‘Dumbest idea ever’: Manly’s ‘PR stunt’ slammed amid concern over player manager

The Manly Sea Eagles have been torn to shreds for a “bizarre PR stunt” as whispers grow louder about a mounting concern for the club.

Matthew Sullivan

4 min read

July 18, 2023 - 8:44PM

The Sea Eagles drama explained.

Manly have been slammed for a “bizarre PR stunt” that has only heightened scrutiny on a growing player agent trend that looms as a “concern within the game”.

As the Sea Eagles tinker with their 30-man squad, eyebrows have been raised in some quarters over the increasing number of players at the club who are managed by leading player agent Isaac Moses.

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Moses also manages Manly coach Anthony Seibold and now manages five players on Manly’s books — with the addition of Luke Brooks and Tommy Talau to make that seven next season.

Aaron Woods, Matt Lodge, Ben Condon, Cooper Johns, Luke Brooks and Tommy Talau have all joined or are set to join Manly since Seibold’s arrival. Ethan Bullemor was the only Moses client at Manly last year

A high concentration of players linked to one manager has sparked fears it could wreck Manly in the future, similar to what happened at the Brisbane Broncos when Anthony Seibold was in charge there.

The Sea Eagles decided to respond to the scuttlebutt by releasing a statement with a list (see below) of the player management agencies working with the club, “to avoid any misconception”.

Braith Anasta labelled it a “bizarre PR stunt” on NRL 360, and his fellow panellists agreed.

Player agent Isaac Moses manages a quarter of Manly’s roster.

News Corp’s Paul Crawley said: “The club has come up with the dumbest idea ever to put out this statement. If it’s not an issue, why make it an issue.

“They’re ignoring the fact when Seibold first arrived there was one Isaac Moses client, Ethan Bullemore. Now there’s five, next year there’s going to be seven. On top that, there’s three members of the coaching staff, although Flanno’s (Shane Flanagan) leaving at the end of the year. You’ve got the new head of recruitment.”

“You didn’t have to be a fortune teller to see this was coming. Seriously. We’ve known for ages that it’s getting there and then today they come up with the plan to put a statement to try and deny it’s true.

“If you look at the power base at Manly, the Isaac Moses clients aren’t exactly what you’d call top of the tree. The issue becomes you’ve only got 30 spots on your roster and if you’ve got quarter of it tied up, it’s draining your salary cap, it’s filling up a large portion. That’s a quarter of the 30-player roster next year managed by him.”

Anasta added: “That’s the concern — if he has his hands all over a certain squad or team, it may be detrimental to the club.

“What’s even more concerning is if they aren’t top of the tree in terms of class, you don’t want seven or eight of them, do you? Because then you get flooded by players that maybe shouldn’t be there.”

Anthony Seibold is managed by Isaac Moses. Picture: Tim Hunter.

David Riccio added: “It’s seen as a concern within the game.

“It’s not a picking on Isaac Moses, it’s a concern when a single manager has influence over how many players or staff you have at one club.

“We saw it with Isaac at the Broncos and Anthony Seibold, which led to suggestions it brought down the Broncos and their contract failures.

“As far as PR control, I do not understand this strategy at all. We’re at a point in time in the season where Manly fans want to know how the footy team is going to fire up and make the finals.

“Not put press statements out about how many players are managed by who. I just don’t understand the strategy about putting a spotlight on an issue that you don’t want to be an issue.

Broncos legend Gorden Tallis said Moses may have all the power in his relationship with Seibold because he helped him land the Manly coaching gig after leaving Brisbane.

“It comes from the coach’s insecurities,” Tallis said.

“He was on the chopping block and he couldn’t get a job and he feels loyal to the manager that got him a job. It’s simple.

“What he (Moses) did at Brisbane was really poor and Seibs was under a lot of pressure there.

“He sits in no-man’s land and he gets a job. So he’s going to feel like he’s got to repay the guy that got him a job. That’s just human nature.”

Manly are fighting to make finals. (Photo by Tim Allsop/Getty Images)

Manly currently sit 11th on the ladder and are battling to make finals this year without the injured Tom Trbojevic.

Lodge has been named on the bench in Manly’s side to face Cronulla on Sunday after the Roosters discard was given a train and trial contract.

Manly Sea Eagles media release

“Manly Warringah Sea Eagles has tabled the list of player management agencies the Club is working with in 2023.

“It shows the Sea Eagles have 10 player management agencies representing 39 contracted players, a list that includes all NRL, Development, and Train and Trial players.

“To avoid any misconception, the breakdown is as follows.”

Crown Sports International - Mario Tartak - 7

Wasserman - Daniel O’Loughlin - 7

Pacific Sports Management - Chris Orr, Gavin Orr, Simon Healey - 6

SFX Sports Group - Paul Sutton, Peter Menicou, George Mimis - 5

Cove Agency - Isaac Moses - 5

Sports Player Management - Tyran Smith -3

Titan Sports Management - David Riolo - 3