MANLY patriarch Ken Arthurson has moved to ease tension leading into Friday night's game at Brookvale Oval by calling on Sea Eagles supporters to show Des Hasler some respect for his long service to the club.
Hasler, who left Manly in controversial circumstances five days after guiding the club to last year's premiership, will return to his former home ground for the first time as coach of Canterbury.
Sea Eagles officials are expecting a full house and Hasler can expect a hot reception from Manly supporters given his acrimonious departure last October.
Arthurson, however, has encouraged fans to remember what Hasler did for the club, both as a player and coach. Hasler played 255 games for the Sea Eagles before spending 11 years on the coaching staff, including eight years in charge of the first grade side during which time he delivered the club two premierships.
"I think Des has done a good job for Manly," Arthurson said.
"I think it would be poor taste for them to start to bag him, I really do. He's given terrific service to Manly, not only as a player but in winning premierships as a coach.
"I don't think they should bag him. In saying that, there's no doubt I want to see Manly win this game. I am desperate for them to win this game. In terms of how Des should be received, he should treated with respect.
"I sincerely hope the Brookvale crowd remember the great service rendered (by Hasler) with the club as a player and coach, and give him the respect he's entitled."
The hoopla surrounding Hasler's return is only heightened by the clubs' positions on the ladder. Canterbury has a share of the competition lead with Melbourne while Manly, coached by another club great in Geoff Toovey, slipped to seventh after a shock loss to Newcastle last weekend.
"Toovs has done a terrific job," Arthurson said.
"He's a very dedicated bloke. I was really pleased with him last weekend. Flu had gone through the place but he didn't make any excuses. If you get beaten you have to lick your wounds and come back next week."
While Arthurson encouraged the Manly fans to remember the good times under Hasler, Canterbury chief executive Todd Greenberg admitted he would also be surprised if the Bulldogs' coach didn't receive an encouraging reception.
The Bulldogs did their best to stir the pot when the two sides met in April, printing a cheeky T-shirt that read "Be Manly, Be a Bulldog".
"I think Des will treat it as a normal week and I'd be surprised if he wasn't received in a really warm fashion," Greenberg said yesterday.
"He's a two-time premiership winner for their club and he devoted most of his professional working life to the Sea Eagles.
"I think fans understand in the modern game that players and coaches move from time to time.
"I don't really want to go over old ground but it was well documented at the time that he didn't really want to leave Manly."
The Bulldogs had more pressing matters on their hands after prop Sam Kasiano was charged yesterday with a careless high tackle by the match review committee for his swinging arm on Parramatta's Fuifui Moimoi last Friday night.
Kasiano is in danger of missing Friday night's game.
I fully agree.Well said Ken.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/show-hasler-respect-arko-tells-manly-fans/story-fnca0von-1226427533352
Hasler, who left Manly in controversial circumstances five days after guiding the club to last year's premiership, will return to his former home ground for the first time as coach of Canterbury.
Sea Eagles officials are expecting a full house and Hasler can expect a hot reception from Manly supporters given his acrimonious departure last October.
Arthurson, however, has encouraged fans to remember what Hasler did for the club, both as a player and coach. Hasler played 255 games for the Sea Eagles before spending 11 years on the coaching staff, including eight years in charge of the first grade side during which time he delivered the club two premierships.
"I think Des has done a good job for Manly," Arthurson said.
"I think it would be poor taste for them to start to bag him, I really do. He's given terrific service to Manly, not only as a player but in winning premierships as a coach.
"I don't think they should bag him. In saying that, there's no doubt I want to see Manly win this game. I am desperate for them to win this game. In terms of how Des should be received, he should treated with respect.
"I sincerely hope the Brookvale crowd remember the great service rendered (by Hasler) with the club as a player and coach, and give him the respect he's entitled."
The hoopla surrounding Hasler's return is only heightened by the clubs' positions on the ladder. Canterbury has a share of the competition lead with Melbourne while Manly, coached by another club great in Geoff Toovey, slipped to seventh after a shock loss to Newcastle last weekend.
"Toovs has done a terrific job," Arthurson said.
"He's a very dedicated bloke. I was really pleased with him last weekend. Flu had gone through the place but he didn't make any excuses. If you get beaten you have to lick your wounds and come back next week."
While Arthurson encouraged the Manly fans to remember the good times under Hasler, Canterbury chief executive Todd Greenberg admitted he would also be surprised if the Bulldogs' coach didn't receive an encouraging reception.
The Bulldogs did their best to stir the pot when the two sides met in April, printing a cheeky T-shirt that read "Be Manly, Be a Bulldog".
"I think Des will treat it as a normal week and I'd be surprised if he wasn't received in a really warm fashion," Greenberg said yesterday.
"He's a two-time premiership winner for their club and he devoted most of his professional working life to the Sea Eagles.
"I think fans understand in the modern game that players and coaches move from time to time.
"I don't really want to go over old ground but it was well documented at the time that he didn't really want to leave Manly."
The Bulldogs had more pressing matters on their hands after prop Sam Kasiano was charged yesterday with a careless high tackle by the match review committee for his swinging arm on Parramatta's Fuifui Moimoi last Friday night.
Kasiano is in danger of missing Friday night's game.
I fully agree.Well said Ken.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/show-hasler-respect-arko-tells-manly-fans/story-fnca0von-1226427533352
