The Canterbury back-rower admits he was shocked to hear Hasler had been removed from the Bulldogs post, and not been given the opportunity to serve out the two-year contract extension he signed five months ago.

Outgoing Bulldogs captain James Graham said on Tuesday that sacking Hasler after six seasons was the wrong call, while it is understood the coach's removal from his post could lead to legal action.

Jackson tried contacting Hasler on Tuesday night before flying to Cairns en route to Papua New Guinea where the Prime Minister's XIII will play the Kumuls on Saturday, but hasn't heard back from his former mentor.

"I've got an enormous amount of respect for Des; he's done a lot for our club and he's done a lot for me personally as well," Jackson said. "Definitely feeling for him. The club's made the decision and we've got to respect that decision – the players can't do anything about it. We've just got to move on and look forward to next year.

"It did go on for a long time. It would've been hard on the coach more than anyone and there was a fair bit of added pressure there for him.

"We just tried to do our best, go out there and play the best we could for him."

The Bulldogs failed to make the finals this season, for the first time since Hasler took the reins in 2012.

Canterbury held a highly publicised board meeting in October last year, following comments from Bulldogs legend Steve Mortimer that the club was "losing our DNA" under the man who coached Manly to two premierships before moving to Belmore.

Hasler was reprieved at the meeting while Mortimer quit his position as a football club director.

Jackson is one of two Bulldogs in the Prime Minister's XIII team, alongside NSW forward David Klemmer. Departing Wests Tiger and PM's XIII captain Aaron Woods is also set to join the club next year.

Hasler is the fourth NRL coach to lose his job this year, following the departures of Jason Taylor from the Tigers, Neil Henry from Gold Coast and Michael Maguire from South Sydney.

Prime Minister's XIII winger Dane Gagai is in a similar position to Woods, having signed for South Sydney earlier this year while Maguire was still at the helm.

He'll play under Anthony Seibold now, who he has worked with at representative level.

"I haven't had the chance to speak with Seabs yet. I know him from the Origin squad and he's a good bloke and I know he'll do a good job," Gagai said. "I haven't had much time to honestly sit back and think about it. Once our season was done [at Newcastle] I had to start sorting stuff out for the move.

"In saying that I got selected for this team so all my focus is going to be on this.

"I played in 2015 and it was one of the most physical games I've played in and I'm not expecting anything different. I know they're going to come out with all intent to do their country proud and play a tough physical game of footy.

"These are reasons you play footy you want to make these types of sides and I was fortunate enough to be called back into the Prime Minister's squad."