NRL 2020: Wayne Bennett’s shadow looms over Seibold sacking, Andrew Johns says
League Immortal Andrew Johns believes departed Broncos coach Anthony Seibonever had a chance, thanks to his predecesor.
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League great Andrew Johns believes ex-Broncos coach Anthony Seibold was doomed from the start of his tenure at Red Hill.
Seibold formally announced on Wednesday that he was stepping down from his job the job two years into a five-year contract.
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Afterwards he took a parting shot at the club legends, who had slammed the team’s performance under him over the last few months.
Johns believes the club’s old boys were so critical of Seibold because of their history with Wayne Bennett, who was sacked in December, 2018.
Seibold started at the Broncos immediately — a year earlier than when the coach swap was originally planned.
“Part of it is they care so much, it shows that they care,” Johns told Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour.
“But also a lot of the older players, those old boys have a real connection with Wayne Bennett.
“And there’s a lot of theories and stuff about how Wayne got shafted there (sacked by the Broncos in 2018) and people weren’t happy.
“So automatically they’re on Wayne’s side.
“So really the next guy that got the job was on a hiding to nothing, it was always going to be a really tough job.”
Being one of the biggest sporting organisations in the country, the man at the Broncos’ helm needs to be able to handle more than just what goes on on the footy field.
In the club’s 32-year history Bennett has had two stints as coach while Anthony Griffin, Ivan Henjak and Seibold have all tried their hand. Bennett has proven to be the only coach that can handle the heightened attention and criticism that comes with the gig.
“I think Wayne had all the connections in Brisbane, whether it was media or the corporate area – he had a lot of connections there and I doubt that Anthony Seibold did,” Johns said.
“Especially the media side of things, in a one-team city like that, you have to try to have pretty much everyone on side.
“So it’s not only coaching the team, it’s dealing with sponsors, dealing with the old boys, dealing with the fans, dealing with the media – a massive job.”
Regardless of the Broncos having their worst season in history, Johns believes there’s potential to improve but it will start with luring a certain type of player to the club first.
“There’s a really good team there – a nucleus of a good team – but it’s a very young team,” Johns said.
“There’s some young guys in that forward pack – (Thomas) Flegler, (Patrick) Carrigan – they’re going to be top line players but it’s going to take time.
“We’re not going to see the best of them for two or three years.”
“They need to go out and buy an experienced half.
“But there’s a team there, Xavier Coates, the young guy on the wing, Kotoni Staggs – we can see what a player he’s going to be, so there’s a team there.
“They just need some experience in some key positions.”
Originally published as NRL 2020: Wayne Bennett’s shadow looms over Seibold sacking, Andrew Johns says