Anthony Seibold, the head coach of the Manly Sea Eagles, is currently facing intense scrutiny after recent player meetings were reportedly met with discontent from some members of the squad. This dissatisfaction comes at a critical time for Manly, who find themselves positioned 11th on the NRL ladder after suffering consecutive losses to the Knights and Titans.
According to reports on Nine’s 100% Footy, players were presented with a document outlining critiques of their early season performance and areas for improvement. Feedback indicates that this approach has sparked issues rather than providing effective solutions among certain factions of the team.
The Sea Eagles are enjoying a bye week, but substantial changes are already underway. Lachlan Croker and Jason Saab are set to be dropped to the NSW Cup, while Tom Trbojevic will shift to the centres for their upcoming match against the Tigers on June 27, with Lehi Hopoate stepping in at fullback.
Seibold’s future with the club is now under examination, reflecting the importance of the next fixtures against the Tigers and Rabbitohs. Despite the mounting pressure, Manly’s CEO Tony Mestrov has publicly affirmed that Seibold’s position is secure for the moment, stating, “It’s all about winning games. Seibs is safe at this point.”
Former player Paul Gallen expressed surprise over the discontent emanating from within the team, highlighting the respect that should be afforded to a coach. Gallen emphasised that questioning leadership can lead to problems within a squad, reinforcing that players need to support their coach to foster a positive environment.
As the Sea Eagles prepare for critical matches ahead, the pressure mounts not only for Seibold but also on the players to realign their focus and performance to improve their standing in the league.