LEAGUE legend Matty Johns says a serious coaching merry-go-round in the NRL is looming.

The comments came on Thursday night’s The Late Show with Matty Johns when the panel was asked about the future of Canterbury coach Des Hasler.

Hasler’s contract at the Bulldogs expires this year and his future has been a hot topic in rugby league circles over the past few months.

The talk escalated late last season when club legend and then-board member Steve Mortimer made comments about the culture being impacted by Hasler’s presence at Belmore.

Round 19

Now Johns says Hasler is big chance to head back to his old club at Brookvale.

“I reckon he will be back at Manly,” Johns said.

“I think we’re going to see a lot of shuffling around with coaches at the end of this season, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we see Des back at Manly.

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Canterbury Bulldogs coach Des Hasler. Source: News Corp Australia

“Manly’s a unique club, and like a lot of places it takes a certain type of person to coach there. I think it takes a Manly person to have success.”

The implication would be Trent Barrett being shown the door by Manly after just two years in charge.

Hasler fronted media only a week ago to ensure the public a two-year contract extension was all but finalised.

But Fox Sports’ chief NRL reporter James Hooper told NRL Tonight the contract is on hold.

“It’s in a holding pattern,” Hooper said.

“Des is one of the most interesting characters in the NRL, he launched on the front foot last week and told us all that a contract signature was imminent and he was remaining at the Bulldogs for 2018 and 2019.

“If you speak to some of the most influential figures on that board they tell you yes there’s a deal on the table, but they are not about to put pen to paper just yet.

“They want to see results the Bulldogs can produce over the opening rounds of the season.”

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WHY HAYNE’S IMPACT COULD END

NRL legend Matty Johns says Jarryd Hayne won’t have an impact in the modern game if he doesn’t have a good attitude towards training.

Hayne’s training ethic has come into question again this week and Johns says the cross-code star may not last if the rumours are true.

“If you’re not the best trainer you’ve got to be the best player,” he told The Late Show with Matty Johns.

“I don’t think in the current game, with the style of athlete and players going around, I don’t think you can be a poor trainer and make an impact.

“In 2017 if you aren’t a good trainer you aren’t going to have an impact.”

STORM LOCK UP STAR PLAYERS: REPORT

Fairfax Media has reported Dale Finucane has agreed to a new four-year deal with Melbourne despite being chased by Newcastle.

The Storm have not yet made it official.

The report also quotes club CEO Dave Donaghy as saying Cooper Cronk has not spoken to anyone at the Storm about retiring at the end of this year.

RICKY LAUDS ‘COURAGEOUS’ WIGHTON

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart labelled Jack Wighton’s decision to withdraw from round one as “courageous”.

Wighton pulled himself from the team list at the last minute after succumbing to illness.

“It was just very unlucky. He woke up at 4am on Saturday in North Queensland with bad stomach cramps and then he was ill all day,” Stuart told media.

“It was touch and go and the decision was left to Jack and it was probably more the courageous decision to say, ‘no I can’t play’.”

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WHY HAYNE COULD TAKE TIME

Jarryd Hayne has been beaten from pillar to post this week. A lacklustre performance in round one hasn’t helped.

But retired star Anthony Minichello says the Titans fullback will bounce back, whether it’s this week or next month.

“To be honest I’m not sure what response we’ll get — he’s either going to perform the same as last week or he’ll play outstanding,” Minichello told NRL Tonight.

“In the pre-season I was hearing he was in the rehab squad a lot, so is he a little bit underdone? He could be.

“I think it might take a few more games to get his match fitness up. But once he’s match fit and his head is on he’s hard to stop.”

YOUNG WARRIOR LEARNS HIS LESSON

Warriors winger Ken Maumalo says he will tone it down on the field after narrowly escaping punishment late in Sunday’s win over Newcastle.

Maumalo started a scuffle late in the game when he shoved Jamie Buhrer after the latter had made a mistake with the ball.

The young flanker knows it could have been costly to his team.

“There was no need for me to do that. It’s a learning thing for me and I know next time not to let them get into my head,” Maumalo told the New Zealand Herald.

“When I was making those errors in the first half, he was giving it to me, so that’s why I thought I would give it back to him (Buhrer).”