New Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold won’t seek to smoke the peace pipe with Broncos greats who protested his appointment, saying he hoped to win them over with results.
Chris Johns and Glenn Lazarus led a chorus of disapproval from former Brisbane players over ex-South Sydney mentor Seibold replacing Wayne Bennett, saying the job should have gone to Broncos favourite son Kevin Walters.
Johns even questioned Seibold’s coaching credentials, saying the Rabbitohs “choked” in 2018 despite losing the NRL preliminary final to the eventual premiers Sydney Roosters.
Seibold admitted he was not aware of the criticism but hoped to make Broncos greats proud with his 2019 results.
“I can’t control the other commentary outside this group,” said Seibold, who has signed a five-year Broncos deal.
“What I do know is that there is a great legacy left behind by the old boys at the Broncos.
“What excited me is that there is an opportunity by this group to create their own history.
“I haven’t really listened to the commentary. Of course I want the old boys to be proud of this club and our performance but my priority is the staff and players, they are the ones who control the result.”
Seibold finally took over the Broncos reins on Monday after a month-long coach swap saga ended when South Sydney-bound Bennett was sensationally sacked via phone message on the weekend.
Seibold – a former Brisbane reserve grade player – said he would follow the example set by greats such as Johns and Lazarus in his maiden Broncos campaign in 2019.
“Although I didn’t play first grade here I had four seasons in the lower grades here (and) I saw how hard the players worked,” he said.
“It was a successful period of time for the first grade side.
“So looking up to people like Alfie (Allan Langer), Glenn Lazarus, Chris Johns, Kevvie Walters and those sort of guys you’d be crazy if you don’t learn something from them.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how hard the players work and how much they want to play.”
While some greats questioned Seibold’s Broncos credentials, the new Brisbane coach said he was as Queenslander as they come.
“The opportunity to come back to my home state and coach the Broncos was always something that was an attraction to me,” said Rockhampton-born Seibold.
“My parents live in central Queensland, my sister lives on the Gold Coast and my brother and his family are transferring at some stage for work (to Queensland).
“This is a great opportunity to come back to Queensland. I see it as a positive challenge.”
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