Manly will offer Anthony Seibold a three-year deal to turn the club into a premiership force as the Sea Eagles inch closer to officially announcing Des Hasler’s replacement.
Former Rabbitohs and Broncos coach Seibold is expected to be given considerable time to morph Manly into a genuine top four side as Manly and the coach’s management thrash out the finer details of his contract.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the Sea Eagles are working on an initial deal which will take Seibold through to the end of 2025.
The three-year proposal is a vote of faith from owner and chairman Scott Penn in the England rugby union assistant, who is likely to miss the start of Manly’s pre-season to finish his commitments with Eddie Jones in Europe.
While he took up a monster deal with Brisbane which had a sixth year in his favour, Seibold’s contract with Manly will be shorter, but still offer him time to make his own mark on a club where he was a former assistant.
The Sea Eagles are circling premiership-winning coach Shane Flanagan to be Seibold’s assistant on the northern beaches.
Anthony Seibold will be offered a three-year deal at Manly.Credit:Getty Images AsiaPac
Flanagan is currently in charge of St George Illawarra’s list management while juggling various media roles, but has openly discussed his ambition to return to coaching.
Manly is facing a looming legal threat from Hasler, who was sacked last week after months of negotiations over whether he would be granted an extension for 2024.
The club baulked at offering the legendary Sea Eagles player and coach another 12 months on top of his existing deal for 2023, and decided to move quickly on Seibold.
One of Hasler’s long-term confidants, performance guru Don Singe, took to social media on Monday night to announce he was leaving the club as the Sea Eagles prepare to usher in a new era under Seibold.
Manly officials have also been in contact with star fullback Tom Trbojevic after Hasler’s sacking to alleviate his concerns over the direction of the club.
Trbojevic called a meeting with his manager Paul Sutton the day after Hasler’s sacking with the agent claiming the Dally M winner and his brother Jake were concerned the club was “imploding” over the Hasler saga.
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