Finals ambitions dented but Hasler won't die wondering

Manly Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler says the side's finals hopes aren't an impossible task over the next five weeks but conceded their 56-16 loss had put a major dent in their aspirations.

Hasler will require injury assessments on Moses Suli (foot) and Tevita Funa to compound the 40-point loss on a night that will go down as one of the most disappointing in club history.

The Sea Eagles were starved of possession with just 36 percent in total, while they came up with 13 errors and 39 missed tackles on their way to conceding nine tries to three.

"It wasn't a good night, the first eight minutes was about as good as it got," Hasler said.

"Souths were very good. We couldn't stop the momentum there in the first half. " I think they came off disappointed, they're embarrassed and hurt by it.

"The second half they were better but 38-0 at half-time the game was dead.

"We've got seven days to think about it because we play against Melbourne next week.

"These games and situations players can't wait to play again and want the turnaround to be pretty quick."

Asked about the Sea Eagles' chances of making the top eight from here, Hasler was realistic about the situation.

"It's not impossible but certainly makes it harder," he said.

"It certainly didn't help the for and against."

The Sea Eagles are likely to have Joel Thompson return from a lacerated tongue but Hasler was coy on the possibility of Albert Hopoate being recalled from the Warriors to help their backline woes.

Hopoate, 19, is yet to make his NRL debut and is coming off an ACL reconstruction.

"Albert isn't going to solve the situation but we'll have to assess to see where we're at," Hasler said.

"We'll have a look at Suli's injury and see what the report is on Tevita as well. It could be anything, until we get a scan we won't know."