Lyon doesn't blame Hasler for leaving but admitted "we probably won't be as tight as we used to be".

He also said the senior playing group, including Glenn and Brett Stewart, are right behind Toovey's appointment - and the team can still win back-to-back titles without the man who took them to two premierships in five years.

"As good a coach as Des was, he is not out on the field doing all the stuff that us players are doing," Lyon said. "Toovs will be fine. We are all looking forward to playing under him."

Until now, Lyon has refused to comment because he wanted to allow time for the emotion to settle.

But asked yesterday if there was any love lost between him and Hasler, Lyon said: "Not really. We probably won't be as tight as we used to be but it's just the way the game is going. Players move on, coaches move on. You're not going to sit here and be dirty on anyone.

"I have spoken to all the senior players about Des and the staff leaving. You know, it took the gloss off winning the grand final.

"I am disappointed how it came about. It's probably no one's fault really. Obviously the Bulldogs were keen on Des and he's got a good record. We're disappointed in the way it has gone but we're all focused on next season now. We can't wait to get stuck into training with Toovs and the new coaching staff."

But Lyon said the loss of assistant coach Kelly Egan, video analyst Will Badel, recruitment officer Noel Cleal and sprint coach Clayton Kearney is going to make Toovey's job incredibly hard.

"I think with everyone going and the time they have left, I think they have left Toovs a bit high and dry, and they are probably aware of that as well," he said.

"But Des employed most of the staff and gave them a crack, so you can understand why they are following him because he is a good coach.

"But it was a bit hard on Toovs, I thought. It has left him a bit high and dry with no coaching staff coming into the pre-season. I feel sorry for him and he is a bit under the pump.

"He has had the pressure on him but all us senior players have had a chat to Toovs and we have really said we are behind him and he is just keen to get started.

"One positive for Toovs is that it's not like he's come into a team that's struggling. We've got a great roster, we've probably got the best side in the NRL on paper, so that's a good thing. He probably doesn't have to change too much."

As for critics who suggest Manly can't defend their title without Hasler, Lyon said: "Mate, we were written off last year at the start of the year. We don't care what people are writing or saying, we know the quality of the players here.

"And everyone is 100 per cent behind (Toovey). He has a good coaching brain and he was pretty similar to Des in his playing days.

"They always put 100 per cent in and their body on the line. We will be trying to do that for him as well."

Lyon has spoken to Glenn and Brett Stewart about their futures.

"From what they are saying, they are 100 per cent here next year," he said. "I don't know the full extent of their contracts but from what they are saying they are definitely here and they are looking forward to the challenge of going back-to-back.

"They are definitely behind Toovs. Yeah, they had a good relationship with Des, but we all had a good relationship with him. But that's part of the game, coaches move on. I never thought Wayne Bennett would leave the Broncos. That's just the way it's going. It's a business."

Lyon is signed until the end of 2013 and wants to be a Sea Eagle for life, even with his great mate Crusher Cleal now at the Bulldogs.

"Manly have been great to me," he said. "Crusher got me over here and he's a big part of my life. He's a great mate but I've got no intention of leaving. I hope to play out my career here. I won't be going unless I am forced out."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/manly-sea-eagles-captain-jamie-lyon-says-defectors-have-left-geoff-toovey-high-and-dry/story-e6frfgbo-1226205372766

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