Despite denials by Wayne Bennett during the 2018 season, it was clear that his coaching career at the Broncos was over.
As far as I’m aware, Anthony Seibold had no such problems at Souths – or at least they were not obvious.
But both clubs – for some reason – decided they needed the other coach.
In my view both clubs cannot be right, one or other has made a mistake or now has a second-best leading the club.
The Broncos, by their standards, struggled during 2018, to some extent because of injuries and only just made the finals being decimated by the Dragons in week one of the elimination finals despite a massive home ground advantage with the Dragons not having won there since 2009.
Souths, on the other hand, had a successful season with Seibold earning praise while taking his side to within one game of a grand final.
Apparently, the Broncos made Siebold an offer that was impossible to refuse.
In 2018, inside the Broncos, relationships with Bennett have been strained, despite denials from Bennett and it was not surprising when the inevitable happened. Unfortunately, neither coach has had time to be involved in the off-season transfer market and limited time to introduce coaching changes.
The Broncos have a young coach and a young team in what is essentially a year to rebuild, whether Broncos fans like it or not, which will be a difficult year for Seibold under close scrutiny from Broncos ex-players and fans who are not used to rebuilding or losing or missing the finals.
The Rabbitohs, on the other hand, are considered premiership candidates with Bennett having the opportunity to push them over the line in 2019 and failure to come very, very close, may spell the end to Bennett at Souths.
Bennett has already coached the Burgess brother in his role as English coach, but it is one thing to coach a team for a three-game test series and another to get the players to perform week after week in the season grind.
Bennett has assistant coach Jason Demetrio formerly from the Broncos and Dragons to help but his primary experience has been in the ISP dealing with young players such as the Broncos forwards and neither Bennett or Demetrio have experience with the remainder of the Rabbitohs’ squad.
Many have suggested that Bennett is too old to meet the challenge at Souths but he always seems to be able to pull a proverbial rabbit out of the hat and is still very competitive.
Anthony Seibold (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Seibold by all accounts is a promising young coach with a young team of forwards and predominantly young backline who he will need to get to grips with, but can he be expected to deliver in 2019?
Anything less than the finals will be considered a failure and with a tough first four matches to the season and the usual high origin commitments, it may be a difficult year for the Broncos coach.
Maybe, in the end, both the Broncos and the Rabbitohs and their fans will be losers, the coaches, of course, are well-rewarded.
Don
Roar Rookie
I am surprised that anyone outside of NSW fans or Broncos loyalists consider that Andrew McCullough is a good option for another SOO series after being nothing more than mediocre in his chances in 2018. He’s a good player who was found wanting at Rep level. He’s not the first and won’t be the last. And Granville is a level above McCullough.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
too soon to think about origin
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
I was surprised the Broncos went after such a green coach.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Classic short-sighted armchair mentalities - one player does something really well, so therefore every equivalent player has to do the same thing or they’re no good. I still have absolutely no idea how anyone who actually watched Origin could possibly think that Hunt was the better player.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I don't wanna get into a whole thing about Hunt but I don't understand why people seem to think he created more in attack. QLD went from dominating the Blues to the back foot within minutes of Hunt replacing Macca and it got so close at the end that Macca was brought back on for the final couple minutes. Hunt made a grand total of three runs, didn't contribute to either of the tries scored while he was on the field and was the key man guiding the forwards when they surrendered the upper hand while being the worst defensive player in the team. I don't get it, Macca at least made a 15m break at a crucial time but Hunt does nothing and is apparently the saviour of QLD's attack. As far as Granville goes I reckon he's got a lot to work on before he's anywhere near rep level.
Emcie
Roar Guru
So they didn't announce anything in April because Bennett dug in his heals in December?
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
rakshop ... outstanding ! I think the Broncs have gone the 5 year contract ... just in case they got it right . They don't know ... they were pretty hot for Craig at one point . At this point in time though , Seibolds appointment still has to be considered as betting on a long shot . I reckon he has 2 seasons to deliver the roast chicken otherwise he gets henjacked . Its amazing to think that Seibold is only the 4th Broncos coach ever . It is definitely a hard gig to get - " chockers with perks 'n prestige 'n that " and he will get to keep all his outdoor furniture ..... outdoors . Good luck to him . It could turn into a real snakepit up there for the rookie coach if getting results is slower than expected . Either way , it will be great to watch . Like the experiment where the boiled egg ends up inside milk bottle ! Outrageous ...
Don
Roar Rookie
TPJ could be a chance for a bench spot. Subject to some injuries I think. As a Qlder I'd love to see Lodge picked for NSW - can't see it with Klemmer, James, McLean, RCG & Vaughan ahead of him in the prop spot. I expect even Shannon Boyd to have another run at rep footy from the Titans. They won't be short of prop options in NSW. Bird could score a bench utility spot but he'd have to be in red hot form considering Peachey is there and Fittler will be looking for a spot for Keary as well. McCullough shouldn't even be in the conversation. He was pretty ineffective last year and looked out of his depth. Great clubman - huge motor - not SOO level. Granville must have been kicking himself he got off to such a bad start last year and gave them no choice as Friend was also well out of touch at the time. I don't advocate Hunt but in the time he played at Hooker he created more in attack than McCullough did all series. Maybe the Broncs get 4 reps - only injuries might see them have more.
AngryEagle47
Roar Rookie
Wrong , the media “thought” that and it suited Sebs
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
Well I am mystified by your comment.
MarkD
Guest
Gday Angry, Bellamy didn't re-sign with the Storm until the end of May. Up until then it was all Bellamy, don't think Siebold was mentioned before then.
AngryEagle47
Roar Rookie
Not conspiracy but fact , Sebs knew in April and blew up after Bennett dug in his heals end of season, I also posted Manlys new coach 2 weeks before the media released it including support staff and former players, again cries of “conspiracy “ I’ll add to the the sharks fiasco again weeks before the media ran with it ! Again “conspiracy “ Nope FACT !
Larry1950
Guest
I think you're only half right on that leaking issue. I reckon Bennett was using his bronco old boys network to pressure the board for an extra season & expected Paul White to go along with him because they had a 30 year history but when Bennett didn't get his way he used the players in that disgraceful dual bbq debacle. The board is there to make business decisions & Bennett had no right to demand he get an extra season just because he was a small part of the recruitment program building that young squad, it wasn't all him. I reckon that also made Mcguire's tenure risky as him & Darius led the young guys down the wrong path. Wouldn't surprise if Boyd ends up heading to the English Superleague before that bronco contract expires,
Larry1950
Guest
Walter, I was wondering who you saw as a Bronco origin rep as I thought they'd struggle to get many, if any, in either squad. Jimmy the jet Roberts is their most likely for NSW although he's got a bit to do with McCullough/Oates/Ofahengaue roughies for Qld and Bird/Pangai junior for NSW but all those guys are only selection chances if the Broncos get off to a flyer. Cowboys will provide a far greater proportion of Qld origin players. Ben Hunt should be hooker this year, plenty of halves available & far better options for the bench utility. I get the impression that the Broncos might do better during that rep period in 2019 because their young squad won't be seriously impacted by origin and they won't experience that post origin hangover. Usually the young guys come in all hyped up as replacements for rep players, play their hearts out & then have a let down when the rep period finishes.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Roberts is a fair chance, Bird is too if he can prove he's fit again. TPJ and Lodge are a chance for NSW given the attention they've got from freddie recently. Unless he's really rusty you'd have to think Gillett is definately in the mix but Oates probably has a couple guys in front of him. And the only way Macca misses out is if Hunt takes his spot which I can't see lasting. Hunt at 9 is leagues equivilent of picking Finch as an opener, everyone thinks it's a great idea until the game starts
Shane
Guest
That reply makes as much sense as Sarah Palin on a good day.......and was just as "funny and entertaining". Give yourself a triple.....
Wolly
Roar Guru
In a certain sense I think us league fans are winners, looking back at 2012 when Dessie went to the Dogs their games against Manly that year had that finals intensity to it. I can’t wait to watch them play each other.
Don
Roar Rookie
Interesting that Walter thinks the Broncos will have a large State of Origin representation. I reckon this year could be their lowest representation on record. NSW are unlikely to change their side so Roberts probably plays. For QLD maybe Gillet and Oates. McCullough probably won’t be getting another shot. Can’t see any others unless they are playing out of their skins come May.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Sorry, satire is the use of humor or exaggeration. I didn't see either in your comment to be honest. Who is A.Lawyer?
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The Broncos have had 3 coaches in the last decade or so and haven't won a title. This will be their 4th coach in a decade or so and will it be the coach who largely determines if they win a title in the next decade? No it won't be the coach, it will be largely determined by the roster and whether the new crop who are rated so highly live up to their potential and what happens to the spine. If the emerging players are red hot then the spine they have could potentially be good enough but if the rest of the team ends up to be mid to upper range then I can't see them winning a title with this spine. The hooker and fullback are past their best and Milford is probably past his best as well. The Chooks won with the games best fullback , halfback? and centre last year while the Storm had the best hooker, 5/8? , half? and 5/8 possibly in 17. The Sharks won without the best spine in 16 but they had Fifita, Barba and Gallen to compensate. In 15 the Broncos almost won with Milford as the games most dangerous 5/8 and a current SOO fullback in Boyd. Seibold is unlikely to win anything unless he ends with a better outfit than the previous 3 coaches.