Former Manly, NSW and Australian player Noel Cleal believes the club must do all it can to retain coach Des Hasler.

Cleal, who won the 1987 premiership with the Sea Eagles, feels it would be impossible for the NRL club to replace Hasler if he was to leave Brookvale Oval.

The 2008 premiership-winning coach has an option in his current deal with the Sea Eagles in his favour for next season and only has to activate it to remain in charge.

But a report in April said the club were poised to offer Hasler a two-year extension to keep him with the Sea Eagles until 2014 and Cleal believes that would be a smart move.

"He's certainly as good a coach as what there is in the NRL," Cleal, the Sea Eagles recruitment manager, told reporters on Tuesday.

"It's not losing Des, it's replacing Des and there's no-one out there that you can find to replace him.

"He's an integral part of what goes on at the joint, he virtually is the club with what he does with the job and it'd be a sad day if Des wasn't coaching Manly."

Cleal is also hopeful the club can retain the services of boom youngster Will Hopoate despite reported interest from several clubs including the Sydney Roosters, St George Illawarra and Parramatta.

"Naturally we are, he's a great talent, only 18 years of age and he's certainly a shining light for what's coming through the system," Cleal said.

"All I can say is we'll be in the mix and hopefully we can re-sign him and continue having the Hopoate name associated with the Manly club."

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