According to sources speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the matter being before the courts, the Sea Eagles plan to subpoena the phone and email records of Titans officials including chief executive Steve Mitchell, chairman Dennis Watt and the club’s owners.

The defence wants to mitigate any potential payout, given that Hasler is now employed elsewhere, in a move that will establish whether the Titans were aware that Hasler intended to sue his former club while negotiating with his future one.

According to the statement of claim tendered to the court, Hasler maintains the club didn’t consult him about its “rainbow jersey” plans.

“The adoption for the design of that playing jersey was undertaken by the Club and required to be worn by all participating players, such decision being made without prior consultation either with the Club players or the First Plaintiff [Hasler],” the document states.

First plaintiff was informed that it was his decision whether the team would wear the rainbow jersey or their regular jerseys for the Roosters game during a meeting held by the defendant’s Board of Directors on July 25, 2022. First plaintiff stated that the rainbow jersey should be worn and that he had players available to replace any players who did not want to wear it. He also urged the Board to confirm that the rainbow jersey would be worn, and the Board endorsed his decision” of the first plaintiff.

Seven top-line players chose not to wear the rainbow jersey and boycotted the Roosters clash. The understrength Manly side, who were sitting in ninth spot before that fixture, lost the game and didn’t win again all year, finishing the season in 11th spot after six straight losses.

Hasler, who was allegedly given notice of his termination on October 13 last year, required a top eight finish to trigger an automatic contract extension.

According to Hasler’s claim, the withdrawal of the seven players had an adverse “impact upon the strength and morale in successive playing rounds” that led to the failure of the club to qualify for the finals. The statement of defence labels the allegation “entirely speculative”.

“Before the Roosters Game, which was Round 20 of the 2022 season, the defendant’s first grade team was in 9th position on the competition ladder with four (4) teams tied on 20 competition points for the 2022 season in positions 8, 9, 10 and 11 on the competition ladder with the defendant coming 9th position going into the Roosters Game, by virtue of its ‘points differential’ compared with those other teams, that is, the numerical gap between points scored and points allowed),” it continues.

“To have finished in the Top 8 (and reach the finals) in the 2022 season, the defendant’s first grade team would have had to win most of its games from Round 19 (which it lost to St George), and to do so, defeat teams they had not previously defeated in the 2022 season.

“The seven (7) players who did not play the Roosters Game due to not wanting to wear the Rainbow Jersey made themselves available for selection for all remaining games of the 2022 season.

“One of the defendant’s star players, fullback Tom Trbojevic remained unavailable for all games from around May 2022 due to injury (including the Roosters Game).

“The defendant’s first grade team ended the 2022 season in 11th position on the competition ladder.”