wary of Hasler’s litigious history, put provisions in their contract to protect them from the same fate.
Newcastle’s Adam O’Brien activated an extra year on his contract last year after his side finished inside the top 12 to ensure he will remain at the Knights until at least the end of 2027.
Whats Doing
Rep Player
I would strongly say that we will be looking for a new coach in 2026.
DIEHARD
Administrator
Analysis: Unpacking the Titans’ shrewd clause move to safeguard from the ghosts of Des Hasler’s past
Des Hasler has been involved in two messy splits in the past, resulting in drawn-out court cases with his former clubs. The Titans have made sure they don’t become number three, writes MICHAEL CARAYANNIS.
The Gold Coast Titans have shown some shrewd leadership by ensuring they are in control of Hasler’s future. Not the other way around. Hasler has been involved in all too messy splits in the past.
By inserting a secret final clause into his contract it was clear where Hasler stood. Play finals footy and you’re good to go for 2026, but if not you are now at the mercy of the Gold Coast management.
It also gives an insight into what the Titans were thinking when they landed Hasler in deep secrecy in June 2023. It showed they weren’t totally convinced that he was the man to lead them out of the premiership wilderness, despite giving him a million-dollar-a-season contract.
Hasler needed the Titans as much as they needed him. While loved by the Manly playing group – highlighted by his invite to Daly Cherry-Evans’ wedding in November – if the Titans did not pursue Hasler then he was never guaranteed another crack at the NRL.
Now at the age of 64 he may be in the last season of his decorated coaching career with his winning rate at the Titans dipping below the man he replaced in Justin Holbrook. And sitting him Hasler won the last of his two titles as a coach in 2011 at the Sea Eagles. While he had success at the Bulldogs following a bitter split with the Sea Eagles he was unable to land a premiership at the club. His return to Manly in 2019 had immediate success but by the end of 2022 he was out of the club after winning just nine seasons in a year plagued by the rainbow jersey fiasco.
That is where Hasler’s coaching stint may have ended before the Titans stunned the rugby league world by announcing Hasler as Holbrook’s replacement.
The well-liked Holbrook was considered a softer touch and the management considered they needed someone with a harder edge. Enter Hasler. Dojo gym and all. It has resulted in just 10 wins from 31 games with a 31.3 win rate.
That sits him well behind Holbrook’s 37.8 per cent and on par with Garth Brennan’s unhappy 40-game stint which netted 12 wins before he was shown the door.
The Titans team has also leaked more points under Hasler than any other permanent coach at the club.
The same question marks remain at the Titans since Hasler took over. What is the club’s best halves pairing? Can he unlock David Fifita? They have made little development on either.
You have to feel sorry for the Titans. They’ve tried everything. From rookie coaches, seasoned campaigners to premiership winners. Nothing seems to work.
Des Hasler has been involved in two messy splits in the past, resulting in drawn-out court cases with his former clubs. The Titans have made sure they don’t become number three, writes MICHAEL CARAYANNIS.
The Gold Coast Titans have shown some shrewd leadership by ensuring they are in control of Hasler’s future. Not the other way around. Hasler has been involved in all too messy splits in the past.
By inserting a secret final clause into his contract it was clear where Hasler stood. Play finals footy and you’re good to go for 2026, but if not you are now at the mercy of the Gold Coast management.
It also gives an insight into what the Titans were thinking when they landed Hasler in deep secrecy in June 2023. It showed they weren’t totally convinced that he was the man to lead them out of the premiership wilderness, despite giving him a million-dollar-a-season contract.
Hasler needed the Titans as much as they needed him. While loved by the Manly playing group – highlighted by his invite to Daly Cherry-Evans’ wedding in November – if the Titans did not pursue Hasler then he was never guaranteed another crack at the NRL.
Now at the age of 64 he may be in the last season of his decorated coaching career with his winning rate at the Titans dipping below the man he replaced in Justin Holbrook. And sitting him Hasler won the last of his two titles as a coach in 2011 at the Sea Eagles. While he had success at the Bulldogs following a bitter split with the Sea Eagles he was unable to land a premiership at the club. His return to Manly in 2019 had immediate success but by the end of 2022 he was out of the club after winning just nine seasons in a year plagued by the rainbow jersey fiasco.
That is where Hasler’s coaching stint may have ended before the Titans stunned the rugby league world by announcing Hasler as Holbrook’s replacement.
The well-liked Holbrook was considered a softer touch and the management considered they needed someone with a harder edge. Enter Hasler. Dojo gym and all. It has resulted in just 10 wins from 31 games with a 31.3 win rate.
That sits him well behind Holbrook’s 37.8 per cent and on par with Garth Brennan’s unhappy 40-game stint which netted 12 wins before he was shown the door.
The Titans team has also leaked more points under Hasler than any other permanent coach at the club.
The same question marks remain at the Titans since Hasler took over. What is the club’s best halves pairing? Can he unlock David Fifita? They have made little development on either.
You have to feel sorry for the Titans. They’ve tried everything. From rookie coaches, seasoned campaigners to premiership winners. Nothing seems to work.
Titanic
Immortal
That statement is not true, the nucleus of numbnutz are still in the front office as well as those wearing the jersey ... that's where to start.
Mini GF
QLD Cup
I see you Steve and Anthony.
You need to be accountable too.
You need to be accountable too.
Mini GF
QLD Cup
I know it’s a pipe dream but…..
Craig Bellamy is out of contract at the end of this year.
His kids and grandkids are here except maybe his son who’s an assistant who he can bring with him anyway up here to us as part of the deal.
He has said we are the only other club he might Coach.
Craig Bellamy is out of contract at the end of this year.
His kids and grandkids are here except maybe his son who’s an assistant who he can bring with him anyway up here to us as part of the deal.
He has said we are the only other club he might Coach.
He’s off contract every year and always re-signs
Mini GF
QLD Cup
What’s in it for him?
Mini GF
QLD Cup
Being around his kids and grandkids everyday
Beautiful Weather
The gratitude of long suffering loyal fans.
Seaside Garbo
Junior
Who wouldn't want to live in the beautiful city?
Being the coach of our footy team, now that's another thing.
Being the coach of our footy team, now that's another thing.
Hail Sezer
Moderator
Getting to coach Brian Kelly
psmitty
QLD Cup
Brent Read thinks Des won't be here next year.
lonegull
Moderator
they raise a good point I believe with Des and his coaching that's been a problem, the game has moved past his old style coaching style and techniques that is seen in the titans game play we are behind the eight ball with our play structure and I wont even mention the bench rotation.
Cowabunga
Star Player
Agree LG, For all the talk about squad which I don't think anyone disagrees with although I think a tad overblown imo, The squad shouldn't be this bad and basically everyone has had some major issues with Des's coaching, So why would anything change and why should he get a rebuild when it's looking worse then ever with some nuance.
The team is playing mostly to how Des has wanted since he got here and it's very much not working going off the evidence but the stats are also very alarming this year in the categories that Des prides himself on and what we were good at last year.
For as bad as we were to start last year, At this point we had less points scored against and had scored more.... That's where we can't just put all the blame on the squad especially when Des has gotten quite a few of them, Has continued with a lot of them in the same spots that shows their weaknesses and so many other bad things.
We're giving away the most penalties per game, Last year we were the best in the comp, More errors, That's the one thing we had last year.
The key stats for me are time in possesion and completion rates, We're completing great but we are barely having any time with the ball and that's where Des has fallen off majorly imo. Mentioned it the other week but what the Walker Bros kind of bought to league in that keeping the ball for longer no matter what was always tiring the opposition out more, We are the opposite with how we play.
The team is playing mostly to how Des has wanted since he got here and it's very much not working going off the evidence but the stats are also very alarming this year in the categories that Des prides himself on and what we were good at last year.
For as bad as we were to start last year, At this point we had less points scored against and had scored more.... That's where we can't just put all the blame on the squad especially when Des has gotten quite a few of them, Has continued with a lot of them in the same spots that shows their weaknesses and so many other bad things.
We're giving away the most penalties per game, Last year we were the best in the comp, More errors, That's the one thing we had last year.
The key stats for me are time in possesion and completion rates, We're completing great but we are barely having any time with the ball and that's where Des has fallen off majorly imo. Mentioned it the other week but what the Walker Bros kind of bought to league in that keeping the ball for longer no matter what was always tiring the opposition out more, We are the opposite with how we play.
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Cowabunga
Star Player
There's a decent amount of options imo.
Willie Peters and Matt Peet who have changed the cultures at their club in England and there's old Sammy boy, The first two both re-signed recently so will cost a bit to get out and the England thing has some skeletons although Holbrook ain't looking as bad right now hahaha, Maybe Shaun Wane for an experienced head.
Hannay, Morris are looking for gigs and proven themselves as assistants in their short times coaching as the top dogs I thought, Morris has done the Tigers defence and apparently a lot of the coaching.
Smokies could be a Ben Teo? The Dolphins cup coach who was at Norths has a good rep over the last few years.
I think Morris and Hannay are the safest bets tbh, I like John Morris.
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GC Giant
Junior
Does anyone else think that Dessie might let a grenade off before and as he exits?
Not one to go quietly ol Des.
Not one to go quietly ol Des.