‘Needs to go’: Broncos coach Anthony Seibold savaged after Tigers thrashing

After the Brisbane Broncos’ latest nightmare performance, fans and legends have once again turned the blowtorch on coach Anthony Seibold.

Hurts even more when Billy Walters - Broncos club legend Kevin’s son — scores his first NRL against you.

Brisbane Broncos coach Anthony Seibold is facing renewed criticism after his side’s awful 48-0 loss to the Wests Tigers on Friday night.

While the Tigers were outstanding, the Broncos have once again been slammed for a substandard performance with legends taking aim.

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The Broncos have claimed just one win since the return of the competition last week against the Bulldogs but they were blown off the park at Leichhardt Oval last night.

The manner in which the Broncos have collapsed has been the tough to watch for fans and commentators alike, but it was hoped last week’s win was a turning point. It wasn't to be as the Tigers mauled their Brisbane rivals, scoring five first half tries and nine in total.

It’s the first time the Tigers have held a team scoreless in eight years.

In his post-match press conference, Seibold said the result was “nowhere near good enough” and said he couldn’t defend the performance.

Anthony Seibold looks on in horror.

He also said “I’m not feeling too great” after being asked if he was doubting himself.

Asked directly if he was still the right man to coach Brisbane, Seibold refused to answer, saying it’s “pretty raw after a performance like that”, especially after helping Corey Oates into an ambulance.

It was feared Oates suffered a shocking compound fracture in his femur late in the match, but an update on Saturday revealed it was a large haematoma.

Part of Seibold’s defence of the lack of changes he’s made to the team was the side’s mounting injury list, as he said 15 players were unavailable this week.

Even senior player Darius Boyd said on Channel 9 about players getting dropped that “it’s his (Seibold’s) call, if he wants to wield the axe, he can wield the axe”.

But post-match on Fox League, Greg Alexander said last week’s win over Canterbury was an “aberration” as normal service resumed against the Tigers.

“He’s under enormous pressure, Anthony Seibold,” Alexander said. “At the moment, he’s allowing players who are just doing the jersey no justice to dictate his future. Until he makes some tough decisions, unless he gets rid of some senior players or at least drops them out of the team, the rot will continue.”

That hurts for the Broncos’ senior players.

Mal Meninga said Seibold’s Tigers counterpart Michael Maguire was showing him the way, having made 15 changes over the past five weeks.

But Alexander wasn’t done, admitting he would drop senior players Boyd and Anthony Milford because “they don’t look like they care enough about the jersey”.

Brisbane legend Corey Parker said everyone at the Broncos is feeling the pressure.

“Anthony Seibold has been more than accommodating with the team he’s stuck with over the last seven weeks,” Parker said. “There comes a time where you just can’t do that anymore and there are some individuals in that side that just aren’t up to the standard that they are required to be. It’s unacceptable.”

Alexander said the key to success was having the coach and senior players have a tight relationship and something has to change if the Broncos are going to go anywhere.

On Channel 9, Broncos director and club legend Darren Lockyer said he didn’t regret handing Seibold a five-year deal, but said the results “don’t sit well”.

Fans were also ready to send Seibold packing, with social media savaging the coach and his side.

Seibold needs to go & whoever backed the decision to bring on an unproven 1st year coach to turn a club in turmoil around needs to go with him. Especially if they’re standing by him right now #NRLTigersBroncos

— What’s Up (@beatdown155) July 17, 2020

Sterlo on Seibold on @NRLonNine: “I don’t know how he survives.”

Hard to argue.
This is awful.#NRLTigersBroncos #NRL

— Brett Keeble (@BrettKeeble) July 17, 2020

Anthony Seibold needs to get down on the sideline and show the fist waving, red faced passion his team is missing. He looks miserable and insipid and so does his team. Lead man. Lead. Get down there. Fire them up. Get in the trenches. Fittler would. @PhilGould15 #NRLTigersBroncos

— Jonathan Lea (@JonathanLea10) July 17, 2020

The Craig Bellamy-Cam Smith package to Brisbane Broncos for 2021 idea is looking sweet right now. Absolute mess at Red Hill. NRL can’t afford Broncs to be this weak #NRLTigersBroncos

— Jamie Pandaram (@JamiePandaram) July 17, 2020