Des Hasler, a Premiership-winning coach, has filed a lawsuit against his former team, Manly, in an attempt to recover damages for his contract termination with one year remaining.
After being fired by the Sea Eagles in October of last year, Hasler announced his plan to take legal action. The Daily Telegraph reports that legal litigation will start on October 20.
Manly is “ready to defend the claim in court,” a club spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph, demonstrating the Sea Eagles’ refusal to back down.
While at the helm, Hasler criticized the club for its handling of the Pride jersey fiasco last season.
Seven players, Josh Schuster, Josh Aloiai, Tolutau Koula, Haumole Olakau’atu, Jason Saab, Toafofoa Sipley, and Christian Tuipulotu all refused to play in Manly’s Round 18 clash against the Roosters in a one-off rainbow jersey citing religious beliefs.
Hasler says the club’s decision to wear the jerseys and failure to inform the players was “poor management”
“We are here to apologize for a significant mistake made by the Manly Sea Eagles football club,” Hasler said at the time.
“We wish to apologize to the LGBTQ community who embrace the rainbow colors, to use these colors for pride, advocacy, and human rights issues which have played an integral role in the inclusion and diversity of all minority groups.”
A few months later, Hasler was let go after a unanimous decision from the Sea Eagles board with the club hiring Anthony Seibold to replace him.
The 62-year-old has since signed a three-year contract to coach the Gold Coast Titans from 2024.
This isn’t the first time Hasler has sued a former club. In 2017, he took the Bulldogs to court after he was sacked with two years to run on his contract.
The matter would end up being settled out of court.
