Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler has refused to blame the ‘Manly Seven’ after his team was flogged 40-6 by Cronulla Sharks at 4 Pines Park on Saturday night.
Asked how the seven players’ refusal to wear a jumper adorned with the rainbow ‘pride’ symbol in a crucial game against the Roosters had affected the club’s season – which has gone right off a cliff after four straight losses – Hasler would not bite.
“We won’t be using that as an excuse,” Hasler said.
“We’re probably missing players as well. We’ve got quite a bit of talent on the sideline.
“But again, we won’t be using that as an excuse.
“We had 17 players out there tonight with an opportunity to win a game of footy.”
Kieran Foran, who played his last game for Manly at Brookvale on Saturday, insisted that team harmony “is good”.
