Anthony Seibold exits Broncos, CEO blasts scrutiny on coach

Brisbane boss Paul White has attacked the level of scrutiny put on Anthony Seibold, as the coach’s exit from the club was confirmed.

Broncos coach Anthony Seibold speaks to the media as Brisbane announces his exit from the club. Picture: Getty Images

Brisbane chief executive Paul White has blasted the level of scrutiny that was placed on departing coach Anthony Seibold during his short tenure with the Broncos.

White and Seibold fronted the media on Wednesday morning where they confirmed that he would depart the club with immediate effect, his assistant Peter Gentle to take charge of the side over the remaining five games of the season.

White said the club would conduct a search for a new head coach but he would not put a time frame on that process.

“Anthony has chosen to step down from his role with immediate effect,” White said.

“As you are aware Anthony spent the past two weeks in home isolation. During that time, Anthony has had the ability to reflect on his role at the Broncos and the impact that has been having on his life away from rugby league.

“As a result, Anthony approached our chairman Karl Morris late last week to indicate he did not want to continue as coach of the Brisbane Broncos.

“The board understands Anthony’s wishes. The role as coach of the Broncos is one of the most high profile and high pressure in Australian sport.

“The levels of scrutiny, some of it bordering on hysterical if not slanderous in recent times have placed a very heavy burden on Anthony and his family.

“At the end of the day only Anthony can understand what it is like to walk in the shoes of the coach of the Brisbane Broncos and live the highs and lows of that role.”

Seibold said the decision to leave before the end of the season was one of the hardest of his career.

“Last week I made the decision to finish my tenure as coach of the Brisbane Broncos,” Seibold said.

“From a professional viewpoint, this was the hardest decision I have ever had to make. But right now I will spend more time with my family.

“For many reasons, My time at the Broncos has not turned out as we would have hoped. People ask me if there are things I would do differently over the past two years but that doesn’t matter right now.

“Head coaches know there is no finger pointing or deflection of blame. Head coaching in the NRL isn’t for the faint of heart. I know that.”

Asked about the criticism off the field, Seibold said: “With regard to the on-field stuff, I can’t control the narrative in the media and things that are his across social media. I can control the football team. I thought it was best for the Broncos that we separate.”

Seibold became emotional when he was asked when he reached a breaking point. He spoke about catching a plane back to Brisbane, having spent time with his daughter in Sydney in recent weeks.

Seibold spoke to the players on Wednesday morning before he fronted the media. His position was set to be reviewed at the end of the season and every indication was that he would be sacked at that point despite having a further three years on his contract.

He departs with a seven-figure payout and a belief that his future as a head coach is far from over. As well as the difficulties on the field, he has had to deal with a disgusting social media campaign that many believe was designed to erode his credibility.

Seibold and the Broncos brought in European cybercrime experts to track down those responsible and insisted he would press ahead with plans to take the matter to police.

“It is my intention,” Seibold said.

“I have had some really good people reach out to me about it. There is some change needed with regard to legislation.

“That is for another time. I will certainly be making a considered decision but my decision making is that I will be going to the police and giving them some names.”

White revealed the club had also written to minority shareholder Phil Murphy after he compared Seibold’s tenure to a cancer that needed to be cut out of the club.

“There is no doubt that it is a challenge being a one-team town,” Seibold said.

“If we’re winning on the field, there are probably not as many stories in the paper about the Brisbane Broncos.

“It has been a wonderful experience, a hell of an experience. It hasn’t worked. I can look at myself in the mirror. I have given it my best shot. For me, we are not where we want to be.

“We failed this year.”

White defended his record as chief executive after Seibold became the fourth coach sacked during his 10 years in charge.

“It is not a dictatorship,” White said.

“I don’t make that decision on my own. It would be disrespectful to say that one man makes the decision on those coaches.

“I can assure everyone I have never made decisions out of self-interest.”