Everyone is pretty Anti-Des. It's kind of understandable. As usual I disagree with everyone.
Yet I think he actually is a great coach and did wonders at Manly.
Remember he kept that big group of stars, Lyon, Watmough, the Stewarts, Matai, etc Together. There was HUGE dysfunction at the board level with one group basically wanting to kill the other group. He took that team to the premiership and made a top 4 side out of not much.
I have no Doubt he flirted the cap and back-ended deals. But he got the Sea Eagles to 2 premierships. Under Geoff Toovey's reign the really tough choices had to be made and for some reason they hung onto Lyon and Matai (and still went to a final with them).
At the Dogs, well the attachment to Brett Morris on 600K is a very poor choice. He seemed to keep a reasonable forward pack but only get enough pounce for the Semi's but not the Grand Finals. Ofcourse he backended the cap like anything. Offering huge money to anyone he thought was talented (i.e. Fifita, etc).
Also his fickle attitude to halfbacks probably got him undone. He kind of knew Trent Hodkinson was past his prime. But Moses Mbye? Cmon he was never a real option in the halves.
Ofcourse the Board agreed with him. Ofcourse the board and him agreed that they could fudge to get who they wanted. They did not get what they wanted and Raylene, Des then Dib faced the axe.
I still rate Des as a coach.
