AFTER masterminding a 66-point turnaround from last year's grand final loss to last night's record-breaking win, Manly coach Des Hasler wasn't looking to bathe in the spotlight. That's just not him.
Instead, he fulfilled his post-match commitments and then went to the Melbourne dressing room and had a 30-minute chat and a beer with Storm coach Craig Bellamy and his staff.
It had been a finals series with a fair bit of vitriol flying about the place - none of it coming from Hasler, incidentally - but this was the perfect way for grand final night to end, with the rival coaches leaning up against the wall, chewing the fat. Hasler is obviously a fantastic coach, but you will never hear him talking about himself along those lines. The satisfaction, for him, comes from another direction.
"It's all about the players," he said. "I'll never say it any differently. It's all about the players and the club. The one thing I'd like to do, apart from that, is give my staff an enormous rap. They have done an exceptional job. I'm pleased that we won, but my satisfaction comes from seeing people and things develop at this club. Five years ago, this club was pretty much stuffed, but look at it now.
"The enjoyment for us, on the coaching staff, is to be able to see the guys under our control develop - both as players and people. Look at Michael Robertson, from where he was when he came here to where he is now. David Williams, Mark Bryant, Glenn Hall, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Jason King … They've all worked hard and made tremendous progress. That's what I get enjoyment from seeing."
Hasler is well known for being private. If you want to get anything out of him apart from the general football stuff, you'll have to beat it out of him. But others close to him are prepared to give an insight, because they admire him enormously and want to see him get due recognition. His assistant coach, Geoff Toovey, and recruitment officer, Noel Cleal, know the real Hasler.
"Des is a man who eats, sleeps and breathes Manly," Toovey said. "In five years, it is mostly his effort that has taken this club from just plodding along to premiership material. He's a very proud man, but it's pride he gets from seeing his players achieve. He won't accept any accolades for that - he will say it's his players who have performed, and that's that.
"Des leaves no stone unturned. Physiologically, mentally, he's always looking for new ideas. He's like anyone in their field - businessmen, athletes, actors, whatever - he's always seeking a way to do things better. The players react well to him. Des does all he possibly can for them, and then demands accountability in return, and they give him that."
Cleal said Hasler's work ethic was his greatest strength.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he calls a meeting in the next day or two, and says, 'OK, let's talk about what we can do to get better from here'," Cleal said. "But his attitude is infectious. It has rubbed off on his staff and his players. He is a very loyal person, and that loyalty is returned. People want to work hard for him, because they see how much he does for them."
Hasler didn't have to get into coaching to survive. He is an intelligent man who has had a lot of success running various businesses. He chooses to coach, for the right reasons.
"I am very passionate about it," he said. "But the enjoyment I get out of it is in seeing other people become success stories."
Hasler achieved that in spades last night.
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