Reports have surfaced the deal is done, but after opening losses to Melbourne and the Roosters, club chiefs are reluctant to announce Hasler’s signing for fear of fan backlash.

Should Canterbury notch some consistent wins, the club is expected to unveil the news the master coach is staying until the end of 2019.

“What you’ll see going on behind the surface is that Des is safe,” Channel Seven’s Josh Massoud told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.

“I understand that Des is safe at Canterbury. I understand the deal is all but done, the two year deal.

“The players seem pretty comfortable that it’s happened. The only thing is from a PR perspective, how can the club announce it when they are on a six-match losing streak and they have such a vitriolic fanbase?

“Bulldogs fans are going to go, ‘How the hell can you re-sign this guy?’”

“The board and the Bulldogs and Des just need them to win a couple of games so it’s a more rosy story.”

It is a stunning turnaround for Hasler after Belmore legends including four-time premiership-winner Steve Mortimer called for the mentor’s head following the side’s dismal end to 2016.

Mortimer threatened to and then resigned from the club after Hasler was kept for 2017.