'Needs to go now': Parker calls for premiership-winning NRL coach to stand down
NRL great Corey Parker has claimed the Titans might need to look to the future as soon as possible with coach Des Hasler shutting down speculation over a future career decision after his side's latest loss. Hasler has been under plenty of pressure in 2025 to turn around the form of the Titans with their loss to an injury-hit Parramatta Eels side seeing them drop to last on 12 points.
While injuries to Keano Kini, David Fifita and most recently Jayden Campbell haven't helped his cause, the Titans are struggling again in 2025 having struggled to string two wins together. They finished 14th last year and unless they can turn around their from it could be looking worse in 2025.
Hasler's job security has been questioned after a lean run of results and speculation has emerged he could even be looking at retirement after his current contract. This appeared to frustrate the coach who denied the rumours after the game against the Eels.
And former Broncos and Queensland forward Parker feels the Titans need to know if Hasler is looking to make a call on his career, which could prompt an immediate decision. 'There has been some talk about Des Hasler and that he is potentially going to retire at the end of the season,' he said on SEN Radio on Tuesday.
'If that is true, then Dezzy needs to go now. If he is going to retire, he needs to go now. Only Des and management will know if he is going to go and they bring in someone with the credentials to take over or Jim Lenihan. There is no upside if he is going to go.'
Speaking after the game against the Eels, Hasler was not impressed with the speculation going around about his next move. 'No, they're just whispers, mate. It's just rumour and innuendo," Hasler said of the speculation he is going to retire.
'I don't know if there's speculation that's been reported, but obviously, sitting in last position that we don't want to be in. We thought coming in like it's very tight there at the bottom. In those sides, it's pretty congested.'
A premiership-winning coach at the Manly Sea Eagles, Hasler was brought into fix the Titans with many feeling they have been underperforming with their current roster. Up to six players in the squad have played State of Origin at some point with two representatives currently in the team. There is plenty of depth at the club, despite No.1 fullback Kini being ruled out for the season.
And The Courier Mail reporter Travis Head agreed with Parker and felt the Titans could be better of making a call sooner in a bid to turn their playing group around. Although he didn't blame Hasler for all the results going against them in recent years.
'Maybe they should just cut ties,' he said. 'The noise is getting louder and louder. If they're planning to move him out at the end of the year just cut him out, it's another failed experiment. There's a soft underbelly at the club, Des was meant to fix that but it takes more than a coach to fix that.'
Earlier this year, the Daily Telegraph's Michael Carayannis reported there were clauses in Hasler's deal that stated if Gold Coast are mathematically out of finals contention later in the season, then the Titans can decide to part ways with the veteran coach then and there. 'He originally signed a three-year deal but there's clauses in his deal and one of those is a top-eight clause,' Carayannis said.
'That is if they don't make the top eight this year, the Titans are under no obligation to keep him at the club next yet. There's another element to it and that's if when they are mathematically no chance of playing finals footy, they can split immediately."
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