The lessons and teachings that helped South Sydney’s coach Anthony Seibold take the NRL by storm

IT’S the simple advice that put Anthony Seibold on course to coach South Sydney — and it should act as a lesson for every young footballer who sets out chasing an NRL dream.

Gutherson's in-goal howler SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — DECEMBER 05: Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold looks on during a South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL training session at Redfern Oval on December 5, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

IT’S the simple advice that put Anthony Seibold on course to coach South Sydney — and it should act as a lesson for every young footballer who sets out chasing an NRL dream.

Seibold tells a fascinating story about his journey from Rockhampton to Redfern via pretty much every corner of the rugby league world.

From Brisbane to London Broncos, Canberra to Celtic Crusaders, he even captained Hull KR under Mal Reilly and played an international for Germany along the way.

He also captained the Toowoomba Clydesdales, coached in the Queensland Cup, under-20s at Melbourne and was an assistant at Manly, as well as having seven years in the Queensland State of Origin program, two as Kevvie Walters’ assistant.

Seibold has played and worked with the biggest names over the years across continents, taking on board many valuable lessons.

But you ask him what was the best advice he ever got and still, to this day, it came from the legendary Brisbane talent scout Cyril Connell.

Seibold played all across the world during his career.

Not only was Connell responsible for discovering some of the greatest players to pull on a Broncos jersey but he was also the former director of Queensland secondary education.

“Cyril recruited me when I was 16 up at St Brendan’s at Yeppoon,” Seibold recalled.

“I had good marks at school and he encouraged me when I went to the Broncos to do a teaching degree.

“He said, ‘listen, whatever you do in the future, I really encourage you to do this. It will hold you in good stead. Get that behind you and then you can do whatever else you want to do in life’.

“So, on the back of Cyril’s encouragement, I got a scholarship at the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane. By the time I finished at the Broncos, although I didn’t play first grade, I had finished my degree by 21.”

From there, one of the most unorthodox journeys to the NRL coaching ranks was put in motion.

Seibold went on to complete a master’s degree, even lectured at university, as well as having travelled between states and countries following his footballing dream.

Seibold has been an instant hit with Souths.

When Seibold was announced last year as the man to take over from Michael Maguire, it is fair to say it sent shockwaves through the game — that one of the game’s biggest brands would gamble on an unheralded coach after some disappointing recent seasons.

Yet nine games into 2018 and already you can see Seibold’s fresh approach and teaching methods reflected in his players.

From a team that looked physically and emotionally spent at the back end of 2017, the Rabbitohs have proved one of the real surprises this season with an enthusiastic playing style that is winning plenty of admiration.

Leading the league in line breaks, line-break assists and metres gained, the Rabbitohs have reverted to a less structured style of football.

It sees them sitting fifth on the ladder before Sunday’s game against leaders St George Illawarra that, Seibold concedes, “will give a good indicator of where we are”.

Married to Hollie, whom he met during his playing days at the Raiders, they have three daughters.

“It is challenging for them at times because you have to miss a lot of their school events,” he said.

Seibold has been an instant success with Souths.

“Even as an assistant coach, a lot of their athletic carnivals, school sport, even their weekend sport. I do try to prioritise my time.

“My eldest daughter is probably like the daughter out of Remember the Titans, she knows every statistic.

“She loves her footy.

“Even when I was coaching down at Storm, the under-20s, she used to do stats in the Big League (magazine) from the games.

“She was a ball girl at the Storm.

“But all my girls come to every game.

“They are very supportive of what I do.”

This weekend, Seibold will also have his mum and dad down from Rockhampton for Mother’s Day.

“Dad is semi-retired, he worked at Centrelink for over 30 years. And Mum is an office manager of a medical centre in the middle of Rocky,” he said.

Seibold conceded his life had come a long way from the boy who sat down with Connell all those years ago.

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“I have been lucky and I have had a lot of support from family and friends,” he said.

“You said before, did you always think you could coach in the NRL?

“When I was coaching the Queensland Cup and I was coaching Melbourne under-20s, my ambition was to be an assistant coach.

“And obviously I got that opportunity at the Storm.

“I learned so much down at Melbourne and it really whet my appetite.

“And I went, ‘you know what, I would really love to coach my own team one day’.

“I love what I am doing. I am in a privileged position. Ultimately, I understand that sport goes in cycles. I have got an opportunity at the moment and we will keep working hard.

“It has all been positive. I am loving everything about it. I love coaching. I love teaching.

“Whether I was doing it at this level or a different level, I am very passionate about it.”

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Originally published as The lessons and teachings that helped South Sydney’s coach Anthony Seibold take the NRL by storm