Inside Anthony Seibold’s first game in charge of the South Sydney Rabbitohs

FIND out what really happens inside an NRL coaches box as The Daily Telegraph steps inside the Rabbitohs inner sanctum during Anthony Seibold’s first match as coach.

Inside new South Sydney coach Anthony Seibold's first game in charge of the Rabbitohs against the Wigan Warriors at ANZ Stadium. Pictures: Supplied

“RIGHT, this is the last message from me. When it’s your time to go today — you need to go.

“It might be an escort, Jenko. Tom, it might be kick pressure. Clarkey, it could be a ‘go get’ on O’Loughlin — but when it’s your time to go, don’t let your teammate down. You go.

“That’s your focus for tonight and this year. I’ll say it again — when it’s your time to go — you go.’’

Anthony Seibold’s first pre-game speech as Souths coach lasted just 3 minutes 20 seconds.

It’s 7.41pm, moments before kick-off against Wigan last Saturday night and the 31st coach of the Rabbitohs since 1908 is standing in front of his 20-man squad beneath ANZ Stadium.

The Daily Telegraph is also here — granted unrestricted and exclusive access to the moment Seibold has waited his entire career for — his first match as an NRL coach.

Seibold took over from premiership winner Michael Maguire.

Seibold, 43, had spent the morning flushing out the butterflies and nerves of his first game in charge of rugby league’s most famous club with a swim at Dee Why, a coffee at Girdler’s Grind and an afternoon gym session.

“I was really excited,’’ he says later.

The boy from Rockhampton, who has assisted Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy, Queensland’s Kevin Walters and Manly’s Trent Barrett, replaces Michael Maguire at Redfern in 2018.

After six seasons of Maguire, who is famous for taking the club to it’s first premiership in 43 years in 2014, the players have a new voice to get used to.

In those final few seconds before kick-off, Seibold’s voice is calm, direct and void of information overload.

While he limits the players’ instructions to just three key focal points, he’s also huge on ownership.

Seibold welcomes input from senior players during games.

Inside the short speech, Seibold, without any pre-warning, repeatedly fires questions back at his players.

“What’s important for our attack today?’’ he asks veteran hooker Robbie Farah.

Rookie half Adam Doueihi and backrower Jason Clark, are also thrown a Seibold pop quiz.

Without hesitation, Doueihi answers his coach’s question on how to reduce the threat of Wigan fullback Sam Tomkins.

“We kick through and into spaces.’’ Doueihi says.

Clarke not only answers his question, but extends his response by pleading with his teammates to remember “what we’ve worked all effing pre-season for.’’

Up inside the coaches box, Seibold sits down with the A4 notebook he has carried in his hand for the past hour.

“Game Day” is written across the cover in silver pen.

Seibold will take notes throughout the entire match, scribbling away whenever a certain play breaks down or alternatively, pays dividends.

He sits in the front row of the box.

The match against Wigan was Seibold’s first in charge of the club.

To his right is assistant coach David Furner and analyst Leigh Richardson.

To his left is head of recruitment Ben Rogers and behind him with a colour printer, is Wayne Collins — the statistician, not the former coach.

Also inside the soundproof box is Seibold’s leaders, Greg Inglis, Sam Burgess and John Sutton.

Over the next 80 minutes, the trio — who boast a combined 732-games worth of experience — openly display Seibold’s favourite ingredient — ownership.

“Greggy — can you watch our back five tonight, tell me what you see,’’ Seibold asks of Inglis.

GI nods.

During the match, the Test star will lean into Seibold’s ear, explaining that he wants to see fullback Alex Johnston get more involved.

Seibold immediately sends a message down to assistant coach Peter Gentle on the sideline.

“Get a word to AJ — he has to get his hands on the footy and use his speed,’’ Seibold says into his walkie-talkie.

Sutton and Burgess are passionate, objective and demand — despite the side’s youth — sharper execution and attention to detail.

Greg Inglis, Sam Burgess and John Sutton were all in the coaches box with Seibold.

“For god’s sake, talk to each other,’’ Burgess calls, as the footy bobbles past Johnston and his brother George’s feet, following a Wigan dropout.

In the 29th minute, an attacking play is clunky and results in a Rabbitohs turnover.

“It all comes back to where we were set up on the field. We were nowhere near where we need to be for that play,’’ Sutton says in frustration.

The box isn’t all intensity, though.

Inglis brings a chuckle when he jabs Burgess by asking if we’re playing to “English rules Sammy?”, following a Wigan penalty.

And those in the box can’t help but crack up when a ‘falcon’ accidentally hits Farah in the head.

Furner will prove crucial to Seibold in his first season.

The former Test forward and Canberra Raiders coach boasts reams of experience and, similarly to Seibold, prefers to work without ranting and raving, but a voice that projects calm and clarity.

While the game is going, Furner has one eye on the action and the other on the laptop in front of him, where he is busy clipping video of a player or play which he believes needs to be identified.

“Seebs’, let’s get a message to Nicho (Mark Nicholls), his effort on that play was terrific,’’ Furner whispers.

With a squad with only four players who have played more than 50 NRL games, this bunch of rookie Rabbitohs’ deliver Seibold his first victory as head coach, beating Wigan 18-8.

During the match, Seibold had questioned the bench why it was decided down on the field that Damian Cook take over the goalkicking duties after Douehi had shanked his first two shots.

“Pete, this is the experience that he needs. Tell Adam to take the next shot, we have faith in him to do the job,’’ Seibold says.

The Rabbitohs came out winners 18-8 over Wigan.

“These boys need to learn how to get through tough times.’’

It’s a common theme for the night as Seibold packs up his notebook and takes the stairs back down to the dressing rooms to congratulate his players.

“We can’t buy that experience tonight — a 20,000-plus crowd against English internationals, it will give our young boys plenty of confidence going into the season,’’ Seibold says to Furner.

“I’ll be better for the experience too. We all will.’’

Despite the win, Seibold tells his players that there’ll be no rendition of the club’s famous victory song ‘Glory, Glory to South Sydney.”

“We’ll save it for when the game’s are for real,’’ he said.

However, there was one song which was played inside the Bunnies inner-sanctum.

Prior to Seibold’s maiden pre-match speech, the players sparked their energy levels by listening to Guns N Roses ‘Welcome To The Jungle’.

Ahead of the biggest year of his life, the song choice was apt.

Welcome to the jungle, coach.

Originally published as Inside Anthony Seibold’s first game in charge of the South Sydney Rabbitohs