Familiar challenge looms for Seibold

Scott Bailey and Jasper Bruce | October 13, 2022

Anthony Seibold is set to face the all-too-familiar challenge of trying to unite a fractured NRL club if, as expected, he takes over as Manly head coach.

The fallout of the Sea Eagles’ Pride Jersey saga ultimately proved too much on Thursday, with coach Des Hasler axed following an ugly seven-straight losses to end their season and rumours of a schism in the playing group.

The sacking came despite Hasler reportedly telling the club he would agree to have an understudy – likely Seibold – as he saw out the final year of his contract next season before handing over the reins.

Now there won’t be any transition, with Seibold expected to be announced as head coach imminently.

Not that the scenario is all that new for Seibold.

After claiming the Dally M coach of the year award as a rookie head coach with South Sydney in 2018, Seibold took over at Brisbane in similar circumstances ahead of the 2019 season.

Like Hasler, Seibold’s predecessor at the Broncos, Wayne Bennett, had a year left to run on his contract at a club where he was a beloved figure among current and former players as well as fans.

Seibold’s appointment to the Broncos came in the face of disapproval from the club’s old boys, who wanted Kevin Walters put in charge.

The ill will lingered in the background as Seibold lasted less than two seasons of a lengthy deal, scraping into the finals in 2019 before being axed following poor on-field results in 2020.

At Manly, he will likely also need to find on-field success fast.

Owner Scott Penn claimed this week that the club had a premiership-ready roster, indicating he believed the current football department did not match.

Manly also have some recent history of acting quick on their coaches.

In the past decade, just three NRL head coaches have been axed within 12 months of their team making the top four.

Two of those have been at Manly: Geoff Toovey in 2014 and now Hasler at the end of 2022.

Ivan Cleary is the other, shown the door by Phil Gould at Penrith in 2015 after reaching the top four the previous year before returning four years later to win back-to-back premierships.

In making a decision on Thursday, Manly have at least avoided a repeat of the messy stand-off that headlined Trent Barrett’s exit from the Sea Eagles at the end of 2018.

At the time, Manly and Barrett had to reach a deal to agree for him to continue being paid in his 12-month notice period as long as he stayed away from training.