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Eagles, Eels go different ways
By Margie McDonald
May 20, 2005
MANLY re-signed an old hand and the Eels have secured a bright newcomer on the eve of the crucial meeting between the two clubs at Parramatta Stadium tonight.
Des Hasler, who played 255 first-grade games for the Sea Eagles before becoming their coach two years ago, has signed for another three years.
Parramatta's 20-year-old halfback Tim Smith, who made his first-grade debut in round one this year against Wests Tigers, has signed for another two years.
"It's an investment in the future and a good one at that. He's been very good for us this year," Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald said.
Smith is a 2002 Australian Schoolboys representative and comes from Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast.
He fulfilled a family dream by signing with Parramatta in 2003 because his dad "worshipped" the Eels in the 1980s, when the club won four premierships. Smith was born in 1985.
The young halfback played Jersey Flegg and then premier league before getting his first-grade start this year. He leads the NRL in try assists, having a leading hand in 14 of Parramatta's 40 tries. Smith has also scored two himself in the nine matches he has played.
"He's really settled in. He hadn't played any first grade at all before and yet his playmaking and kicking game, which led to three tries against the Cowboys two weeks ago, can only get better," Fitzgerald said. "The future looks rosy for him."
Manly's hopes of re-signing off-contract players such as hookers Shayne Dunley and Chad Randall and utility forward Luke Williamson could also be brighter with Hasler deciding to stay at Brookvale until the end of 2008.
He said he was keen to help shape a Wayne Bennett-style operation at Manly and did not see himself coaching at any other club after this contract expired.
"It would be great to go on and do something similar to what Wayne Bennett has done with Brisbane," Hasler said.
"He has brought so many accolades and success to the Broncos club."
Hasler has helped four of his players reach City-Country level and three of those were named in the NSW Origin side. Manly has also won its past nine games at 'Fortress Brookvale'.
"That's what is expected of all coaches, to win games and get players recognised," Hasler said. "What is even more important for me is that it also provides the coaching staff, who work just as hard and as long hours as me, some stability for the next three years."
It is not known if Hasler's decision to re-sign will sway captain and halfback Michael Monaghan.
Executive chairman Paul Cummings said he believed the club was "very close" to securing Monaghan and confirmed the club had made its final offer in the protracted negotiation.
"We think we've made an offer that is more than fair from our point of view, but credit to his manager that he's trying to get what he can get," Cummings said.
"I'm pretty comfortable we'll strike something, at worse, over the weekend or early next week."
The two halfbacks, Mongahan and Smith, come face to face at Parramatta Stadium tonight, where Manly has won seven of its past 11 matches. However, the Eels have won the past two matches at the venue - 27-16 in 2003 and 52-12 in round 14 last year.
The Australian
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,15343663-23214,00.html
By Margie McDonald
May 20, 2005
MANLY re-signed an old hand and the Eels have secured a bright newcomer on the eve of the crucial meeting between the two clubs at Parramatta Stadium tonight.
Des Hasler, who played 255 first-grade games for the Sea Eagles before becoming their coach two years ago, has signed for another three years.
Parramatta's 20-year-old halfback Tim Smith, who made his first-grade debut in round one this year against Wests Tigers, has signed for another two years.
"It's an investment in the future and a good one at that. He's been very good for us this year," Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald said.
Smith is a 2002 Australian Schoolboys representative and comes from Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast.
He fulfilled a family dream by signing with Parramatta in 2003 because his dad "worshipped" the Eels in the 1980s, when the club won four premierships. Smith was born in 1985.
The young halfback played Jersey Flegg and then premier league before getting his first-grade start this year. He leads the NRL in try assists, having a leading hand in 14 of Parramatta's 40 tries. Smith has also scored two himself in the nine matches he has played.
"He's really settled in. He hadn't played any first grade at all before and yet his playmaking and kicking game, which led to three tries against the Cowboys two weeks ago, can only get better," Fitzgerald said. "The future looks rosy for him."
Manly's hopes of re-signing off-contract players such as hookers Shayne Dunley and Chad Randall and utility forward Luke Williamson could also be brighter with Hasler deciding to stay at Brookvale until the end of 2008.
He said he was keen to help shape a Wayne Bennett-style operation at Manly and did not see himself coaching at any other club after this contract expired.
"It would be great to go on and do something similar to what Wayne Bennett has done with Brisbane," Hasler said.
"He has brought so many accolades and success to the Broncos club."
Hasler has helped four of his players reach City-Country level and three of those were named in the NSW Origin side. Manly has also won its past nine games at 'Fortress Brookvale'.
"That's what is expected of all coaches, to win games and get players recognised," Hasler said. "What is even more important for me is that it also provides the coaching staff, who work just as hard and as long hours as me, some stability for the next three years."
It is not known if Hasler's decision to re-sign will sway captain and halfback Michael Monaghan.
Executive chairman Paul Cummings said he believed the club was "very close" to securing Monaghan and confirmed the club had made its final offer in the protracted negotiation.
"We think we've made an offer that is more than fair from our point of view, but credit to his manager that he's trying to get what he can get," Cummings said.
"I'm pretty comfortable we'll strike something, at worse, over the weekend or early next week."
The two halfbacks, Mongahan and Smith, come face to face at Parramatta Stadium tonight, where Manly has won seven of its past 11 matches. However, the Eels have won the past two matches at the venue - 27-16 in 2003 and 52-12 in round 14 last year.
The Australian
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,15343663-23214,00.html
