VAI
Kennel Addict
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2008
- Messages
- 7,059
- Reaction score
- 16
MANLY patriarch Ken Arthurson has revealed Des Hasler made a promise to him not to poach Manly players as speculation mounts that Kieran Foran has already signed a deal to join Canterbury.
Arthurson spoke out yesterday as the Sea Eagles and Bulldogs continued to prepare for their highly anticipated clash at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, while Hasler has laughed off speculation that he had met Foran last week.
"I'd just like to make it very clear that I've got no objection whatsoever to Des Hasler deciding to go over as a coach. Everyone is entitled to make their own decisions in that regard," Arthurson said.
"I'm not even in dispute with him taking some of the coaching staff with him because I think that's reasonable enough.
"But I would be very, very disappointed if he tried to decimate the club by taking away the players.
"I did say that to him when he left and he told me that wasn't his intention to do that, so I'd be very disappointed if he did that or was even contemplating doing that.
..."I'd be devastated if that happened and I'd be surprised if Des would go ahead and try to get him because Manly developed him in the lower grades. I'd be very upset about that. In fact I'd be upset if Canterbury took any of the Manly players."
It will be the first time the two clubs have met since Hasler soured Manly's grand final celebrations last October by leaving the club five days after the premiership win to link with the Bulldogs. And he took several staff members with him.
The acrimony has continued since amid speculation some Manly stars could be poised to jump ship and head to Belmore, including Foran, who many believe has already signed, and backrower Tony Williams.
Sea Eagles prop Brent Kite said the club's fans would let Hasler know in no uncertain terms how they felt about him at Friday night's game.
"The general feeling is that there is no love lost there," Kite said.
"We've been told to keep a lid on it, but the truth is everyone is excited, and it adds a bit of extra spice to what would otherwise just be a round eight game.
"It's good for the game, it's good for the telly, and it's good for some of the younger guys who've not been involved in some of these bigger games. So it does have a bit of added value."
Friday night's game will be played for the Bullfrog-Arko Cup, in honour of Arthurson and his great mate, Canterbury's legendary administrator, Peter Moore, who died in 2000.
Arthurson also revealed any poaching would go against a longstanding deal between the two men.
"Bullfrog and I always had a handshake agreement that we would never touch our players, and we never ever did," Arthurson said. "It's disappointing to see that not happen these days.
"There was an enormous spirit between the two clubs because of the friendship that Bullfrog and I had and I'm sorry to see that being put to one side."
Before training at Belmore Oval yesterday, Hasler laughed off a rumour that he had met Foran for coffee last week to talk terms about joining the Bulldogs.
The rumour was aired on Sydney radio station Triple M after a cafe owner claimed to have served the pair.
"To think I'd be meeting him over a cappuccino in the middle of Belmore -- I was right here training," Hasler said.
"I don't know anything about it. All that can be said is that those players have to make up their minds what they want to do, and the rest is speculation."
While Hasler may seem unfazed by the speculation linking Foran to the club, there are plenty of Bulldogs players who are off contract this season who would be watching the matter unfold with interest.
Included on that list are eight players listed to take part in Friday night's grudge match.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...mise-put-to-test/story-fnca0von-1226337476154
Arthurson spoke out yesterday as the Sea Eagles and Bulldogs continued to prepare for their highly anticipated clash at ANZ Stadium on Friday night, while Hasler has laughed off speculation that he had met Foran last week.
"I'd just like to make it very clear that I've got no objection whatsoever to Des Hasler deciding to go over as a coach. Everyone is entitled to make their own decisions in that regard," Arthurson said.
"I'm not even in dispute with him taking some of the coaching staff with him because I think that's reasonable enough.
"But I would be very, very disappointed if he tried to decimate the club by taking away the players.
"I did say that to him when he left and he told me that wasn't his intention to do that, so I'd be very disappointed if he did that or was even contemplating doing that.
..."I'd be devastated if that happened and I'd be surprised if Des would go ahead and try to get him because Manly developed him in the lower grades. I'd be very upset about that. In fact I'd be upset if Canterbury took any of the Manly players."
It will be the first time the two clubs have met since Hasler soured Manly's grand final celebrations last October by leaving the club five days after the premiership win to link with the Bulldogs. And he took several staff members with him.
The acrimony has continued since amid speculation some Manly stars could be poised to jump ship and head to Belmore, including Foran, who many believe has already signed, and backrower Tony Williams.
Sea Eagles prop Brent Kite said the club's fans would let Hasler know in no uncertain terms how they felt about him at Friday night's game.
"The general feeling is that there is no love lost there," Kite said.
"We've been told to keep a lid on it, but the truth is everyone is excited, and it adds a bit of extra spice to what would otherwise just be a round eight game.
"It's good for the game, it's good for the telly, and it's good for some of the younger guys who've not been involved in some of these bigger games. So it does have a bit of added value."
Friday night's game will be played for the Bullfrog-Arko Cup, in honour of Arthurson and his great mate, Canterbury's legendary administrator, Peter Moore, who died in 2000.
Arthurson also revealed any poaching would go against a longstanding deal between the two men.
"Bullfrog and I always had a handshake agreement that we would never touch our players, and we never ever did," Arthurson said. "It's disappointing to see that not happen these days.
"There was an enormous spirit between the two clubs because of the friendship that Bullfrog and I had and I'm sorry to see that being put to one side."
Before training at Belmore Oval yesterday, Hasler laughed off a rumour that he had met Foran for coffee last week to talk terms about joining the Bulldogs.
The rumour was aired on Sydney radio station Triple M after a cafe owner claimed to have served the pair.
"To think I'd be meeting him over a cappuccino in the middle of Belmore -- I was right here training," Hasler said.
"I don't know anything about it. All that can be said is that those players have to make up their minds what they want to do, and the rest is speculation."
While Hasler may seem unfazed by the speculation linking Foran to the club, there are plenty of Bulldogs players who are off contract this season who would be watching the matter unfold with interest.
Included on that list are eight players listed to take part in Friday night's grudge match.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...mise-put-to-test/story-fnca0von-1226337476154
