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Why Greg Alexander is avoiding the 'crisis' word with Manly
Charles Goodsir • June 17th, 2025 12:30 pm
The Manly Sea Eagles are engulfed in turmoil following a number of snap meetings with players held by coach Anthony Seibold.
Following back-to-back losses against bottom four sides Newcastle and Gold Coast, the Sea Eagles have slumped to 11th on the ladder with a 6-8 record. Manly have not won consecutive games since their round 3 and 4 victories over the Canberra Raiders and Parramatta.
On Monday, Seibold held one-on-one meetings with several players and outlined his concerns with their individual performances this season. Reportedly, some players were less than pleased with the approach which provided more criticisms than solutions.
Manly CEO Tony Mestrov told The Sydney Morning Herald that Seibold was safe in his role as coach for now but needed results to change. SEN’s Greg Alexander is holding off using the dreaded ‘c’ word - crisis.
“There has been very detailed information about those one-on-one meetings,” Alexander said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“A seven-minute chat with each player with a document on their performances. This upset certain sections of the team which is strange.
“If someone has the right to be critical, surely it’s the coach?
“In terms of there being no solutions, Seibold is apparently bringing some in. Tom Trbojevic will move to the centres and Lehi Hopoate will play fullback.
“Lachlan Croker and Jason Saab, despite the team having the bye, are going to be playing in the NSW Cup.
“The thing that would worry me if I’m Anthony Seibold is that Tony Mestrov said that ‘Seibold is safe, at this point.’
“They extended Seibold’s contract until 2027 but part of the agreement is that if he departs, he’s only given six months worth of money.
“The Sea Eagles have hit a spot in the season where things aren’t looking great but i don’t think it’s furnace or blowtorch material yet.
“They have the bye this week. If they don’t beat the Wests Tigers or South Sydney Rabbitohs (in the next fortnight), then there are problems.
“They haven’t told him that he needs to win these next two games. Surely that hasn’t happened.
“I think Seibold stays.”
