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On the way out: Steve Mortimer. Photo: Steve Christo
Des Hasler has survived to coach Canterbury in 2017, with club legend Steve Mortimer instead the casualty at the emergency board meeting called to resolve the club's future.
Mortimer has resigned from his post as a director after breaching the club's code of conduct in his public criticism of Hasler.
Mortimer told Fairfax Media that the club was "losing our DNA" under Hasler, raising speculation that the two-time premiership-winning coach could be on his way out of Belmore.
Instead, Mortimer handed in his resignation at the board meeting at ANZ Stadium, while the remaining directors resolved to allow Hasler to see out the final year of his contract.
No time to chat: Canterbury Bulldogs coach Des Hasler arrives at ANZ Stadium. Photo: Sarah Keayes.
Mortimer, one of the club's favourite sons, will remain a director of the leagues club but fell on his sword following his public commentary.
"What I said to you … it breached the code of conduct," Mortimer told Fairfax Media.
"So I said, that being the case, I'm going to resign.
"I'm not angry at anyone, I'm probably angry at myself. I'm too bloody honest and share too much."
Mortimer and Hasler come face to face during the tense meeting, with the former adamant there were no hard feelings.
"We shook hands, not a problem," Mortimer said.
"2017 will be Des Hasler's year and then it's up to them to make a decision on them as to his future. That's not my worry now."
While the long-term future of Hasler remains undecided, the meeting - dubbed the most important in the club's history - ensures he will be at the helm next year.
Hasler left the 4pm meeting after 20 minutes, leaving the board to deliberate.
Hasler arrived to a media scrum at about 2.30pm, before mouthing an expletive at the boom gate, and hurriedly reversing away from the waiting cameras.
He returned to the same entrance about 10 minutes later with the boom gate opened, and sped past the throng without lowering his window for a comment.
The Canterbury board met with Hasler this afternoon to discuss if he should see out the final year of his contract, or be moved on.
The former Manly coach has taken the club to two grand finals in five years, and has never missed the top eight, but questions have been raised since a disappointing finish to this season over as to whether he fits in with the club's culture.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...eting-20161014-gs2p7c.html?platform=hootsuite
