Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold has taken names to the NRL integrity unit

Anthony Seibold’s legal team have named and shamed the parties responsible for attacking the coach on social media.

Broncos chairman Karl Morris and board member Darren Lockyer at Red Hill this week. Picture: Annette Dew

Legal representatives for Anthony Seibold have spoken to the NRL integrity unit and passed on the identities of some of the people they believe are responsible for creating and cultivating the social media attacks that made his final days and weeks in the job a living hell.

The ball is now in the NRL’s court. Provided those responsible are registered with a club or the governing body, they can begin their own investigation and potentially take action. No doubt, some people will be ducking for cover if they weren’t already.

There were whispers in rugby league circles on Friday that one prominent and well-known figure had already sought legal advice to protect their identity entering the public domain. Meanwhile, Seibold has gone away for a week and is likely to pursue his own legal action when he returns.
In the interim, the NRL has been given the ammunition to conduct their own investigation and take action if they find anyone within the game is culpable.

Seibold deserves immense praise for he way he handled his departure. After fronting a press conference, he did a series of one-on-one interviews with local journalists as well as phone interviews with media from interstate.

He was smart enough to realise that his interview for his next job began with his departure from the Broncos. While he takes a breather before attempting to resume his NRL coaching career, Brisbane chair Karl Morris admits he has regrets over the way the former coach’s tenure has come to an end.

The biggest is that he and the club weren’t able to provide more support for Seibold during the COVID-19 crisis. The Broncos were flying before the season was brought to a shuddering halt.

When they returned, the club had changed and the dressing room felt different according to people close to the club. Sources at the Broncos suggest a divide had opened between the younger and older players. A disconnect that Seibold found hard to mend.

The coach had put his faith in some of the Broncos’ emerging stars, highlighted by his decision to make Patrick Carrigan one of the captains in the absence of Alex Glenn. The dressing room was split.

Weekend Read was told that the greatest challenge facing the new coach will be to find a way to bridge the divide and unify the squad.

It should be easier once the bubble is gone. Morris and chief executive Paul White were on the outside, removed from their coach and the squad. They could talk, but there was no way to get a genuine feel for what was really happening.

“Personally, my biggest regret from this was that we should have acted a lot sooner post-COVID when things looked awry,” Morris said.

“We blamed it on the number of injured and suspended players but COVID had such a detrimental impact on us not only putting further support around Anthony, but for us to have a deeper review and involvement.

“My deepest regret is not being able to help Anthony when it was not only obvious to us, but all that things weren’t going his way.”

Morris has no doubt Seibold will bounce back.

“I think everyone saw a very decent person who tried his absolute heart out to do the best he could,” Morris said.

“Good people, with the best of intentions, sometimes it doesn’t go their way and I think with Anthony this will be his greatest learning experience.

“I expect after a bit of time away from being an NRL head coach, he will come back stronger from his learnings here. “

Foran likes idea of playing with Pearce

Kieran Foran laughs when you ask him about the prospect of finishing his career alongside good mate Mitchell Pearce at Newcastle.

“I remember when we were seven years old, kicking the footy in the backyard,” Foran says.

“I would like to think I am playing good enough and consistent enough footy to still offer something.

“I would like to think an opportunity is going to open up. To be completely honest, I don’t know where that is or it will be.

“There is five weeks to go and I don’t know where I will be playing next year. It has been one of those years and it would be ungrateful for me to be angry about it or disappointed.

“It has been a really tough year for the whole world. Everyone is facing uncertainty. The reality is I have to accept things might happen a bit later this year.”

Foran and Pearce still talk and playing alongside his long-time friend certainly appeals to him, although Newcastle don’t have a lot of money to spare.

Foran had a deal on the table from Canterbury for one year but he wanted two. The Bulldogs reacted by pulling their offer and signing veteran Blake Green, a move that puts Foran’s career back in limbo.

He only recently turned 30 and still believes he has plenty to offer. His stats this season bear that out. Only nine players across the NRL have more try assists than the 10 he has recorded through his 12 games.

He has matched his entire total from last season. He has seemingly put his injury curse behind him and will make his 13th successive appearance this weekend – the first time he has strung together that many games since 2014 at Manly.

He has plenty of upside yet he is fighting hard to shake off the belief that his body is broken after years of throwing himself into his work.

He is determined to fight to the bitter end to get a deal.

“So many times I could have walked away but I have just refused to give up,” Foran said.

“I know there is a possibility I may not get a deal. But I am pretty hopeful something will present itself.”

Kieran Foran has seemingly overcome his injury curse this season Picture: Getty Images

Pascoe avoids scrutiny over cap mess

There is a school of thought that Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe has got off lightly when it comes to the club’s salary cap malaise.

Former coach Ivan Cleary and ex-football manager Kelly Egan have largely worn the blame for the bloated contracts that have hampered coach Michael Maguire’s ability to piece together a more competitive side.

The Tigers are trying to create space – Josh Reynolds is among the players being shopped around Super League – but it isn’t easy and the focus has fallen back on those responsible as the club prepares to meet Cleary’s Tigers on Saturday night.

Pascoe was the man in charge when the deals were done and while Cleary was charged with putting together the squad, he did it under the watchful and approving gaze of the chief executive.

Things have changed since then, a point highlighted by Lee Hagipantelis to Weekend Read.

“There is that underlying tension that exists in any recruitment between the coach and front office – does the coach get the team they want and if they don’t, how they can be held responsible and liable for results?,” Hagipantelis said.
“Fortunately for us we have a very healthy recruitment process that involves a committee that Madge (Maguire) is part of. There is a very healthy and robust process in place.”

Asked whether Maguire was under any pressure, Hagipantelis said: “Not at all. Not at all. There has been no suggestion that this has been a coaching issue.
“It has been a player issue. That is exactly what it is. Our roster this year is better than last year. We are improving our roster.

“There has been a lot of commentary. We have to take those views on board. All of us agree that we are very disappointed with the results and we need to ask ourselves why.”

Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe Picture: Brett Costello

Furner deserves another chance

St George Illawarra are expected to whittle down their list of coaching candidates in coming weeks. The likelihood is that David Furner will be among those who make the shortlist.

If he does, few could begrudge him. Is there a man more deserving of a second chance at NRL coaching than Furner?

Wherever he goes as an assistant, success seems to follow. It has made him a man in demand. He was pursued by Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien when he was handed the reins at the Knights.

He is every chance of joining Trent Barrett’s staff at Canterbury should he miss out on the Dragons job. He has been a loyal and committed lieutenant, leaving a good impression and positive legacy wherever he has gone.

At Souths, he could have spat the dummy when Anthony Seibold was chosen to replace Michael Maguire. Instead, he worked alongside Seibold to make sure enjoyed success.

He has improved the Knights forward pack and been a sage sounding board for O’Brien. He has unfinished business as a head coach and deserves an opportunity to be the front man yet again.

Maybe the Dragons will be that club. He won’t let them down.

There is interest in the services of David Furner at several NRL clubs next season Picture: Getty Images

Welch set to stay at Storm

Meanwhile, the Dragons look set to miss out on Christian Welch as he prepares to commit his future to the Melbourne Storm.

Welch was the subject of a hefty offer from St George Illawarra but is expected to confirm early next week that he is staying at the Storm.

Christian Welch is likely to stay at the Storm next season Picture: Getty Images