Stage set for Hasler ambush
The stage is set for a classic Des Hasler-style ambush in Sunday’s NRL grand final between Canterbury and South Sydney.
Bulldogs coach Hasler has admitted he has enjoyed ‘flying under the radar’ as the majority of the attention and hype in grand final week has been pushed onto Souths as they seek to end their 43-year premiership drought.
Few give Hasler’s injury-hit Dogs, who will be without hooker and captain Michael Ennis, any chance against the monster Rabbitohs forwards who will go into the ANZ Stadium decider as the hottest title favourites in NRL history.
But Hasler has made a career out of triumphing against the odds.
Indeed, few gave them any chance against a Melbourne side boasting Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater at AAMI Park in the first week of the finals.
But they swept aside the Storm 28-4.
They have since pushed past Manly in a nailbiting semi-final and then ground out another win over Penrith to qualify for their second grand final in three years.
Hasler is a master mentor and a master manipulator and some, who have inside knowledge of his workings, say injured hooker Michael Ennis (foot) could still make a ‘miracle’ recovery to take the field.
Even if he doesn’t, there is no doubt two-time premiership winning coach Hasler has the rugby league smarts to come up with a game plan that can hobble Souths almost irresistible momentum.
He has been there and done that.
“It is all about the ups and down, the moments of adversity, the moments of pressure, how they (my players) handle them,” he told Triple M.
“What you have done for weeks and more months now becomes so important.
“There will be more heroics and more folklore.”