Toovey requested a get-together with Fulton and the pair talked all things Manly for around 90 minutes over a cup of coffee.

It is understood Fulton won't impose himself but he is there for Toovey in a tough time. He is playing an increasing role at the Eagles and has the potential  to be an ongoing sounding board for the coach.

So far Fulton has been focusing on the Manly juniors, but it's worth remembering that it was Fulton who brought Toovey into first grade and made him captain.

Toovey is a smart operator and knows he is going to need allies. He is now in a perform-or-perish situation – he needs to win and keep winning.

Despite strong praise from club boss Joe Kelly there is  continuing talk that Toovey is under the pump. The line is being pushed that players are not developing on his watch and Toovey knows losing the battle for Kieran Foran to Brad Arthur can't help – that would hurt even more than Daly Cherry-Evans.

The pressure started to mount on Toovey after the loss of Glenn  Stewart. Senior players wanted him to fight to the death to keep him at the club and to make the board offer him a deal. Since that time the tide has turned against Toovey.

He wanted Anthony Watmough to stay – he didn't. And, of course, he wanted Cherry-Evans to stay.

Toovey had the potential to be a sacrificial lamb in an effort to secure Foran. The view was to pinch Arthur so that Foran wouldn't be able to use the coach as an excuse to leave.

The problem for Toovey may not disappear as the Eagles will try to sway Foran up until round 13. Players have been flipped before. But the only issue for Foran is that he has said all along that developing his game is the main issue in his decision-making  – hence if they plan to change his mind, it can only mean a change of coach is in the wind.

Kelly said the club would still try to keep him. "We will be in the fight till round 13," he said. There has been talk that Nathan Brown has been approached – and even Des Hasler.

"We have not contacted any other coach, Geoff will be here and he will be given every bit of support to get us back to our winning ways," Kelly said.  Hasler was in rare form this week, giving back-to-back media conferences – dubbing referees "Voldemorts" created the most interest – but there was a more intriguing answer when he pulled up a reporter who suggested that he "left" Manly.

Hasler has been blamed for the current demise of the Eagles; Manly insiders will say that he left them with back-ended contracts and then took the cash at Belmore.

The truth is different.  From what this column has gleaned, in the end Hasler was not given a choice in the matter – he was not offered a deal.

The reason: as is Des's way, he had taken  control of the football team away from the club and management  and they did not like that.

Hasler built the modern-day Eagles.  Back in 2004 the Tax Office had its claws out  and Manly was  about to be put into insolvency – until a club supporter used his superannuation to dig the club out of a hole.

The team then soared to a couple of grand final wins, but they are in danger of dipping into the dark days. Hasler made the point that he felt for his old club. That only added to thoughts that he may be headed back there – the rumour of an approach to Hasler has been doing the rounds.

The Dogs with their truckloads of cash would be hard to beat in a legal fight if Hasler decamped, but those who know him say it's not on the cards. He was being genuine when he expressed concern that  the Eagles have lost five marquee players: Foran, Cherry-Evans, Watmough, Glenn Stewart and Will Hopoate.

The weakening of the Eagles is a massive concern to the game,  one that is going to put pressure on the attempts by NRL boss Dave Smith to throw extra money at Greg Inglis to keep him happy in the game.  Clubs will cry foul that they didn't get help to keep players, especially in Manly's case when they lost  Cherry-Evans to the NRL-backed Titans.

Reynolds in love, no joshing

Josh Reynolds  has been off the air, according to his close mates. But it's for a good reason. It appears the Bulldogs five-eighth is having far more luck off the field than on it – he has a new girlfriend, Chloe Matterson, and it's easy to understand why he is hard to get for boys' nights out these days. The pair met at a Rihanna concert. Reynolds is confident that his arm injury won't keep him out for the six to eight weeks that was first forecast.

Trent keeps faith

The Bulldogs were the behind-the-scenes players in the scramble to sign Kieran Foran – which suddenly raised question marks about what they were planning to do with off-contract half Trent Hodkinson. But while all the drama has been going on at Brookvale the Dogs held meetings with Hodkinson's management with a view to signing him to a new deal. Perhaps the greatest indication that the Dogs have faith in him is they made sure  he had stem cell surgery in the off-season: an expensive procedure, but one they felt was worthwhile.

"Of course I want to stay at the club," said Hodkinson. "They have invested in me with the operation and I want to repay them for the faith they showed in me." Hodkinson started the year on the back foot – he only began running in February. There is no question his old club Manly  will have a go at bringing him back. The Sharks have been linked with him too – they say Hodkinson is not on their radar and that signing him has not been mentioned in internal discussions. It would not be a hard transition if he became a target – he knows the games of Mick Ennis and Ben Barba.

Bunnies reunion

Sam Burgess' act of driving from Bath to Leeds and back – an eight-hour round trip – to spend two hours with his old Souths teammates while they were in England says a lot about the man.  It's also telling on another front – he is missing them and Australia. There  are already whispers that Burgess is eyeing a return to the NRL, but those who know  him best say that his personal pride will ensure he keeps on having a crack at making it in his new code. It is a struggle for him, but he is making progress. The Bunnies couldn't fit him in this year, but with plenty of players coming off contract in 2016 it would be easy to slide the Souths hero in then.

All hail Hayne

Paul Gallen organised a Blues get-together to farewell Jarryd Hayne at Pinocchio's restaurant in Randwick. Almost all  the Sydney-based players attended, which is a far cry from days when players would make themselves unavailable to play for NSW. Hayne was blown away by the support he received from the players. Make no mistake, the victory in Origin made his decision easier – Hayne knew during the series that it would be his last.

Geyer bounced

Jesse Sene-Lafeo provided some much-needed light relief at the Eagles when talking about his nights working as a bouncer. He lives at Dee Why but bounces at Penrith on nights late in the week when he isn't playing. Asked if he had tossed out any NRL player, he revealed his greatest scalp – a former international.

"Yeah, Mark Geyer ... guys like that. He didn't know who I was. He wasn't happy. It was a big decision. It was just for RSA reasons." It happened about three years ago – Geyer's  successful career as a Grill Team announcer would rarely allow for a night out these days. Asked if Geyer  used the "don't you know who I am?" line, Jesse laughed: "He didn't say those words, but he was indicating that way."  He'd like to stop bouncing, but for now he needs the cash. "It keeps me humble and keeps me hungry. I'm doing it for my family and it doesn't feel as bad when you are working for your kids. I was once told if you are not tired you are not working hard enough."

Beyond scrutiny

When it comes to referees, the money that has been spent on them is estimated at $15 million over the past year. No wonder the coaches are arcing up at not being able to criticise them.

All talk, no fire

There was plenty of talk about the clash between Anthony Watmough and Daly Cherry-Evans in the lead-up to last week's Parramatta-Manly clash, but it didn't result in fireworks, or a post-match handshake for that matter. There was more heat in the  clash between Manly prop Brenton Lawrence and former Manly enforcer Darcy Lussick. There was plenty said, with Watmough chiming in.

Swans get lucky

The Swans are sure to benefit from the handing down of the AFL anti-doping tribunal's decision on the Essendon supplement scandal – no matter the result. They play the Bombers in the week when the decision is due.

Door ajar for Bird

Talk coming out of the Titans camp even before Greg Bird's drama was that they were trying to offload the Blues star. Bird is aware of it and he is far from thrilled.

Character test

Trent Merrin knows that the Dragons leaked the terms of his deal with the Panthers – a $750,000-a-year deal makes it look like he left the club for cash. His decision is related to other recruitment decisions, the communication from the coaching staff and the level of respect that the Panthers have shown him in the recruitment process.  Merrin is facing a huge test of character this year – he must feel like tossing it in, but he knows he needs to perform out of respect for his teammates and for the fans who have backed him for years. It's a situation that deserves close attention.

Stepping lightly

Glenn Stewart's switch to Souths is the reason he  says he is five kilograms lighter than he was last year. "I don't think I've ever been fitter," he said. And he has given the doubters at his old employers a reminder why they should have at least made him an offer to stay at the club that he loved so much.

Souths have swapped the Burgess brutality for the subtlety of Stewart – and to his credit Michael Maguire has changed the approach of the team to suit what they have at their disposal. Maguire spent time observing Stewart and listening to him before deciding on the perfect way to get the best out of him. It's worth noting that Stewart has struck up a great friendship with Bunnies half Adam Reynolds – you can't help but think they are going to cause havoc for teams throughout the year.

Sutton fronts up

John Sutton handled a difficult media grilling well during the week, showing remorse over the Arizona incident and even throwing in some humour. It was his best effort in front of the microphones and cameras. The only thing is that if Souths had put Sutton forward four months ago the issue would have been done with then.

Danny Weidler is a Channel Nine reporter