"We need to win now": Manly chairman explains decision to sack Seibold

WHAT WE KNOW

• Anthony Seibold has been sacked by the Sea-Eagles on Friday night after an 0-3 start to the season
• Kieran Foran has been appointed as interim coach for the rest of the season
• Denan Kemp has expressed his support for the appointment believing Foran is the best choice
• Chairman Scott Penn has explained the sacking saying Seiboid didn't meet club standards

Penn: 0-3 start doesn't meet club standards

Manly Chairman Scott Penn has explained why the club has decided to part ways with coach Anthony Seibold so early into the season.

After a 0-3 start to the season, the Sea-Eagles hierarchy has decided they have seen enough from the former South Sydney and Brisbane coach to part ways.

This is despite extending the former Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney coach at the end of 2024.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday morning, Penn declared that the potential of the list was not meeting their performance on the field.

“We were quite clear that the back half of last year, we didn’t meet our expectations,” Penn explained.

“We were clear that we capitulated in a few games.

"We did have a number of injuries (last season) that didn’t help, but we also had some pretty solid leads throughout in certain games that and then didn’t finish it off.

“We knew we needed to turn that around this year.

"So, during the review process at the end of last year, we said, ‘Look, we didn’t make finals, we weren’t happy about that.

"We thought there was more potential in the team, so we really want to turn that around in the ’26 season, and we didn’t see that progression.

“We lost three games here at home for the first time in 20 years…doesn’t meet our club standards.

“We could have said, ‘yeah, we’ll give you another three games’, but we just didn’t want to risk it. We don’t want to be 0-6.

“We need to win now.”  

Why Kemp loves the appointment of Foran

With the Manly Sea-Eagles having parted ways with Anthony Seibold, it hasn't taken them long to announce his replacement.

Club officials decided to part ways with Seibold less than 24 hours after their 33-16 loss to the Sydney Roosters, which extends their winless start to the season.

Kieran Foran, who played 196 games for the Sea Eagles, will take on the role on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.

At just 35 years of age he will become the youngest coach in the NRL this season, having only retired at the end of 2025 from the Gold Coast Titans.

It's a bold decision from the Sea Eagles, but with a 0-3 start to the year, it seems the club thinks bold is the way to go to revive some life before the season is too far gone.

But SEN's Denan Kemp is in favour of the decision believing he was the best option from what they had.

“I love it, I absolutely love it,” Kemp declared on SEN’s Saturday League Kick-Off.

“Because the thing with the head coach, granted, a lot of head coaches, they learn and come through the coaching grades, and they might have a specialty.

“It might be, ‘I'm a really good attacking coach, or I'm a really good defence coach’.

“But you'll actually find if you speak to a lot of the best head coaches, they sometimes feel like they're not hands-on enough.

“And the reason I'm saying that is because a lot of head coaching is purely man management.

“Like the details and the tactics is a lot of the time either your assistant (or) your defensive coach.

“So, what I love about this for bringing Kieran Foran in is he just needs to be the inspirational leader.

“I actually think that if there's one man that you want to put in there, out of all the options you'd have backs against the wall at Manly, it would be Foz.”

Chad Townsend would agree with Kemp, noting that the move will be popular among the fan base.

“I think it's a great call for Manly,” Townsend added.

“Obviously, we know Foz bleeds Manly. (He's a) Premiership winner (and has) done a lot for that jersey.

“And I think getting the fans on side straight away, I think it's a great call by the club to get the fans on side.”

Manly are expected to speak at an 11am press conference.

"Extremely stunned": Kimmorley reacts to Seibold sacking

Anthony Seibold has been let go by the Manly Sea-Eagles following their winless start to the season.

Having been in charge for the last four years, the former Brisbane Broncos coach was only able to take the Sea-Eagles to one finals campaign.

And following their 33-16 loss to the Sydney Roosters, the club has decided to part ways.

The club is yet to confirm who’ll take up the role in the meantime.

The Sea Eagles thanked Seibold in a statement.

"The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles have today confirmed that Head Coach Anthony Seibold will depart the Club effective immediately," a club statement read.

"The Sea Eagles thank Anthony for his service and contribution to the Club and wish him and his family all the best for the future.

"The Club is disappointed with its start to the season but remains focused on making the 2026 season a success.

"The Club will shortly confirm the appointment of an interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season."

Upon hearing the news while on commentary for SEN as Warriors hosted the Tigers, Sea Eagles coaching staff member Brett Kimmorley was lost for words: "Extremely stunned, wow," he said.

Seibold only signed a contract extension with Manly and was contracted to remain at the helm until 2027.

The Sea Eagles currently have Jim Dymock and Kieran Foran as their assistant coaches, while head of performance Jon Clarke coached the side in Manly's first trial in New Zealand.

Chants of 'Seibold Out' were heard echoing around Brookvale Oval on Thursday night after the Sea Eagles loss to the Roosters.