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Hasler sends SMS to fans

Hasler sends SMS to fans

09/19/2011 05:57:07 AM

Manly coach Des Hasler has taken the extraordinary step of texting apathetic Sea Eagles fans, imploring them to get to the SFS for Friday night's preliminary final against Brisbane.

The club is also putting on free buses from Sydney's northern beaches in a further attempt to drag supporters off the couch and into Moore Park for the grand final qualifier.

Sea Eagles fans have long been accused of not travelling to away games, with less than 14,000 turning out for the third qualifying final against North Queensland at the SFS.

Hasler is desperate for Manly fans to attend Friday's match in big numbers, lending his name to a mass text message send out to all 11,000 club members on Monday.

The text, sent out by the club using the coach's name, reads: "From: Des Hasler. Friday night Sea Eagles v Broncos @ the SFS. Get behind our boys as they fight for their spot in the NRL GF."

Manly CEO David Perry said the match represented the perfect opportunity for Manly fans to bury the notion they don't travel to away games in large numbers.

"Manly fans are fiercely loyal to Des Hasler, Jamie Lyon and the team and the best way to help lift them towards another grand final is to get out to the SFS in droves and cheer them on," he said.

"We want to see a procession of buses full of fans decked out in maroon and white making their way to the SFS."

"We want to turn the SFS into a maroon and white cauldron."

"This is a great opportunity to show rugby league supporters what makes Manly fans so special."

Skipper Lyon has also been recruited in the drive for fans, urging northern beaches residents to get behind the team by displaying the team's colours in public.

With a grand final berth up for grabs combined with free transport and the possibility of witnessing Darren Lockyer's last game, NRL officials are hopeful a crowd of around 30,000 will converge on the SFS.

The Sea Eagles are the only Sydney club left standing after Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra both bowed out at the weekend.

 

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