Anthony Seibold opens up about dishonest accusations, Russell Crowe, relationship with players
SOUTH Sydney coach Anthony Seibold has revealed why he signed with Brisbane and revealed just how tough it was to tell Russell Crowe he was leaving the Rabbitohs.
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ANTHONY Seibold has ridiculed accusations he has been dishonourable by using South Sydney as a springboard to head home to the Brisbane Broncos, while revealing how tough his phone call was to Rabbitohs kingpin Russell Crowe.
Offering his version of the coaching saga which has engulfed the Rabbitohs and Broncos, Seibold also declared he would turn up to work on Wednesday at Redfern despite the inevitability of an immediate swap to the Broncos with Wayne Bennett headed to Sydney.
Seibold said the chance to head “home” and the fear of “never getting the chance again” to sign with Brisbane was a major factor in his decision to agree to leave Souths just a year after taking the job.
However, he categorically denied the notion that he had done a deal with the Broncos behind the backs of the Rabbitohs administration and well before last week’s formal announcement of the four-year contract.
“There’s obviously a lot of speculation around (when I signed with Brisbane) and I know where that is coming from,” Seibold told The Telegraph.
“But ultimately the first time I was contacted by the Broncos was the week starting October 8.
“And I informed the Rabbitohs straight away and I’ve kept them informed the whole way through that process.
“Just over three weeks ago now, we (family) moved house (from Dee Why to Curl Curl) so why would I move house and sign a 12-month agreement to rent out a house?
“My intention’s always been to fulfil my contract at the Rabbitohs, and like I said before I went away there was no really deep discussion with the Broncos because from my understanding they were going through a process of talking to other coaches.
“It wasn’t until I was away that they reached back out to me and said they wanted to actually progress with discussions so I was just cracking on with my own life.
“When I decided to negotiate with the Broncos, I let Russell Crowe know.
“Regardless of what the speculation was, I signed last Wednesday, I agreed to the terms the previous day and I informed Nick Pappas, Shane Richardson and Blake Solly that I was going in to sign.
“I’ve got so much respect for Russell and the opportunity that him and Shane Richardson and Blake and the rest of the board gave so it was a very uncomfortable phone call.
“But just because I gave the club a different answer to what they wanted doesn’t mean I haven’t been honourable in all my conversations with the club.
“I’ll hold my head up high with regards to that.’’
Seibold revealed he found out South Sydney had signed Bennett from playmaker Cody Walker, who had discovered the bombshell news on the club’s website.
The Dally M coach of the year was in the UK on a study tour when Walker called.
“I didn’t realise the club were in deep conversations with Wayne — I knew that he had reached out to the club on a couple of occasions because Shane Richardson had told me a little while ago,’’ Seibold said.
“Ultimately I found out when Cody Walker called me while I was in the UK.
“He said ‘Are you OK?’ He had read it on the club website. There might have been a better way for me to find out, but that’s how it is.
“Ultimately, that’s not going to diminish my love for the club.’’
Seibold wouldn’t be drawn on whether any Souths players would follow him to Brisbane — but scoffed at claims of being “off” with the playing group as a result of his decision to head “home” after 13 years forging his coaching career away from his home state and closest family.
“I’ve got a very positive relationship with the players regardless of any other comments,’’ Seibold said.
“I’ve kept our leadership group which is Greg, John Sutton and Sam Burgess in the loop the whole way along and I took the time to call every single player who was in our top 30 in 2018 and returning for 2019, I called them all individually when I got back from the UK so I spoke personally to every player in the group.
“The only two guys I didn’t talk to personally but I conversed over message was George and Tom and that was because of the time difference in the UK.
“I’ve got an extremely good relationship with the players. I spent Friday evening (at Damien Cook’s wedding) with the players at the same table as a group of their players on Friday night and some of the messages that the players have sent to me personally and some of the conversations I’ve had with the players, they understand my decision from a personal point of view to wanting to go home.
“It’s been 13 years on the road and its an opportunity for me to go home and look most Queenslanders, I grew up supporting the Broncos and I played there as a young bloke in the lower grades and I thought if I knocked back the opportunity to go home now then I may never have the opportunity to return home.’’
Seibold said he and his coaching staff have mapped out the Rabbitohs entire 2019 pre-season schedule, including training camps and says he’ll return to work on Wednesday as required.
“I’m going to coach my backside off until I’m told otherwise,” Seibold told The Telegraph.
“Ultimately, I don’t think the decision is mine. I’ve got my contract here and I intend to see that out.
“But that’s not going to be my decision if there is some movement there.
“I’ll turn up and my attention to deal is high so that we’re ready to go on Wednesday.
“We’ve spent a lot of time reviewing in detail what we did well, what we can improve for 2019 and we’ve planned every session through until the start of our season.”
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