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The surprise twist in the Morgan Harper selection drama

Adam Lucius
·Contributor
·2-min read
Morgan Harper has been left out of Manly's side for the Souths clash after a game to forget against the Sharks. Pic: Getty
Morgan Harper has been left out of Manly's side for the Souths clash after a game to forget against the Sharks. Pic: Getty

The first important step in Morgan Harper's rehabilitation as a footballer took place at 4pm Tuesday when Des Hasler left him out of the side to play South Sydney on Friday night.

Hasler is a players' coach and very close to his men, but knows the last thing Harper needs is a week of scrutiny over how he'd perform a week after his horror show against Cronulla.

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Sharks centre Siosifa Talakai is still wiping the centre's remains from his boots after relentlessly exploiting Harper's – and Manly's – right-hand side defensive frailties.

It was the most destructive display seen by an individual in years.

One fan described it as TV's first live crucifixion.

Harper was hooked at half-time and has been a popular rugby league meme since.

Concerned teammates have rallied around him as one Manly supporters Facebook page warned fans against posting personal attacks and vitriolic comments.

There was all-round relief when Hasler named Tolu Koula in the centres for the Bunnies clash, with Harper to travel to the central coast as 18th man

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The maligned Harper has found an unlikely ally in former Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen, who questioned why the heat was being applied to just one player.

Gal said: "It's easy to throw it on one bloke but he never had a lot of help inside or out.

"His winger (Jason Saab) didn't help him at all and neither did (the men) inside him.

"To throw it on him is easier than dropping those other blokes."

Pictured right is Manly's Morgan Harper and Sharks wrecking ball Siosifa Talakai on the left.
Manly's Morgan Harper (R) endured a horror first half trying to contain Sharks wrecking ball Siosifa Talakai. Pic: Getty/AAP

Hasler has also come under fire for not taking Harper out of the game earlier, potentially saving him from further embarrassment.

The coach was trying to protect the 23-year-old from further ridicule and psychological damage but, in hindsight, perhaps needed to be cruel to be kind.

"I don't know what Des was thinking - it was a giant mistake and he should have owned up to it," Manly life member and veteran commentator Peter Peters declared.

"You've got to pick your side on form, not on playing favourites."

The coach has listened and acted.

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