Anthony Seibold’s coaching career came crashing down just over two years ago — and now he’s set to get a shot at redemption as Manly’s new head coach.
After months of turbulence, the Sea Eagles made the call to sack Des Hasler on Thursday. That is despite Hasler reportedly being open to the changes that club powerbrokers wanted to make.
It shouldn’t have come as a shock though. When it was put to club owner Scott Penn on Tuesday that Hasler had coached his last game, all he could muster up was: “Well look, I can’t really comment on that yet but we certainly have some bridges to mend.”
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In the same interview Penn also confirmed Manly’s interest in Seibold.
“We’re still working through our pathway whether that’s assistant to start or the full process but right now we have identified him as someone we’re very interested in,” he said.
Seibold will have to finish up his duties as defence coach with England’s rugby union team first before arriving to Brookvale. But when he does walk through the doors he should expect an eerie environment.
Although the dramas at Manly began during the rainbow jersey saga, they really ignited after the playing group had signed off for the season with Hasler meeting with the board several times while players enjoyed their break.
Those not playing in the World Cup will return in early November to no Hasler and no doubt a lot of questions.
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It’s the last thing this squad needs after the seven weeks of reports claiming a player divide is part of the fallout from the jersey saga.
And in a truly worrying sign for the Sea Eagles, the Trbojevic brothers — local juniors and the lifeblood of Manly — are said to be “unhappy” and “concerned” that their beloved club is “imploding.”
Paul Sutton, the manager of Jake and Tom Trbojevic revealed that his star clients are “really down in the dumps,” so much so that Jake contacted him from Kangaroos camp in the UK to express his concerns.
Sutton even indicated that a club switch may be considered.
“Obviously you’d assume Tommy would be a Sea Eagle for life but all the internal rumblings and conflict have taken a toll on him mentally,” he said.
“He has expressed to me his disappointment in the club’s behaviour. He has expressed he is unhappy — both Jake and Tom have.”
Both the Trbojevic brothers and Manly skipper, Daly Cherry-Evans, are loyal supporters of Hasler.
But all three have also worked with Seibold — he was an assistant back when Trent Barrett was at the helm of the Sea Eagles.
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Seibold got his first shot as an NRL head coach with the Rabbitohs in 2018, leading them to a third-place finish and being rewarded with Dally M Coach of the Year honours.
He moved to the Broncos the following season in a swap with Wayne Bennett. Brisbane locals were so thrilled by the appointment that The Courier Mail produced a cutout with a photo of Seibold reading: “This man will win a premiership. Fans: Cut this out and stick it on the fridge to help you through the hard times”.
Ironically, Seibold’s name soon became the forefront of the hard times.
He signed a five-year deal but lasted less than two.
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A 58-nil shellacking from the Eels put the Broncos on the wrong end of the biggest finals loss in NRL history. It was also the biggest loss in the club’s history… until the Roosters put 59 points on them in Round 4 of the 2020 season.
Things didn’t get any better and after Round 13 Seibold took a leave absence which eventually turned into a termination of his infamous contract.
It was a horror season in which the Broncos collected their first wooden spoon.
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Just over a year later, Seibold began working with England’s rugby team and returned to the NRL world as a coaching consultant at the Knights, with the latter role only lasting a season.
But despite some “false starts” the Sea Eagles are confident that Seibold is the man to lead them out of this hole.
After all, Penn is confident the roster is not the problem.
“We have a premiership-winning team, what we need is a football department that can get us back there as quickly as possible,” he told Nine News on Tuesday.
Penn also believes that Seibold’s attention to detail will serve Manly well.
“Anthony has been at the club before. He demonstrated phenomenal intellect, he’s a great tactician, he’s really good with the players and he’s shown he’s got credentials as a head coach,” he said.
“(He is) someone who certainly had a few false starts himself but he’s very capable and would do a tremendous job.”
But if Hasler’s exit is anything to go by, it won’t matter how intelligent Seibold is or how good his relationship with players is. Communication with senior management will be key.
