Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Anthony Seibold’s staggering golden-point heart rate against Cowboys reveals stress of NRL coaching job
Anthony Seibold can testify that there’s not a more stressful job in rugby league than being a head coach, revealing his watch warned him of an abnormal heart rate during Manly’s recent golden-point thriller. SAINT, SINNER, SHOOSH.
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We all know there is not a more stressful job in rugby league than being a head coach.
And here is the medical proof to back it up.
Last Saturday night’s Manly Sea Eagles v Cowboys match was such an exciting and enjoyable golden-point thriller for those of us watching from the comfort of our living rooms.
However, for coach Anthony Seibold it was so stressful and so tense that an alarm went off on his sports watch, warning him of an abnormal heart rate and a condition known as tachycardia.
While not life threatening, it can be a concern for a normal person sitting in a seat without the physical strain from exercising.
It’s a remarkable story.
Seibold is a man under pressure. He needs to make the finals this year to push for a long-term contract extension.
Two points at this time of the year are gold for a team just inside the top eight.
So with about three minutes to go in regulation time, around the time Daly Cherry Evans missed his field goal attempt, his heart rate rose to 109 beats per minute.
At lunchtime on the same day, while he was in the gym in Townsville doing heavy weights, work on a bike and treadmill running, it was 108 beats per minute.
That is normal while you are exercising but not while sitting down watching a football game.
While it’s hardly enough to book an urgent cardiologist appointment, it shows the enormous pressure on our coaches.
Seibold recently paid $1000 for his Garmin sports watch.
It measures everything from his hours of sleep at night, how many steps he takes each day and anything fitness related.
The 49-year-old trains in the gym most mornings.
“I reckon it would be common for most coaches,” Seibold said, “After the game I probably found it amusing more than being worried about it.
“It was like an alarm clock going off and all you’re thinking about is the next play – and you can see the message ‘abnormal alert’.
“It shows the stress we’re under, that’s for sure.
“You’re riding a wave. Games get tight. I try to be calm in the box, at least on the exterior.
“This game was really important for us.
“Every game is and you can never really sit back and relax, no matter what the score is.”
Leading cardiologist Dr Mark Pitney explains the situation from a medical perspective.
“The interesting thing is the stress from the game is the equivalent of him working out in a gym,” Dr Pitney said.
“When we get anxious we make adrenaline.
“To me, it’s saying that coaching an NRL side is incredibly stressful.
“This is a guy who is obviously fit and only gets his heart rate up to 108bpm when he exercises but when he’s sitting on his backside watching a golden point game his heart works harder than when he’s doing a workout in the gym.”
The pressure on coaches has never been greater.
We have already had two sackings this year – Brad Arthur at the Parramatta Eels and Jason Demetriou at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Last year it was Anthony Griffin at Saints and Justin Holbrook at the Titans.
Men who know all about the stress that Seibold is now experiencing.
SAINT
Panthers legend Royce Simmons has already raised more than $1.5m for dementia research. Next month he is setting off on the third of his fundraiser walks – this time 300km over 10 days from August 6. He will visit all of the Sydney-based NRL clubs. Donate at roycesimmonsfoundation.com.au
SINNER
The boxing authorities who allowed 47-year-old Barry Hall into the ring to get bashed by raging bull Curtis Scott, 21 years younger, in Wollongong on Wednesday. The fight was an embarrassment for promoter No Limit and Australian boxing.
SHOOSH
The NRL has advertised for a data analyst to help out the referees. It’s attracted one particularly interesting applicant, much to the surprise of those who will be making the appointment. We don’t fancy his chances.
SHOOSH
St George Illawarra officials claim they pulled out of negotiations with boom Wests Tigers front-rower Stefano Utoikamanu because of the money he wanted. Others tell me this was not the case. That Utoikamanu and his manager thought there were better opportunities elsewhere. Saints then withdrew their offer because they didn’t want the publicity around missing out on another signing.
SPOTTED
2GB broadcaster Mark Levy has opened a restaurant, Pronto Sylvania, in the Shire that will be serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner. No doubt his mate Paul Gallen will be banging on the door looking for a free feed. And as for Levy, we just hope he doesn’t eat away all the profits.
SPOTTED
We love keeping an eye out for NRL coaches on their bye round. Benji in Fiji, Flanno on the Whitsundays, etc. Ivan Cleary has been in Bali and was spotted enjoying a romantic dinner with his wife Bec at La Lucciola overlooking Seminyak Beach.
SPOTTED
No wonder the Roosters beat their rivals to sign some of the best schoolboy footy players. Club legends Jake Friend, Mitch Aubusson and Mitchell Pearce were all at a carnival in Coffs Harbour last week to promote the Roosters’ pathways system.
CHERRY RIPE FOR ORIGIN
Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans will become the oldest State of Origin player in history next year, unless he retires from rep football after Wednesday night’s blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium.
Cherry-Evans will leapfrog Petero Civoniceva, Allan Langer and Arthur Beetson at the top of the oldies’ list. There has been talk in the build-up to the decider
that the Manly maestro may quit after the game – to concentrate on club football.
The Maroons have Roosters halfback Sam Walker ready to step in when the time is right.
I had a text exchange with DCE to try to find out. I’ll run the texts just to show you what a polite and decent man he is.
Me: Hey DCE, it’s Buzz Rothfield. I hope u are well. Sorry to be a pest but there is a bit of mail around that this might be your last Origin game. That in future you’ll just keep going for Manly. Would you have 2 minutes to discuss, please. Thank you.
DCE: Morning, Buzz. I’m going really well thank you. Hope you’ve been well. I’ve heard people saying for the last 2/3 yrs it could be my last series. I’m just taking it one series at a time, mate. I haven’t planned for this to be my last but things can change. Hope that helps you. Have a good day, mate.
So there you go. No real hint either way. A typical Queenslander … giving nothing away to the Blues media.
ENDURING ERNIE AND THE ‘OLDYROOS’
You’re about to read one of sport’s most remarkable comeback stories …
Half a century after playing for the Socceroos at the 1974 World Cup, Ernie Campbell will represent Australia again at the Veterans’ World Cup in Wales. Not that Ernie ever really retired. He’s now 74, and he’s only ever taken a year or two off.
“I keep saying this will be my last year, but I’ve been saying that for five years,” he said. “I’ve got a bit of a dodgy knee these days, but I get by.”
He played for Marconi and St George in the National Soccer League but kept playing, just not professionally.
“I had a break for a couple of years, but then never felt as bad,” he said. “You’ve got to stay active. I get a bit sore after games these days, but you come good by Wednesday.”
Campbell’s ‘Oldyroos’ will compete in the over-70s and over-75s in Wales.
It’s been 50 years since he was a member of the first Australian side to play at the World Cup in Germany.
He played against the legendary Franz Beckenbauer, and the West German team that ended up winning the tournament. That ’74 team featured men who would become legends of the game, including Johnny Warren, Peter Wilson, Adrian Alston, Attila Abonyi and Manfred Schaefer.
The problem for the veterans is raising the funds for flights and accommodation in Wales. Most are long retired, but still committed to sharing the game with younger generations. Men like Terry Mosse-Robinson, who runs the Football Factory Academy on the northern beaches. They just love their soccer and giving back to the game.
There is a gofundme.com page to help them get to Wales – just type in Over 70 and 75 Australian World Cup teams. They will do Australia proud.
DON’S $3M HOME
The childhood home of Donald Bradman in Bowral remains for sale – several months after it was put on the market with a $3m price expectation.
Bradman lived in the property between the ages of three and 15 and developed his cricket skills in the backyard of 52 Shepherd Street. The cricket legend famously grew up hitting a golf ball off a water tank that is still there on the property.
Fox Sports star Andrew Voss visited the home during the week while he was in Bowral to film an episode of The Fan.
LEAGUE DRIVING SEN REVIVAL
Radio network SEN has beaten off the threat of a financial collapse last year to celebrate a record-breaking ratings lift in the latest Sydney survey.
The Sports Entertainment Group posted a $9m loss in the last financial year that led to the network’s chief financial officer Chris Tan quitting.
SEN boss Craig Hutchison has this week sold his 52.5 per cent stake in the Perth Wildcats for $21m, which will cover radio debts from recent years.
Despite poor ratings, the financial challenges and constant criticism from within the industry, Hutchison has remained confident of a turnaround. And now the Andrew Voss-Greg Alexander breakfast show (2.4) has edged ahead of the Big Sports Breakfast on Sky Sports Radio (2.3) for the first time.
“Rugby league has been the cornerstone of our success,” Hutchison said. “We’re really pleased at the progress.
“It’s taken time and we’ve all worked incredibly hard. The audience growth around the NRL is very encouraging.”
Rookie half to take the reins at Broncos
Brisbane Broncos fans will get a glimpse into the future with coach Michael Maguire keen to run his eye over Brisbane’s train-and-trial hopefuls and development players against the Burleigh Bears on Saturday.
The big-money roadblock in Bulldogs’ jersey names push
Canterbury boss Aaron Warburton wants to put Bulldogs players on the map by having their names on the back of jerseys but the push is facing multiple hurdles before getting clearance from the NRL.