The Manly Sea Eagles are in turmoil after another off-field dilemma that will have plenty of impact on the club’s immediate future.
Des Hasler has joined the list of fellow Manly legends, including Geoff Toovey, Paul Vautin and Bob Fulton that have been treated poorly by the club. Hasler was seemingly let go for a decision that was completely out of his control when the club introduced the pride jerseys.
Hasler’s departure from Brookvale may have more of an impact on the club off the field than it will on, as the cracks at the club begin to show.
Could Jake and Tom depart with Hasler?
The biggest story to come out of Des Hasler’s sacking from Manly is the report that both Trbojevic brothers are concerned with how the club is being managed.
Tom called an emergency meeting with his manager to discuss his future, whilst Jake reportedly called from the U.K to voice his displeasure.
Manly simply can’t afford to let either brother go – both Trbojevics have been some of the best ambassadors the club has ever seen.
Along with their public desire to win a premiership at their boyhood club, it would be jarring to witness the Trbojevics in NRL colours other than the famous maroon and white.
The damage to the club’s reputation if both brothers were to leave may be irreversible, considering everything the club has gone through in the last couple of years.
On the field, Tom and Jake are without a doubt the Sea Eagles’ two best players. Jake is a leader for the club both on and off the field, and the forward pack; seemingly the only player who wears his heart on his sleeve every time he puts on a Manly jersey. Tom, on his day, is arguably the most dangerous player in the NRL. His 2021 Dally M Medal year will go down in rugby league folklore.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Trbojevic brothers need to be at the core of what the club is building. If they depart, the Sea Eagles may go into freefall.
Front-office stability is a must
The Manly Sea Eagles have gone through a ridiculous 12 CEOs in the last 22 years. The club has had three new CEOs in the last 12 months alone; the constant change may well be the cause of their on-field demise.
Whether it was problems with sponsors or money, fights with ownership or the pride jersey fiasco, Manly is in dire need of a stable yet competent leader to get them through this rough patch.
Not only has their CEO turnover been an issue, but Manly’s owner Scott Penn’s hands aren’t clean either. His role in the pride jersey situation exacerbated the internal problems created.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe pride jersey situation more than likely was the final nail in the coffin for Hasler, who did his best crisis manage under pressured circumstances.
Former coach Trent Barrett infamously had to spend money out of his own pocket to buy chairs for his office; the owner was nowhere to be seen.
Whether it’s Penn departing or a CEO that will stay in the job for more than a year, change is a necessity at Manly.
Is Anthony Seibold the right for the job?
If the rumour mill is to be believed, former Rabbitohs and Broncos coach Anthony Seibold is all but guaranteed to be Hasler’s successor at Manly.
Seibold has a strong link to the club, serving as an assistant before departing for the Rabbitohs in 2017 and currently residing in the Northern Beaches.
The majority of players, including the Trbojevic brothers, are very familiar with him and his coaching style, so on paper, it seems like a good fit for both sides.
However, we’ve seen a similar situation go wrong for Seibold when he inked a five-year to take over from Wayne Bennett at the Broncos.
Seibold was dubbed the man to succeed one of the greatest coaches in NRL history, but was an unfortunate casualty of the club’s politics.
Embed from Getty ImagesFrom the outside looking in, the politics at the Broncos seem far worse than what is happening at Manly, but it still could be deja vu for the coaching candidate.
Seibold’s stint at the Rabbitohs was successful and one that was deemed as impressive as what Wayne Bennett could muster at the Broncos.
Seibold was given his marching orders just 12 months into his deal; since then rebuilding his career working with the English Rugby team.
It might be a challenge to come in as the Sea Eagles’ new head coach and make sure boxes are also being ticked at an administrational level; given his primary focus needs to be building a football program that sets up the team for on-field success.
If Seibold can get the Trbojevics and the team back on track, there’s no reason why Manly can’t return to the top of the NRL.
