‘Does it really matter?’: Hasler loses his patience at journos

Manly Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler lost patience with reporters in the press conference after his side’s 42-6 thrashing of the Sydney Roosters in Mackay to advance to the preliminary final against South Sydney.

Hasler appeared eager to get his media commitments over and done with as soon as possible on Friday night, and he did just that, with his press conference lasting just three and a half bizarre minutes.

Hasler cut off the end of questions by journalists to tell them to speak up, remove their masks or just to quickly answer them – even if they hadn’t yet finished the question.

Hasler said he “couldn’t hear” one journalist’s question about Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic, and he got snappy at talk about Dylan Walker’s contract status and preferred position, first replying that they were simply “in negotiations” on his future at Manly, before being pressed about where he fits best in the team.

“He’s been playing it for the last six or seven weeks,” Hasler told off a journalist.

“If he’s been playing it for the last six or seven weeks he’ll be playing it moving forward.”

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Then as Hasler indicated he wanted to leave the press conference, he was kept there by an innocent question from a journalist about Manly’s growth this season after suffering a loss to the Roosters in Round 1.

“Round 1 was about six or seven months ago, does it really matter?” Hasler quipped, visibly annoyed and anxious to leave.

“Well it started slow but the journey has really picked up momentum,” the journalist replied.

“You couldn’t have said it any better, thanks,” the coach answered, before making a swift exit.

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