Mal Meninga says he feels “ostracised” by the sudden sacking of Gold Coast Titans coach Justin Holbrook and does not “envisage being part of the club moving forward”.
The Titans stunned the NRL world by sacking head coach Holbrook, effective immediately, and replacing him with two-time premiership winning coach Des Hasler.
It comes as the Titans sit 9th on the ladder with a 6-7 record after the weekend’s win over Wests Tigers.
Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
“We are grateful to Justin for his contribution to the club over the past four seasons,” said Titans CEO Steve Mitchell.
“We are here to bring success to the Gold Coast and in order to do so we feel that this is the change necessary to deliver on our promise which is to win premierships.”
Hasler, who has won 258 from 458 NRL games as coaches and has five grand final appearances, said he looks forward to the challenge.
“I’m looking forward to joining the Titans and to the 2024 season,” Hasler said.
“The club has a strong playing roster, the region is blessed with emerging talent and the organisation is firmly embedded in the community.
“I’m confident we can deliver success to the region in the coming seasons.”
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga, who also works as an advisor to Holbrook at the Titans, said he was completely blindsided by Holbrook’s sacking.
“I didn’t know till today, obviously a little disappointing being a senior advisor there,” Meninga said on SEN
“I don’t know how I feel about it.
“The club made a decision based on some of the measurements they employed over the off-season which is around their defence - the board saw there’s no improvements around that area of the game and made a decision out of duty of care to the club.
“Justin’s a great person and a great coach - I’m a little disappointed for him, because it can damage reputations, decisions like this, and I hope it doesn’t damage Justin’s reputation.”
Disgruntled Dragons halfback Ben Hunt has been linked with a move to the Titans, and Hasler’s appointment could make that more likely.
Asked whether he imagined that Hunt would join the club, Meninga said he didn’t know.
“I have no idea. I feel ostracised a little bit,” he said.
“I’ve got a bit of thinking to do about what I do in the future - I don’t envisage being part of the club moving forward.”
Hasler was sacked as Manly coach in 2022 following a season that was derailed by the rainbow jersey disaster.
More Coverage
It was his second sacking from the Northern Beaches club after a recruiting scandal in 2011 saw him accused of “serious breaches of contract” by the Manly board.
Having signed with Canterbury for the 2013 season after his contract with Manly was due to end at the end of the 2012 season, a number of Hasler’s staff reached agreements to join the Bulldogs, with the Sea Eagles becoming concerned about the potential for players to join the exodus.
Several Manly players of the time were reported to have get-out clauses in their contracts if Hasler was not the coach.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ70qmmq6xfo7%2Bte8hmnZ6dnGK8tMDRmpqiq5WZeq6ty2aknqaZo7SiecGloKeco56xprCMm7BmmqKqwaK4jK2grZmeqHqku8Ccn2arkZi4qrrGaKWer6NiwLW70bJmbGpnboKigMFxmGlrlpZ9doGQnmttcWFrhqeyxWprcmk%3D