Hasler hardly looks like a fossil when we meet in a quiet Narrabeen cafe. He’s 58 but, in many ways, still resembles the 1980s halfback wearing Manly’s all-maroon jumper, running around the field like a headless chook, floppy hair bouncing. “This story can’t be about me,” he insists, repeatedly. “It’s about the players and what they’ve done. I don’t want it to come back to ‘Des is this, Des is that’. That’s been done so many times.” Fair enough. It has. We will stick to the script. Because Hasler is right: while the seismic shift in this team’s attitude and performance has coincided with him replacing Trent Barrett, his players deserve much of the credit. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Because are they humming. If they can beat competition leaders Melbourne at Lottoland tonight — having already defeated them 11-10 at AAMI Park in round 19 — they will be in the box-seat to finish in the top four.

The seismic shift we speak of started back in November, just weeks after Hasler signed a three-year deal to return to Manly after leaving the club days after winning the 2011 premiership to join the Bulldogs. “We spoke as a group and went through different reflections and they really thought it was important to regain respect,” Hasler says. “To get that respect from not just their community and supporters, but also how their peers assess them. It just doesn’t happen. It has to evolve. It’s got to grow. And in the last two months I have seen it. “All these players have always been good footy players. They’ve always been able to play at the standard they are now. To get this far, there has to be something there. “But we have a unique opportunity to help those in our community beyond just winning games. With the increasing challenges of mental illness, social media, anti-social and teen-criminal behaviour in our community, we believe we can play a major role in helping those in need on the northern beaches.

Loading “But it just doesn’t happen. It has to evolve. It’s got to grow. And in the last two months I have seen it." All footy clubs do unseen charity work but Manly have ramped up their contribution this season, engaging with their local community. It comes in the form of various programs involving all of its players. It’s not a photo opportunity but a philosophy about the greater good. One of them is the “Boomerang Effect Pilot Program”, headed by John and Theresa Novak, which is being implemented at Northern Beaches Christian School and Mona Vale Public.

Players Lachlan Croker, Cade Cust, Toff Sipley, Trent Hodkinson and Kane Elgey have attended panel sessions with Novak — the famed mind coach used by NRL clubs — to discuss the power of positivity with students, teachers and parents. The club also has an ongoing relationship with the Sargood Foundation, which helps to improve the lives of people living with spinal cord injuries through its support of Sargood on Collaroy, a stunning resort that provides guests, their families and care workers with respite and relaxation. It’s an organisation close to Hasler’s heart. Daly Cherry-Evans has blossomed into a leader during Hasler's second stint in charge after his first netted them the 2011 premiership. Credit:NRL Photos From their support of junior football, the Men of League foundation (of which Curtis Sironen is an ambassador) and regular hospital visits by its players, the Sea Eagles have again become a critical part of the region it represents. Front and centre is captain Daly Cherry-Evans, whose leadership hasn't gone unnoticed by the coaching staff and his teammates. The ambivalence of some fans about their skipper has seemingly evaporated.

After the tearaway 32-12 victory against the Tigers on a recent Thursday night, Jake and Tom Trbojveic got in a car and drove to Northern Beaches Hospital to visit Warwick “Wok” Bulmer, who has sung the team song since the 1970s. Not lately, though, after the 78-year-old cracked five ribs, dislocated an elbow and fractured his shoulder in a fall down backyard stairs at his Narrabeen home. So, the Trbojveic boys took the victory song to him. Amazing scenes. Perhaps the most important initiative from Sea Eagles players this season is their partnership with the Avalon Youth Hub. The Pittwater community has been highly affected by youth suicide over the past year or so and “The Hub” is a safe space for young people to connect with a range of youth services — or just connection with other people.

They hold a free sausage sizzle every Wednesday, with as many as 150 youths attending, and when they arrive they are greeted by Api Koroisau, Dylan Walker and Joel Thompson. “Like our players, the more resilient they are, the better they will function at home, on our streets and in the community at large,” Hasler says. “The northern beaches of Sydney are a microcosm of our greater community; our society. We realise we may not be able to do this for all Australians in need but we certainly will have a go locally because we all need to help and a football club offers hope.” The house full sign has gone up at Lottoland twice this year even before Saturday's clash with Melbourne. Credit:Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos The result of all this is a reconnect with the Manly community, just as the players pledged back in November at that first team meeting. Home crowds are up. Manly couldn’t crack the 15,000-mark last season but have done it twice — against Parramatta and the Knights — in 2019. A capacity crowd of 18,000 is expected for the Storm game.

After that 30-6 romp over the Knights, Hasler was asked about the likelihood of him being named Dally M Coach of the Year. “There are half-a-dozen better coaches than me,” he said. “Look at what Melbourne’s done … Ricky Stuart has done an outstanding job … I can tell you it’s the furthest thought from my mind.” We don’t doubt him but there’s no escaping what’s happened on his watch. Along with the help of his coaching staff in the background, Hasler has made the northern beaches feel like they have their team back. Because people on the peninsula talk. They know what’s going on, with each other and particularly their footy side. They couldn’t understand why the Sea Eagles were playing so poorly. Last year, some fans regularly spotted Barrett, members of his coaching staff and even some of his players draining schooners at a local pub.