Anthony Seibold’s new deal brings stability – and a touch of chaos to the Manly Sea Eagles

Manly coach Anthony Seibold and his staff have tested the limits of his players this pre-season, taking them out of their comfort zone to see how they handle a bit of chaos.

Anthony Seibold’s resurrection is just about complete and now he wants a premiership to put the exclamation point on one of rugby league’s great comeback stories.

Just a few years ago, Seibold’s coaching career was on the rocks. Even he concedes that most people in the NRL never thought they would hear from him again.

Seibold, having walked away from the Brisbane Broncos, circumnavigated the globe and dipped his toe into other codes as he rediscovered his love of coaching, rebuilt his reputation and waited for an opportunity.

He eventually landed on his feet at Manly and has now been rewarded with a two-year contract extension after leading the Sea Eagles back from the brink in the wake of Pride jersey fiasco.

The Sea Eagles were on their knees when Seibold arrived. They were a club in crisis but there is blue sky again on the horizon, their comeback from disaster culminating in last season’s finals appearance, which featured a win over the Bulldogs before they exited at the hands of the Sydney Roosters.

The next step is to make it to the grand final. Manly will start next season among the favourites to win a premiership and Seibold believes the pieces are falling into place.

Anthony Seibold during his horror run at the Broncos. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

Thanks to his new deal, Seibold has at least three years to give the fans on Sydney’s northern beaches what they desperately crave – their first premiership since 2011.

His new deal will take him through until the end of 2027.

“There was talk about it during the season and then we decided to put it off until the end of the season,” Seibold said.

“What it does is it gives the club stability. The owners have indicated they want stability. We have made some really good strides over the last 24 months.

“I think everyone can clearly see we have improved as a group. We’ve done a lot on building connection within the group and building belonging in the group.

“We’ve got world-class staff now. We feel like we’ve got a really good team here off the field and on the field.

“The owners and the board have been very supportive of what we’ve been doing over the last 24 months and want us to continue in that in that fashion.

“It’s a good opportunity for stability for our club and clarity. The mission is we want to win. So we’re working really hard to try to take our group to that next level.”

Seibold has bounced back to sign a contract extension with Manly. Picture: Jeremy Piper

WINNING A PREMIERSHIP

There is no question Manly has made headway on Seibold’s watch. He took over a club and playing group with gaping wounds in the wake of the Pride jersey disaster.

Manly lost their last seven games of the 2022 season and crashed out of finals contention. Coach

Des Hasler was sent packing and Seibold was given the opportunity to revive the club’s fortunes.

In his first season in charge, the Sea Eagles won 11 games but missed the finals. Last season

there was tangible improvement as Manly won 13 games, finished seventh and won their opening final against the Dogs.

They have improved in every facet of the game over his two years in charge. Next on Seibold’s wishlist is to win a title.

“That is the mission,” Seibold said.

“All our planning is around how to complete that mission. We made some giant strides last season. Out of all the other seven teams in the top eight, we beat six of those seven, which was equal to anybody in the competition.

“So what we’ve shown is that we can beat any team in the competition on our day, but for us to go to the next level it’s about reliability and repeatability.

“So that is sort of what we’re striving for internally – how can we be more reliable. So our whole program is designed around producing better footy actions and more quality actions.

“Every club’s mission is to win but we can’t go from losing eight games in a row and having the Pride jersey debacle to winning the competition the next year.

“That is unrealistic. It is a step by step process.”

Daly Cherry-Evans is yet to make a call on his future.

THE TRANSITION

Seibold’s two-year extension means he will preside over a period of change at the Sea Eagles. The most significant will be the likely retirement of captain Daly Cherry-Evans at some point during his tenure.

Cherry-Evans will turn 36 early next year and is yet to decide what he wants to do beyond next season, when his contract expires.

He has been part of the furniture at Manly for as long as anyone can remember. His departure will leave a gaping hole in terms of experience and class and Seibold will likely have to navigate a seminal moment for the club.

“Chez is turning 36 in January, Jake Trbojevic turns 31 (in February),” Seibold said.

“There will be a period of change on the field and off the field. My ultimate goal would be, whoever is the next coach after me, to hand over the club to them in good condition and be part of that process.

“I’ve got a really narrow focus for the next three years. Everyone is up and about on the northern beaches (when Manly win), we had more sellout crowds than for as long as the club can remember, the community is right behind the group.

“But as I said, we need to be a bit more reliable and be able to repeat week to week because we have shown we can beat any team in the comp.

“We’ve got to find a bit more.”

Seibold and Manly CEO Tony Mestrov at Brookvale Oval when the coach was first appointed. Picture: Jeremy Piper

EMBRACING CHANGE … AND CHAOS

Seibold has a thirst for knowledge and nothing has changed this off-season. After initially spending time with the performance staff at the Los Angeles Rams and the Red Bull high performance centre, Seibold visited New Zealand last week to watch the Crusaders at work.

The players have been on a journey of discovery as well. Seibold and his staff have tested their limits in the pre-season, taking them out of their comfort zone.

One day a week, their world is shaken up.

“They know what time they have to start and they know what time they have to finish, but they don’t know what is going on during the day,” Seibold said.

“They might think they are going to a recovery session at the beach and it is a one-hour wrestle session.

“They think they might be going into the gym after a wrestle session and it is actually ice baths and sauna before they do their gym.

“It is something we do to see how they handle a bit of chaos.”

Will Seibold win a premiership during his time at Manly? Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

As much as he is focused on improving his playing group, Seibold has been on his own journey to become a better coach and person.

“I feel enormous amount of pride because I’ve had to work really hard to improve myself as a person and as a coach,” Seibold said.

“I went to a different code, a different nation. I worked really hard there. Most people in the NRL never thought they would hear of me again or see me coaching a team again.

“But it’s never been about proving people wrong. It’s been about proving people right. I have been given some really great opportunities and I am very grateful.

“Manly made a really big call two years ago to give me the head coaching role and I feel like I’ve repaid that.

“Everyone can clearly see we’ve made some really big strides forward and Des did a tremendous job with the group.

“A lot of the younger players that I’m coaching, have really developed over the last two years but a lot of the groundwork was done by Des and guys like Scott Fulton, who recruited guys like Haumole (Olakau’atu) and those types of guys to the group.

“But I’m really proud of coming back.”

Originally published as Anthony Seibold’s new deal brings stability – and a touch of chaos to the Manly Sea Eagles