Bennett, Sheens, Smith, Bellamy and Stuart.
Des Hasler will enter rarefied air on Saturday when he sits down in the coaches’ box at Go Media Stadium on Saturday.
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This weekend’s Titans-Warriors clash in New Zealand will mark Hasler’s 500th game as an NRL head coach – the sixth person to ever record the milestone.
It’s been a trying year for Hasler, who of late has been under immense pressure amid reports the Titans are set to part ways with their coach just two seasons into a three-year deal.
Irrespective of that, or what Hasler’s coaching future looks like, the achievement of reaching 500 games cannot be diminished.
“Just a huge congratulations for what he’s done for the game as a whole,” a former player under Hasler in James Graham told foxsports.com.au.
“I’m proud of him for lasting this long.”
It takes a unique sort of person to have longevity in the NRL as a head coach, and it’s not difficult to see that Hasler is certainly a different cat.
It’s worked. Hasler is a dual-premiership winning coach with 270 wins to his name.
There have been some hiccups though. The curt, sometimes strange press conference in apparant disdain of the media.
The famous blow ups, which there have been a few, including the epic spray he gave a handful of Titans in the Leichhardt Oval sheds last Sunday.
Furious Des SPRAYS players in shower | 01:06
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There are also the messy endings at the Sea Eagles and Bulldogs – his two former employers – which ended up in legal disputes.
Former players who know him far better than the public do won’t argue that Hasler possesses some unique traits, but to them, he’s so much more than what the public perception is.
Retiring playmaker Kieran Foran shares an extremely close relationship with Hasler. No other player knows Des like Foran does.
The pair won a premiership together at Manly (2011) and Hasler handed Foran his NRL debut back in 2009.
In a full circle moment, Foran may also finish his career under Hasler assuming the coach lasts the season with the Titans.
Speaking to foxsports.com.au, Foran says there’s a much softer side to Hasler that the public don’t see.
“What’s always been interesting from people that have asked me about what he’s like, I think it’s that the majority of the public don’t get to see Des’ jovial side,” Foran said.
“Playing under him, you really get to see that side. He’s actually quite a funny bugger. He’s got a great sense of humour.
“People see his press conferences and see his blow ups and probably think he’s someone that doesn’t have a laugh or give off those warm vibes, but he actually is very warm.
“Around the club he’s giving blokes cuddles, he knows what to say at the right time, he knows when to have a laugh and a joke. He’s always caring about where everyone is at in their lives. That’s just not his players but his staff as well.
“He’s a great reader of people … He’s a really caring and genuine guy and I think the public probably don’t get to see that guy.
“I don’t think I’ve ever known someone to have such an integrity that Des has. Even if things are going pear-shaped, he’s got this incredible ability to treat everyone exactly the same.
“He’s a unique guy. Everyone talks about his pretty quirky traits and how he’s a deep thinker, but I’ve always related to him.
“He’s been his own man and he’s believed in his systems and how he’s done things… He’s a man of such high integrity and he’s got great values and morals as a human being.”
Barring his Titans stint, Hasler has had success wherever he’s gone.
After winning a comp with Manly in 2011, Hasler shocked the league by signing with the Bulldogs from the 2013 season.
That move would be fast tracked when Hasler was sacked by the Manly board mere weeks after hoisting the Provan-Summons trophy.
Landing at the Bulldogs, Hasler took over a team who had missed the finals the previous year.
He would orchestrate quite the turnaround, leading the Dogs to a grand final that season.
In fact, Hasler would take the Bulldogs to two grand finals (2012, 20134 – lost both) and only missed the top eight once in his six seasons at Belmore.
Graham played for the Bulldogs in all six of those seasons.
He detailed how Hasler was able to change the fortunes of a struggling club.
“I got to the Bulldogs for the pre-season for the 2012 campaign. I was new to the NRL but even speaking to the lads and my new teammates were telling me how things had gone up with the arrival of Des,” Graham told foxsports.com.au.
“They always trained hard at the Bulldogs, but Des took it to another level.
“He dived into other areas that maybe hadn’t been so prominent before such as altitude chambers, heart rate monitors in cardio sessions. He wasn’t afraid to experiment with different ideas with how to get the best out of his players.
“His intensity and what he demanded of his players was a huge factor as well.
“He implemented a new plan of attack, a new defensive structure. Those early years, it was adopted really well from the group.”
Graham said Hasler is, while intense, a very smart and calculating coach who is just as driven.
“I enjoyed his intensity. It’s something that stands out (from other coaches) and the constant pursuit of excellence,” the former NRL star said.
“On a personal level, he took me to my footballing intelligence limits.”
Seeing Hasler tear shreads of a few of the Titans players didn’t surprise Graham in the slightest. He’s seen worse than that.
“Obviously a few blow-ups stand out,” Graham said.
“One day an unnamed individual fell asleep during a video session and if you think alarm clocks are loud, well. he certainly let him know that he fell asleep.”
Hasler has won just 12 of 53 games in charge on the Gold Coast. For whatever reason, it hasn’t worked out.
Because of the clause in Hasler’s contract that allows the Titans to axe the coach once the club is mathematically eliminated from making the top eight, it’s led to speculation that once Hasler reaches his 500th game, he’ll part ways with the Titans and ride off into the sunset.
However, the Titans’ brass have poured cold water on suggestions they are trying to move Hasler on while the 64-year-old told Code Sports earlier this week that he has no plans to retire yet.
His great mate Foran doesn’t know what Hasler’s Titans future looks like either.
That’s not relevant right now though. What matters to Foran is Hasler leaving New Zealand a winner.
“I hope we go out and there and do a job for him. He deserves it,” Foran said.
“I couldn’t be happier for him. It’s a wonderful and massive milestone to reach.”
