Manly Sea Eagles fire head coach Anthony Seibold after an 0–3 start to the NRL season.
The “Fortress” has claimed its first coaching casualty of the 2026 NRL season. In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Northern Beaches, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles officially parted ways with head coach Anthony Seibold on Friday evening, March 27, 2026.
The decision came less than 24 hours after a humiliating 33–16 home loss to the Sydney Roosters—a match made all the more bitter by the return of former Manly icon Daly Cherry-Evans, who captained the opposition to victory on his old stomping grounds.
The Breaking Point: A Thursday Night Nightmare
While Seibold entered the 2026 season with a two-year contract extension, the grace period for the “spreadsheet coach” expired in record time. After a golden-point heartbreaker in Round 1 and a blowout loss to Newcastle in Round 2, the Round 4 clash against the Roosters was billed as a “must-win” for survival.
- The Fan Revolt: By the 60th minute of Thursday’s loss, the playful booing directed at the returning Cherry-Evans turned into a thunderous, coordinated chant of “Seibold Out” from the Brookvale Hill.
- The Meeting: Chairman Scott Penn and CEO Jason King reportedly summoned Seibold to a meeting at the Penn Centre of Excellence on Friday afternoon, where he was informed that his tenure was over effective immediately.
- The Payout: With 20 months remaining on his contract, the Sea Eagles are expected to face a substantial payout reaching into the high six figures.
| Metric | 2026 Season Statistics (Rounds 1–4) |
| Record | 0 Wins, 3 Losses (1 Bye) |
| Points Conceded | 98 (Avg. 32.6 per game) |
| Ladder Position | 15th |
| Last Match | 16–33 Loss vs. Sydney Roosters |
| Interim Coach | TBA (Likely Jim Dymock or Kieran Foran) |
“Shocked, Mate”: The Locker Room Reaction
The news appears to have caught the coaching staff off guard. Assistant coach and club legend Kieran Foran expressed his disbelief during a live broadcast on Friday night.
“I’m shocked, mate. Just shocked,” Foran told Fox League. “We were in there this morning with Seibs reviewing the video and preparing for Sunday’s session. To go from ‘business as usual’ to this in a few hours is a lot to process for the boys.”
Sources suggest the playing group, led by Tom Trbojevic, was informed via a brief memo shortly before the public announcement. The mood at 4 Pines Park is described as “somber,” with several senior players reportedly frustrated by the timing of the axing so early in the campaign.
The Seibold Cycle: A Pattern of Early Exits
For Anthony Seibold, the sacking marks a grim milestone. He becomes the first coach in NRL history to be relieved of his duties at three different clubs (South Sydney, Brisbane, and now Manly) under circumstances involving significant external pressure or performance collapses.
- The Souths Surge: Won Dally M Coach of the Year in his debut season (2018).
- The Broncos Bust: Presided over Brisbane’s first-ever wooden spoon in 2020 before a messy exit.
- The Manly Misfire: Despite a 2024 finals appearance, his “tactical-first” approach often clashed with the traditional “blood and thunder” identity of the Sea Eagles.
The Hunt for a Successor
Manly officials have confirmed that a press conference will be held Saturday morning at 11:00 AM AEDT. While Jim Dymock is the frontrunner for the interim role, the long-term shortlist is already taking shape:
- Matt Ballin: A club legend and current Broncos assistant who carries massive favor with the “Old Boys.”
- Brad Arthur: The former Eels mentor who previously served as an assistant at Manly and remains a free agent.
- Michael Ennis: The current Dragons assistant who has been linked to several head coaching vacancies over the last 12 months.
