Anthony Seibold upbeat as NRL coaching restart finally confirmed with Manly Sea Eagles

Anthony Seibold claims he will be a better coach for his final horror year in Brisbane as he prepares for his NRL return at Manly.

Seibold was finally announced on a new three-year deal by the Sea Eagles on Tuesday night, with the 48-year-old’s exit from England Rugby now complete.

He will join forces with Manly on November 28 with new assistants Shane Flanagan and Jim Dymock to lead training until then with mainstay Stephen Hales.

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Seibold’s return to first-class coaching comes after one of the biggest roller coaster rides for a mentor in the NRL in recent memory.

Dally M Coach of the Year In his rookie season at South Sydney, Seibold lasted just a year and a half at Brisbane after moving north on a five-year deal.

During that time he endured a horror run from COVID during a season that saw Brisbane catch their first wooden spoon, as well as a string of off-field problems and a smear campaign.

But the returning mentor has insisted he will now bring more experience to the Manly job and is ready to jump back into an NRL club’s hot seat.

“With some of the challenges that have been presented to me, I feel like I have a variety of experiences,” Seibold said in a club video.

“As a longtime coach, I know that some seasons are more challenging than others.

“But I have a lot of experience for the position and I’m very optimistic about what we can achieve in the coming seasons.”

Seibold also believed he would make a better coach for his time under Eddie Jones in English rugby, proud of his move between codes.

“I’ve been the head coach for 16 seasons and I’ve also had some really successful times and challenges,” Seibold said.

“One of the things I’m really proud of is the last 16 months going to another country in another sport and having some success in another code.

“That rounded me out as a coach.”

Seiboild will need that experience and then some at Manly.

While players and officials insist there is no division in the group, there’s no denying that players were frustrated with Des Hasler’s axe.

The club also lost seven straight games in the Pride Jersey saga last year when they fell out of the top eight and ended up in a basket.

But as a former assistant at Manly, Seibold is adamant he can see a way forward for the club.

“Having worked with the likes of Tom Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans in the past, I have great connections,” he said.

“I see the potential and talent I see in the current squad as an opportunity not only to build the Manly team, but to lead it to success.”