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http://manlydaily.com.au/article/2007/08/04/5777_sports.html Zorba
04Aug07
THE surgical dismantling of Parramatta's Eric Grothe last Sunday showcased the footballing genius of Manly coach Des Hasler.
Hasler terrorised Grothe down the Eels right-hand defensive flank in a brilliant tactical ploy, which resulted in four Sea Eagles tries in a definitive display of coaching.
In the opening 20 minutes Hasler used kicks, run-arounds and decoys to confuse the Guru. Matt Orford deftly kicked for winger Michael Robertson who touched down for the opening try with no opponent in sight.
Soon after, Grothe raced infield and left Brett Stewart with a clear passage to the corner for try number two. Again the Guru was left clutching air on the inside.
In the second half Hasler changed his tactics. Grothe was like the statue of David out on the wing. He wasn't drifting infield for love or money.
Out went the message from Hasler to exploit the now clear passage inside the wingman. The result? Two rippers for Jamie Lyon as he surged in between the freeway left between the outside centre and the now traffic cop Grothe who had made up his mind at half-time to cease wandering infield.
To the purist it was magnificent coaching - for the average fan it may have gone undetected.
I noted with interest in player ratings from the match that Grothe was awarded more points than both the Manly wingers Chris Hicks and Michael Robertson.
It didn't surprise me because most journalists covering the game have little or no idea about what they are looking at.
In 2003, the Manly Sea Eagles finished 14th on 18 points.
Enter Hasler in 2004 and Manly improved slightly to 13th place and 22 points.
Then came the introduction of class acts like Ben Kennedy and Brent Kite, and Hasler took the Sea Eagles to eighth spot with 28 points and then fifth spot with 32 points last season.
There'd been gradual improvement every season to the current second spot, with 32 points and five matches to play.
The climb up the rugby league mountain has been steady and consistent - 14th to second and still rising over a five-year period is exactly the way he planned it when he took over the reins from Peter Sharp.
There is amazing similarity and desire in Hasler's approach to coaching to that of his former coach Bob Fulton.
Hasler, like Fulton, is a winner.
He will do whatever it takes to get success. At times both men border on being ruthless in their approach but both are fiercely loyal to their players.
So what does Manly legend Fulton think of Hasler's performance in the charge to the finals?
``I was proud to sit in the broadcasting box and watch Manly squeeze the life out of Parramatta in difficult circumstances last Sunday,'' Bozo told me.
``That was a win based on everything that is good in the game. The side had the speed, the strength and the desire to win but they had the game plan too.
``Dessie has good people around him and he is using them all to great effect. I can see a bit of Geoff Toovey, a bit of ``Crusher'' Cleal and a lot of Hasler in what they are doing. Their strength and desire at the back end of games is wonderful to watch. Give them a hurdle and they are jumping it.''
Fulton said the Manly charge was similar to the club's golden era in the early and mid 70s, mid-80s and 90s.
``In all those successful eras we had young talent surrounded by class players and that's the time-honoured formula Des Hasler is using now,'' Fulton said.
Once again Manly have unearthed a great coach from within.
* * *
NEWCASTLE captain Danny Buderus is predicting a big future for Manly's new signing Josh Perry.
Speaking at a media conference in Gosford this week for next Friday night's Manly v Newcastle clash at Bluetongue Stadium, Buderus said Perry ``would thrive under the Manly coaching program''.
``Reports are that Manly have an excellent program and great facilities at the Sydney Academy of Sport - Perry will benefit from that and he probably needs a change of clubs,'' Buderus said.
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