NRL 2024: Des Hasler set for Sea Eagles showdown as Titans coach laughs off Ricky Stuart rivalry

Sea Eagles players and coaches haven’t spoken about the upcoming battle with former boss Des Hasler, who has bigger things to worry about as he tries to end the Gold Coast’s winless start to 2024.

Hasler had a decorated career at the Sea Eagles as a player and then won two titles with the club as a coach, only for his second stint to end in controversy when he was sacked with two years to run on his deal.

The parties have worked to sort out a potential payout, with the Sea Eagles initially offering a settlement of $565,000, but that was rejected with Hasler seeking potentially double that figure.

The veteran coach couldn’t discuss the matter for legal reasons, but he did reflect on his time with the club and also the future he sees with the Titans who have lost all five of their matches so far.

“That is some of the great memories, fond memories, and something that you’ll always cherish for a long time,” he said.

“But you lean back and you remember the experience and I’m pretty excited about the prospects here at the Titans.

“And we’re moving towards that venture and that’s our aim to first of all make the Titans club very competitive. And then we’ll build from there.

“If you look at the way we’ve started, a win is the biggest meaning at the moment. Manly have been playing pretty good footy.

“The concentration is (on) what we can control and what we need to do better as a team.

“We took a lot out of last week. If you are a footy tragic, when you break it down there were some good signs there.”

Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold is more worried about picking up two competition points on the road than any potential awkward reunion with the man he replaced.

“I certainly haven’t raised it with the group, and I haven’t heard the boys talk about it, so it’s probably one that’s more for the media,” he said.

“Des is an absolute legend of our club. He won a premiership as a player and a couple of premierships as a coach, so he’s got a long and really valued history here.

“I don’t know Des too well, but every time I’ve met him he’s been a real gentleman. I’m sure he’ll be out to spoil us this weekend.”

The Titans are coming off a controversial loss to the Raiders in golden point where they should have been awarded a penalty that would have won them the game, with Hasler and Canberra coach Ricky Stuart involved in an indirect war of words in the press conference that also reportedly included an exchange in the tunnel.

“Nothing (happened), that was the biggest gee-up ever, we played them off a break there,” Hasler said.

“Nothing happened there, nothing at all. We’re still laughing about it and we laughed about it on Monday morning.”