The Strained Relationship Between Anthony Seibold and Jake Trbojevic
Anthony Seibold’s time as the head coach of the Manly Sea Eagles is unlikely to be remembered fondly by the club’s loyal supporters. Recent revelations have highlighted a tense relationship between Seibold and Jake Trbojevic, who is widely regarded as the heart and soul of the team.
Seibold was given a limited number of games before being dismissed following a poor start to the 2026 season, with the Sea Eagles losing their first three matches at Brookvale Oval. This marked a significant turning point for the club, raising questions about the effectiveness of his leadership.
According to Triple M’s Ben Dobbin, the lack of communication between Seibold and Trbojevic played a crucial role in the coach’s downfall. “Jake Trbojevic has been treated poorly. He’s a club leader,” Dobbin said on Triple M’s Sunday Sin Bin. “Jake Trbojevic is a leader and that club is void of leadership. Jake and Tom are the two leaders.”
Dobbin drew parallels between Seibold’s tenure at the Brisbane Broncos and his time at Manly. At the Broncos, Seibold moved long-term club legend and skipper Darius Boyd from the fullback position to centre, which ultimately led to a loss of support from the dressing room and his eventual sacking.
The communication issues between Seibold and Trbojevic were evident in their differing views on game plans. “Jake Trbojevic has fronted Seibold, not agreed with the game plan, and said it’s absolutely been overplayed,” Dobbin added. “These are the same issues that happened at Brisbane.”
One of the most visible signs of their strained relationship came when Jake was overlooked as club captain in favor of his younger brother, Tom. Despite captaining the NSW Blues to a historic series win in 2024, including a decisive victory at Suncorp Stadium, Jake did not receive the captaincy for the 2026 season.
“Tom was told he was going to be the captain this year, and rightly so because he’s on the field more,” Dobbin explained. “Jake Trbojevic, at the end of last season, was captaining the side. He’s also the former New South Wales captain. Tom told Jake he’s not going to be the captain this year. You would think that (Seibold would tell that to Jake). It’s about communication. That falling out with Jake Trbojevic has been one of the huge issues.”
A New Beginning Under Kieran Foran
With Seibold now gone, the Sea Eagles have turned to interim coach Kieran Foran, a long-time club legend and former teammate of many players in the current squad. Foran’s appointment brings a sense of familiarity and stability to the team, which is crucial during this transitional period.
What the Sea Eagles need now is a coach who can inspire the players to push through challenges and fight for each other on the field. Foran, known for his strong leadership and deep understanding of the game, is well-positioned to achieve this.
As the team looks to regain momentum, their focus will soon shift to their upcoming match against the Dolphins in Redcliffe on Thursday night. This game presents an opportunity for the Sea Eagles to bounce back and begin rebuilding their season under Foran’s guidance.
