NRL News: Brisbane captain Pat Carrigan endorses Anthony Seibold for Manly after Des Hasler exit
Pat Carrigan had a front row seat as Anthony Seibold’s tenure as Brisbane coach turned sour. Now the Broncos skipper has had his say on the incoming Manly coach.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Kangaroos prop Patrick Carrigan has endorsed Anthony Seibold’s return to the NRL with Manly, insisting the Sea Eagles will be reinvigorated and reinvented under the former South Sydney and Brisbane coach.
Carrigan spent nearly two years working with Seibold at the Broncos, at one point being promoted to the captaincy before things turned sour and the incoming Manly coach was shown the door.
As difficult as those days were, Carrigan holds fond memories of his former coach and thinks Manly have made a smart choice in giving Seibold a second chance.
“He gave me my debut and a few of the other boys,” Carrigan said.
“A lot of the habits that helped me get to where I am are his habits. I had a really good relationship with him. I know if you are a young guy, he encourages you to be better.
“Things just didn’t work out in Brisbane. The Broncs went their separate ways and Seibs went and did his own thing.
“Everything that Seibs did for me and I know a lot of the other younger boys – everyone at the Broncos – appreciated what he did.
“In terms of being a great coach, he definitely has all the assets to be able to [put] Manly on the trajectory they have been on.
“It is obviously a bit messy there at the moment but when they have players like the Trbojevic boys and Chez [Daly Cherry-Evans] and those sort of guys, they are going to be a hard team to beat.
“I am stoked to see him back in the NRL – that would be awesome.”
Seibold is expected to be confirmed as Manly coach in coming days, the club having made the decision to sack two-time premiership winner Des Hasler last week.
They are big shoes to fill given the way Hasler was feted on Sydney’s northern beaches. Seibold, however, is a local who is expected to take full charge of the club once he completes his commitments with the English Rugby Union, where he has worked in recent years alongside Eddie Jones.
Brisbane chair Karl Morris has already provided a character reference for Seibold and Carrigan, who made his Test debut at the World Cup last week, has now effectively done the same.
“He is a footy head,” Carrigan said.
“So he really understands the game well. In terms of his work ethic as a coach, he is definitely going to do everything and not ask anything more of you than he would do himself.
“All my experiences with Seibs were positive. If you want to survive and function in the NRL, you have to have a good work ethic first and foremost.
“He definitely has that. He was coach of the year before he came to Brisbane. He did a lot for me. I was pretty young then and got an opportunity (to captain the Broncos) with Lexi [Alex Glenn].
“I will always be grateful to him for that. He has been a part of our journey along the way. I know a lot of the guys give him credit for what he did for us at the club.
“He was great for me. I can’t endorse him any more.”
MANLY MESS: DCE BREAKS SILENCE ON HASLER SACKING
- By Brent Read
Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans has broken his silence over the sacking of coach Des Hasler, revealing he has reached out to his long-time mentor and is confident the Trbojevic brothers remain committed to the club.
Cherry-Evans, speaking from Manchester where he is in camp with the Kangaroos at the World Cup, admitted he was disappointed to see Hasler’s dismissal but backed the club to bounce back under new leadership.
Former Brisbane and South Sydney head coach Anthony Seibold is expected to take charge once he has completed his commitments with the English rugby union.
Cherry-Evans insists the club can overcome an off-season of tumult to win again.
“It obviously wasn’t ideal I guess to see a club I care about spoken about so poorly,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I care about the place and you want to see the whole place do well. We just have to worry about trying to play better football next year.
“The club has [made] a decision to move forward and it is time to get excited about what is coming in.
“Whoever comes in is going to do a fantastic job and they have a great playing group waiting to rip in.”
HASLER GONE
Cherry-Evans was a vocal supporter of Hasler even as the coach waged war with their former club. He has played much of his career under the two-time premiership winner, becoming a State of Origin and Test player on Hasler’s watch.
Little wonder that he feels a deep connection to Hasler.
“As it was developing it was looking like it was going to end badly,” Cherry-Evans said.
“So it is disappointing to see Des go – I have a great relationship with him. I definitely sent him some well wishes. He has had a big impact on my footy career.
“I am sure Des is someone I will stay in contact with for a long time. He is a good fella.”
Seibold, a former Dally M coach of the year, has been anointed as Hasler’s successor.
He is a coach Cherry-Evans knows reasonably well – they have worked together previously at Manly and Queensland.
“Seibs was an assistant at the club before so I have a relationship with Seibs,” Cherry-Evans said.
“If he was to be the coach, I guess it is helpful that I have already met him and have a relationship with him. The club has been really courteous in keeping me involved in the process.
“It was really nice for them to do that. But again, they understand I am just a player.”
THE BROTHERS
Jake Trbojevic is in England with Cherry-Evans and the Australian team. Back home, there have been suggestions that Jake and brother Tom are growing increasingly frustrated with the club and the bickering which has become synonymous with the Sea Eagles.
Cherry-Evans hasn’t felt the need to pull Jake aside for a chat but he is confident the brothers remain committed to Manly.
“I haven’t spoken to Jake about it,” Cherry-Evans said.
“Jake is not someone who really likes to open up on these sorts of things. It would be silly for me to comment on what he is feeling.
“I know how passionate he is about the club. Anyone who is passionate about the club, obviously it has been a hard week because we care about the place and we just want to see it do well.
“So I am sure Jake will come out and clear up his future one way or the other when the time is right for him.
“I value Jake as a teammate, I love Jake in the team and I can’t imagine not playing footy with him.
“I hope if there is any animosity it is cleared. I dare say with Jake he is just happy to tear in with a new coaching staff next year.”
THE FUTURE
Cherry-Evans just wants to win again. He knows the only way that can happen is if everyone at Manly is on the same page.
The Sea Eagles had a disastrous end to last season as the Pride jersey fiasco ripped the club apart. Things only got worse once the season was over.
They now have the chance to start again with a blank slate.
“Whether it is right or wrong how they do it, it has always been like that as long as I have been at the club,” Cherry-Evans said.
“Manly will always be Manly. That is just the way we are. It has always been our performances we have been out proud of.
“The stuff off the field at the moment, obviously it is not ideal. Like I said, these things get a bit more traction when you are not winning footy games.
“The priority for us has to be to get back out there and play some good footy.”
THE HALFBACK RACE
As drama rages on the home front, Cherry-Evans’ priority for the moment is fending off the challenge of Nathan Cleary for the halfback position in the Australian side.
Cherry-Evans kicked off his quest to retain the spot by producing a solid performance against Fiji in the Kangaroos’ opener.
Cleary will now get the chance to stake his claim as coach Mal Meninga prepares to unleash the grand final players against Scotland on Friday night (AEDT).
Cherry-Evans is digging in for a fight.
“It was nice to play,” Cherry-Evans said.
“Every time you get the chance to play for Australia it is always special. The Fijians certainly make it a special occasion with the way they celebrate the game and stuff.
“Definitely great to get the first win out of the way and certainly a lot of room for improvement, not just for me, but the whole team I suppose.”
Stranded Cowboys ask NRL for charter flight to avoid finals farce
The North Queensland Cowboys risk missing Friday night’s final against the Sharks after the club failed to secure seats on one of the two direct flights to Sydney.
Why Roosters face easy call in the halves
Sandon Smith is the first to admit he didn’t have his best game last week, but his teammates have backed him to respond against Manly.