Terry Zarsoff
First Grader
From the SMH. Through the smoke and mirrors, perhaps more smoke and mirrors, especially when you have the full support of Mr Penn:
In rugby league, there can be many versions of the truth about the one story – it just depends on who you talk to.
But on Thursday, the key players in the Manly-Anthony Seibold contract tango were waltzing to the same tune.
Just over 24 hours out from their potentially season-shaping showdown with the Melbourne Storm, Seibold and chief executive Tony Mestrov sat down to discuss their respective positions, with the coach eyeing a new deal beyond the end of 2025.
Manly started the year like top-four contenders but have lost their last three matches by a combined nine points, as well as Tom Trbojevic to a long-term hamstring problem,and are now outside the top eight. It’s the fine margins.
Perhaps reasonably, Mestrov said it would be wise to put any further discussions over a new deal for Seibold on hold. He wants Seibold to worry about coaching – and results – first. Mestrov is a no-nonsense club boss who is not afraid to make big calls, having told club legend Des Hasler he was no longer needed in 2022.
If Manly had won their last three games by a combined nine points, they would be running third and the Seibold deal could have almost been done. But they haven’t, and the Sea Eagles want their season to be corrected first.
Anthony Seibold is in his second year in charge of Manly.CREDIT: GETTY
After that message, things might get a little murkier.
Did Seibold storm out of the meeting with Mestrov, as reported elsewhere? He swears that wasn’t the case.
“I’m very comfortable with where we’re at,” Seibold said on Thursday evening. “I love the club, I love the area. If I’m doing a good job, I would love to stay long term. That’s the reality of it.”
But just down the road, a new vacancy has arisen after Brad Arthur’s sudden sacking at Parramatta.
Seibold’s manager, Isaac Moses – the most influential agent in the game – has his star client, halfback Mitchell Moses, on the Eels’ books. He also has one of the game’s hottest teenage talents, Blaize Talagi, unsigned beyond this season, and knows that if the Eels lose a promising local junior like him, the disaster for their future football team will pale in comparison to the PR wreckage.
It’s safe to assume Talagi, and Moses, will want to know who Parramatta’s next coach is before putting pen to paper.
Seibold is said to have admirers at the Eels, including head of football Mark O’Neill, but the coach’s only thinking is to build Manly back into an NRL powerhouse. Could he have his head turned? It seems unlikely.
Moses also has a cast of clients at the Sea Eagles under Seibold, to the point where there was criticism last year from sections of the media that Manly had fallen under the spell of the controversial agent.
Prop Matt Lodge, who suffered a torn biceps at Magic Round, has no guarantee of a deal at Manly next season.CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
Their response in July last year was extraordinary: the Sea Eagles publicly released a list of managers who had players contracted to the club at the time. Moses had five. It was less than Mario Tartak (seven), Daniel O’Loughlin (seven) and the Orr brothers (six).
Moses’ relationship with the club undoubtedly helped him get Matt Lodge a one-year extension for 2024 after he ruptured his ACL just three games into his mid-season switch last year. The day after the game, Mestrov declared they would still offer him a fresh contract. It was a noble gesture.
Lodge completed his rehabilitation in quick time, came back in round seven, but is again out long term with a torn biceps suffered in Magic Round. He has no guarantee of a deal next season.
This time, the parties are squabbling more than before about whether Lodge deserves another NRL lifeline, and if so, how much is he paid. It’s been bubbling away for weeks in the background while the Seibold talks hog the headlines.
“Seibs has got another year to go,” Mestrov said. “We’re comfortable with the position, and we’ve started some preliminary discussions with his manager, and we’ll continue to have them. As everyone knows, it’s a results-driven business.”
It’s unfathomable to think Seibold will walk away from a club which he has worked overtime to heal after the rainbow jersey saga and Hasler’s sacking in 2022.
Even more pertinent was his bruising coaching swap with Wayne Bennett when he left South Sydney for the Broncos. He doesn’t need any more of the NRL soap opera - just results.
After the news of contract talks breaking down were published by the Daily Telegraph, Seibold and bemused Manly owner Scott Penn spoke via phone. Their relationship remains a healthy one. They agreed their project has a long time to run.
“We see Seibs as our long-term coach,” Penn told this masthead. “We’re building, and we’ve only just begun.
“In terms of a contract extension, we’ve had a very high level start of a discussion. It hasn’t even been a negotiation, just a start of some discussions. We’re talking 2026 and beyond.
“Once again, it’s between us and him.”
Are Manly, Anthony Seibold and Isaac Moses still on the same page?
By Adam Pengilly
May 23, 2024 — 7.45pmIn rugby league, there can be many versions of the truth about the one story – it just depends on who you talk to.
But on Thursday, the key players in the Manly-Anthony Seibold contract tango were waltzing to the same tune.
Just over 24 hours out from their potentially season-shaping showdown with the Melbourne Storm, Seibold and chief executive Tony Mestrov sat down to discuss their respective positions, with the coach eyeing a new deal beyond the end of 2025.
Manly started the year like top-four contenders but have lost their last three matches by a combined nine points, as well as Tom Trbojevic to a long-term hamstring problem,and are now outside the top eight. It’s the fine margins.
Perhaps reasonably, Mestrov said it would be wise to put any further discussions over a new deal for Seibold on hold. He wants Seibold to worry about coaching – and results – first. Mestrov is a no-nonsense club boss who is not afraid to make big calls, having told club legend Des Hasler he was no longer needed in 2022.
If Manly had won their last three games by a combined nine points, they would be running third and the Seibold deal could have almost been done. But they haven’t, and the Sea Eagles want their season to be corrected first.
Anthony Seibold is in his second year in charge of Manly.CREDIT: GETTY
After that message, things might get a little murkier.
Did Seibold storm out of the meeting with Mestrov, as reported elsewhere? He swears that wasn’t the case.
“I’m very comfortable with where we’re at,” Seibold said on Thursday evening. “I love the club, I love the area. If I’m doing a good job, I would love to stay long term. That’s the reality of it.”
But just down the road, a new vacancy has arisen after Brad Arthur’s sudden sacking at Parramatta.
Seibold’s manager, Isaac Moses – the most influential agent in the game – has his star client, halfback Mitchell Moses, on the Eels’ books. He also has one of the game’s hottest teenage talents, Blaize Talagi, unsigned beyond this season, and knows that if the Eels lose a promising local junior like him, the disaster for their future football team will pale in comparison to the PR wreckage.
It’s safe to assume Talagi, and Moses, will want to know who Parramatta’s next coach is before putting pen to paper.
Seibold is said to have admirers at the Eels, including head of football Mark O’Neill, but the coach’s only thinking is to build Manly back into an NRL powerhouse. Could he have his head turned? It seems unlikely.
Moses also has a cast of clients at the Sea Eagles under Seibold, to the point where there was criticism last year from sections of the media that Manly had fallen under the spell of the controversial agent.
Prop Matt Lodge, who suffered a torn biceps at Magic Round, has no guarantee of a deal at Manly next season.CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
Their response in July last year was extraordinary: the Sea Eagles publicly released a list of managers who had players contracted to the club at the time. Moses had five. It was less than Mario Tartak (seven), Daniel O’Loughlin (seven) and the Orr brothers (six).
Moses’ relationship with the club undoubtedly helped him get Matt Lodge a one-year extension for 2024 after he ruptured his ACL just three games into his mid-season switch last year. The day after the game, Mestrov declared they would still offer him a fresh contract. It was a noble gesture.
Lodge completed his rehabilitation in quick time, came back in round seven, but is again out long term with a torn biceps suffered in Magic Round. He has no guarantee of a deal next season.
This time, the parties are squabbling more than before about whether Lodge deserves another NRL lifeline, and if so, how much is he paid. It’s been bubbling away for weeks in the background while the Seibold talks hog the headlines.
“Seibs has got another year to go,” Mestrov said. “We’re comfortable with the position, and we’ve started some preliminary discussions with his manager, and we’ll continue to have them. As everyone knows, it’s a results-driven business.”
It’s unfathomable to think Seibold will walk away from a club which he has worked overtime to heal after the rainbow jersey saga and Hasler’s sacking in 2022.
Even more pertinent was his bruising coaching swap with Wayne Bennett when he left South Sydney for the Broncos. He doesn’t need any more of the NRL soap opera - just results.
After the news of contract talks breaking down were published by the Daily Telegraph, Seibold and bemused Manly owner Scott Penn spoke via phone. Their relationship remains a healthy one. They agreed their project has a long time to run.
“We see Seibs as our long-term coach,” Penn told this masthead. “We’re building, and we’ve only just begun.
“In terms of a contract extension, we’ve had a very high level start of a discussion. It hasn’t even been a negotiation, just a start of some discussions. We’re talking 2026 and beyond.
“Once again, it’s between us and him.”
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