What’s the Buzz: Anthony Seibold’s shock $150k payment admission to secure Manly Sea Eagles job

While Des Hasler takes Manly to court, current Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold reveals how he paid $150,000 to land the gig. Meanwhile, secret documents reveal Barry O’Farrell was the Wests Tigers’ third choice for chairperson, reveals PHIL ROTHFIELD.

Manly coach Anthony Seibold has confirmed he had to pay $150,000 out of his own pocket to secure the head coaching role at the Sea Eagles two years ago.

A source in England has alerted us to the story of how the English Rugby Union imposed a hefty transfer fee on Manly to allow Seibold to quit his job as Eddie Jones’ senior assistant.

“Yes, that story’s true,” Seibold said when we approached him last week.

“I was signed on with Eddie (Jones) and was being well looked after over there.

“Then the opportunity came up at Manly and I was happy to pay them myself.”

Seibold’s opportunity to make an NRL head coaching comeback on the Northern Beaches was too good to knock back, no matter what the cost.

Anthony Seibold has confirmed he had to pay $150,000 to move away from English Rugby Union and secure his job Manly. Picture: Bob Bradford

The irony is that Jones was sacked as English Rugby Union coach six weeks later.

It would have meant Seibold was a free agent and could have avoided the $150,000 payment.

Not that money means everything.

“I probably made a financial decision when I left Souths for the Broncos all those years ago,” he said. “You quickly learn that money isn’t everything. This time it was about going with my heart.

“I Just wanted another crack in the NRL. My family lived in the area and I was ready to be a head coach again.”

Leaked West Tigers internal review document.

BRONZE MEDAL BARRY

A secret document has revealed former NSW Liberal Premier Barry O’Farrell was only a third-choice selection as the new chairman of the Wests Tigers.

In fact he only got the job because two others knocked it back — former ARL boss John Quayle and former independent commissioner Catherine Harris.

The Sunday Telegraph has obtained a copy of parts of the club’s independent review from last year that resulted in the dismissals of chairman Lee Hagipantelis and chief executive Justin Pascoe.

The confidential document reveals Quayle and Harris, the chair of Harris Farm Markets, were the preferred choices as boardroom chairs.

Both confirmed they had rejected approaches from Tony Crawford, the former NRL chief financial officer, who carried out the controversial review.

Quayle told me: “I explained I had other commitments.”

Barry O’Farrell was only a third-choice selection as the new chairman of the Wests Tigers according to the document. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Plus Quayle had just been made a life member of the Sydney Roosters and was hardly going to compete against his great friend, Nick Politis.

Harris said: “Yes, that’s correct, I was offered the job.

“I’m a Wests Tigers fan, absolutely. We’ve been Balmain people forever.

“I was very tempted but I just felt what the Wests Tigers need is strong leadership and I just felt an old grey-haired lady (laughing) might have been the wrong image for the club.”

So they were left with O’Farrell for the bronze medal.

The ex-NSW Premier has been dubbed the Invisible Man since returning to the club.

He has gone missing on important issues like the future of Leichhardt Oval and does not return phone calls or text messages.