NRL: Hasler's defection adds sting to new season

Des Hasler celebrates Manly's 2011 NRL Grand Final before he was sacked two months later. Photo / Getty Images

Amid stiff competition, the intertwined fortunes of premiers Manly and Canterbury promise the most intriguing storyline for the 2012 NRL season.

Manly's grand final triumph over the Warriors was the premiership to confirm their status as the dominant side of recent years but the coronation also kick-started the crumbling of an NRL empire.

Almost from the moment the final whistle blew at ANZ Stadium, Manly have struggled to stop the bleeding from a series of wounds, some self-inflicted.

Most severe - and sure to have most ramifications - was the dramatic departure of coach Des Hasler.

After announcing he'd signed to join Canterbury in 2013, Hasler was sacked by the Sea Eagles amid accusations he was party to the poaching of talent to his future club.

In no time at all the two clubs embarked on new eras with Hasler's shift to the Bulldogs fast-tracked to 2012 and his assistant Geoff Toovey promoted to pick up the pieces at the Sea Eagles, where anything less than another premiership success will be a step backwards for a talent-packed roster.

Supercoach Wayne Bennett's time at St George Illawarra came to a disappointing end, but he now eyes the new challenge of becoming the first coach to win premierships with three different clubs having switched to Newcastle.

The Knights are one of four of this year's eight finalists who will go into 2012 with a new man at the helm, meaning the regular top eight turnover of the last few years could continue.

Here's how the clubs are shaping up heading into 2012:-

BRISBANE

Have lost the great Darren Lockyer to retirement, but with veteran prop Petero Civoniceva back for a Broncos swansong, Brisbane at least boast the best pack in the game. He joins the likes of new skipper Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker, Ben Hannant, Ben Te'o, Josh McGuire, Alex Glenn and Matt Gillett in a pack bristling representative talent. A young team on the rise but can they replace Lockyer's game management skills?

CANTERBURY

The arrivals of two-time premiership coach Des Hasler and English Test prop James Graham brings a touch of class to Belmore. Hasler resumes his mentoring of former Sea Eagles halfback Trent Hodkinson, but the loss of Jamal Idris leaves the outside backs looking decidedly light on try-scoring potential, leaving fullback Ben Barba with plenty to do.

CANBERRA

With key playmaker Terry Campese playing just 19 minutes, Canberra's 2011 campaign was a write-off. The former Test pivot is due back on deck for round one, and he'll need to wind back the clock to his 2010 form if he is to carry the Raiders back to the finals, with his return sure to have a flow-on effect on the likes of Josh Dugan, Josh McCrone and Jarrod Croker.

CRONULLA

No club is taking a bigger punt in 2012 than the Sharks, who picked up problem child Todd Carney. Carney no doubt has the talent to propel Cronulla to the finals - as his 2010 Dally M-winning season suggests - but his 2011 efforts on and off the field also show how unsettling he can be when off track. Lost both their starting props, but in Bryce Gibbs, Andrew Fifita and Ben Ross they have more than handy replacements.

GOLD COAST

If there's one consolation for the Titans, it can't get worse than their wooden spoon-clinching effort of 2011. They were one of the biggest players in the free agent market, snaring Jamal Idris, Beau Champion, Luke Douglas and Nate Myles. If that doesn't make the Titans a finals contender in 2012, it could be the coaching market that the club visits next.

MANLY

If there is one positive for new Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey, he will at least have largely the same squad that won this year's premiership at his disposal. That will make judging Toovey's performance an easier assignment, and he should at least have a united board supporting him, something the sacked Des Hasler did not enjoy.

MELBOURNE

As usual the Storm's fortunes depend largely on the form and fitness of their big three - Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith. The loss of Adam Blair takes some strike out of their pack, but coach Craig Bellamy has developed a knack of getting results from journeymen forwards - with Jason Ryles set to be his latest project.

NEWCASTLE

Wayne Bennett has done his best to hose down expectations, but with new owner Nathan Tinkler opening up his bulging wallet to deliver the likes of Darius Boyd, Kade Snowden, Timana Tahu and Knights favourite Danny Buderus, the supercoach has the player talent to make a tilt at the premiership. In Boyd, Kurt Gidley, Jarrod Mullen and Buderus, the Knights boast a spine second only to Melbourne's all-star selection.

NORTH QUEENSLAND

It was perhaps the quietest of all the off-season purchases, but the move of former Wests Tigers halfback Robert Lui to the Cowboys could be the most significant, with skipper Johnathan Thurston finally having someone to share the playmaking load. Also, in backrowers Tariq Sims and Jason Taumalolo, the Cowboys have two of the most devastating young forwards in the game.

PARRAMATTA

It been the best part of 25 years, but the Eels may have finally found their first bona fide halfback since Peter Sterling in ex-South Sydney No.7 Chris Sandow. Sandow should give the Eels some direction, and it could free fullback Jarryd Hayne to return to the power running game which made him such a force a few years ago.

PENRITH

New coach Ivan Cleary has pleaded for patience as he sets about turning the Panthers around, and even general manager Phil Gould admits it could take three years for the results of Cleary's influence to be fully shown. They haven't really replaced departed forwards Petero Civoniceva and Trent Waterhouse, so the likes of Lachlan Coote, Michael Jennings and Michael Gordon could struggle to make an impact.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA

If Geoff Toovey is under pressure following in the footsteps of Des Hasler, imagine how Steve Price feels succeeding Wayne Bennett. Price denies the Dragons are in rebuilding mode, but he faces a tough task getting an ageing squad minus Darius Boyd and Mark Gasnier up for another tilt at the title.

SOUTH SYDNEY

A halfback, a halfback, my kingdom for a halfback. New Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire could well find himself paraphrasing Shakespeare as he looks to meet some high expectations. In the likes of Greg Inglis, David Taylor and Sam Burgess there is plenty of talent throughout the squad, but the untried Adam Reynolds looms as the only option in the key No.7 role.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

It's hard to know whether it is a good or bad thing that the Roosters are heading into the 2012 season without Todd Carney. This time last year there was some much promise out Bondi way with the prospect of Carney building on his 2010 form, but it all turned ugly quickly. With Braith Anasta back in the No.6, it's a case of back to the future next season for the Roosters who have Warriors star James Maloney lined up for 2013.

WARRIORS

The Warriors appear on the brink of NRL domination with a hugely talented young squad buoyed by this year's grand final appearance. The under 20s side has won back-to-back titles and with the likes of Shaun Johnson and Kevin Locke now established NRL stars, the sky is the limit. But how much will the change in coach from Ivan Cleary to the Brian McClennan, unproven in the NRL, affect their development and momentum?

WESTS TIGERS

With back-to-back preliminary final appearances, the Tigers appear as well placed as anyone to take out the 2012 grand final, particularly with Kiwi forward Adam Blair coming on board. Now that he's staying, Tim Moltzen will likely take over as halfback following Robert Lui's exit, and he enjoys a good combination with Benji Marshall. The Tigers' biggest problem could lie within, with rumours persisting throughout the off-season of disharmony within the ranks.

- AAP