Hasler “Didn’t Want Moses”, Says Dib

JAMES Tedesco and Aaron Woods were willing to take pay cuts if Mitchell Moses was brought to Canterbury but the Bulldogs’ former coach Des Hasler didn’t want him, chairman Ray Dib has claimed.
The revelation is one of many in a new Q&A Dib has done with the Sydney Morning Herald on the eve of fiery club elections. Dib claims many clubs don’t declare new contracts to the NRL when they are signed due to salary cap pressure.
He also says that James Graham wanted to give up the captaincy if he stayed at Belmore and that former CEO Todd Greenberg gave Hasler “too much control”.
“When you’ve got a lot of big-name players coming off contract, they want to know who the coach is before they re-sign,” Dib is quoted as saying.
“You’re talking to Tedesco, Moses and Woods. All three were ready to sign, mate. All three. But Des didn’t want Mitchell Moses because he said he wasn’t the style of player and couldn’t play the footy he wanted to play. Des said, ‘he’s not good enough to play’.
“All three were done. Then Des wasn’t convinced on Moses. I organised a personal meeting with Tedesco and Woods with Des Hasler. And they tried to convince Des Hasler that Mitchell was our man. Tedesco said ‘I want to play for the Dogs but I need to know who the halves will be. If you sign Mitchell, I will sign tomorrow. I’m with you’. Des said no.
“I remember both those players were prepared to sacrifice part of their contacts to bring Mitchell over. But once again, it was Des’ call.”
On the salary cap, Dib commented: “We were too honest. Every player we increased and extended their terms, we registered that immediately with the NRL.
“I know some clubs today haven’t registered existing contracts because they would be over the cap.”
And on Hasler’s original contact with the club: “To entice a premiership-winning coach, you have to give a little bit more. And Todd (Greenberg, the former CEO who now heads the NRL) did that. Maybe too much.
“We gave Des probably too much control, but you’re trying to get the best coach in the game four weeks after he won the grand final with Manly.”
Graham, according to Dib, “told me a year ago that he didn’t want to be captain beyond this year. Nobody knows that. The captaincy was taking its toll, working with Des. He respects Des but Des is a difficult character.
“He’s a hard person and players and staff found it hard to approach him. I told Des that but he didn’t believe it. Des wasn’t given the feedback he deserved because players and staff didn’t feel comfortable.”