As Des Hasler takes Manly to court, explosive documents allege the club - not the coach - was responsible for the ‘Everyone in League’ jersey fiasco.
Des Hasler maintains Manly didn’t consult him about the club’s “rainbow jersey” and that he was sacked just a week after agreeing to club-imposed conditions that extended his tenure, according to court documents.
The seven first-team players, who also said they had not been consulted before the jersey was unveiled, boycotted the club’s round-20 match against the Roosters. An under-strength Sea Eagles side lost that match and didn’t win again all year, finishing the season in 11th spot after six straight losses.
“The adoption for the design of that playing jersey was undertaken by the Club and required to be worn by all participating players, such decision being made without prior consultation either with the Club players or the First Plaintiff ,” the document claims.
Under the terms of Hasler’s contract, he would have activated an automatic one-year extension had the Sea Eagles made the top eight that season.Manly sought to put tighter controls on Hasler following the completion of the season. Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity, due to the matter being before the courts, told this masthead that the club didn’t expect the coach to accept them.