Heres a timeline I've put together, of our club's collapse. For any interested... Probably no one, as this has been done to death...
If I have something obviously wrong, let me know, and I'll correct it. Any additions, I'll be willing to put it on here.
Here's a legend:
Verified by credible media reports - bold text.
Logical assumptions from prior evidence - italics
My own conclusions - normal text
ST Rumour - Silverails Rumour. The most factual of them all.
End of 2023
DCE asks for a release. First obvious indication that he doesn't like Seibold.
Throughout 2024
Upgrading of Lehi Hopoate, Simione Laiafi, and Caleb Navale, scouting, and signings of Joey Walsh, Onitoni Large, Hugo Hart, Zaidas Muagututia, etc.
- ST Rumour - Seibold scouted out these players himself. This can also be backed up by the fact that Peter Gentle was caretaker head of recruitment, until he wasn't, at some point in 2024. We only created a new replacement role, just a few weeks ago.
"Towards finals" 2024
Segment of the playing group - likely the senior players, have problems with Seibold's coaching methods.
November 2024
ST Rumour - DCE, Tom, and Jake Trbojevic, arrange a meeting with Tony Mestrov, informing him that Anthony Seibold was not the future of the club.
Probable reasons for this:
And on DCE's side:
- Wanting DCE to be a game managing halfback. He is not.
This likely unravelled from a peak in DCE's management and form in 2023, when Seibold arrived, a downgrade last year following his release request, and then free-falling until rock bottom against the Tigers last week. This is backed up later.
Mestrov proposes to George Mimi's, a plan where Michael Ennis would become head coach in 2027, with Seibold moving to a "Head of Football" role.
If I were to guess, this would be a Morris/Marshall situation, where Seibold cooks the formulas, and Ennis delivers the messages, or something along those lines.
Trbojevics: Probably liked this plan, as they:
- Didn't go on Channel 9 to announce they were leaving.
- They go on to say many compliments about Ennis throughout 2025.
- They were likely willing to wait on this, as they both believed they would extend to 2027+.
DCE: Doesn't like this plan.
- A one year extension, which is what Manly originally offered him, would never see him be coached by someone other than Anthony Seibold, for the rest of his career.
- DCE says he is hearing out open market offers in the SMH.
- ST - Handshake deal with the Roosters occurs then.
The Off-Season
DCE tells Mestrov he is leaving. Mestrov presumably thought that DCE telling him he was "leaving", meant he was retiring or going to ESL.
March 2025
DCE, Round 2 post game against the Warriors, said he actively went against Seibold's game plan (i.e. he played extremely erratically with no game management), and took responsibility for the loss. Seibold says this is fine, as DCE has a licence to feel for the game.
DCE has likely lost any faith he had left in Seibold, at some point around here. Likely wants him gone immediately. Whatever causes DCE to intentionally or unintentionally leak the information of his departure, it occured at this point.
DCE calls Garrick, and a few other people in the club, a few days prior to 100% Footy, telling them that he is leaving for a different club.
I believe that DCE didn't intend on making the announcement at this point. However Mestrov found out, is likely how Weildler found out. I don't think DCE is that evil; He's just stupid.
Mestrov catches wind of this, likely blindsided in a sense, and offers a revamped two year contract deal, to DCE's agent, on the morning of 100% Footy. DCE's agent doesn't inform DCE of this.
DCE is announced as the guest on 100% Footy, the night before iirc. DCE agrees to this, likely because he knows that the story has leaked, and wants to control as much of the narrative as he still can.
Danny Weilder publishes the story in the 6PM bulletin, just prior to DCE's 100% Footy appearance, as late as he possibly can, to limit Fox Sports/Murdoch coverage of it. This is also to boost the ratings of 100% Footy.
NRL360 is absolutely blindsided, the producer has to write the news on a piece of scrap paper, giving it to Anasta live on air. Scott Penn and Tony Mestrov were likely only aware of DCE's departure a few days before, and are probably shocked that it leaked so soon.
Penn and Mestrov indicate that they had offered a new contract to DCE that morning. Fox twists this into "DCE offered contract live on air".
100% Footy. I don't think anyone needs a run-down on this.
Following 100% Footy - aka Silvertails 9/11:
Jason Saab, Tommy Talau, blindsided, and post on social media.
ST Rumour - Turbos very clearly pissed at DCE. Particularly Jake.
All this points to, is a player divide occuring within the club.
Seibold only plays Faulalo and Navale when necessary for the rest of the year, debuts no one, despite giving Navale greater minutes last year, and, prior to the announcement, playing Faulalo as both a starting centre and winger.
If I were to guess, this is because he went through an extremely similar scenario at the Broncos. The issues the Broncos went through, did absolutely nothing for the development of their young players.
Seibold has hence gone in the exact opposite direction. It's as if he is trying to seperate the young players, from the older ones, who have been through similar situations before, at various clubs. Why on earth would he upgrade the young players to NRL contracts, if he had no intention of ever playing them? It doesn't make sense, unless it's viewed through this lens.
E.g. Hoppa was thrown in at fullback against the Storm, in his debut game. Would Seibold do something similar today? No. Why is that?
Hence, all of our "big changes" that'll "definitely fix us" have been swapping the chairs of the experienced players, who know how to deal with the outside noise.
May 2025:
At this point, basically no more information leaks. DCE and the club, both wish to control the narrative, as much as they possibly can. At some point this reaches a truce / stalemate.
June 2025
Matt Ballin says to Seibold directly, that he sees his future in Sydney.
Throughout the year
DCE playing erratically, as if he isn't being coached. Likely because he doesn't care. His apathy towards Seibold may have led him into doing the exact opposite of whatever he says.
No matter what's going through his mind, his athleticism is visibly declining. His game management is gone. He (hopefully) still wants to win games for Manly, but he is simply unable to execute this alone. With a lack of forward depth, playing this way becomes messy and produces garbage. As I said before, I don't think he is evil, and trying to bomb our season, he's just stupid. He's never been a natural controller, and by ignoring any advice from Seibold, he has gone in the opposite direction.
In a similarly bafflingly stupid decision, he has not announced his move to the Roosters. Everyone knows it. DCE wants to control the little pride he has left, and that's all that he has remaining.
Random leaks about coaching. Continued push by individuals to have Seibold sacked. Allegations that George Mimi's is all behind this. Other random drivel, in recent weeks.
Could DCE be inciting this, or playing poorly to get Seibold sacked? Probably not. He's not a mastermind. He's a guy who uses complicated words, without knowing what they mean. I don't think he ever had a master plan, but he's destroyed the club's season IMO.
Who's doing it? People like you and me, who want Manly to do well, and don't have the answers.
Hence, Penn, Mestrov, Seibold, and Ennis, are all just seemingly waiting for next year. Will we improve? I don't know.
I think we may get Ballin instead of Ennis post-2026. As we all know, the Trbojevics run the club, so it's basically going to be whatever they want.
If I have something obviously wrong, let me know, and I'll correct it. Any additions, I'll be willing to put it on here.
Here's a legend:
Verified by credible media reports - bold text.
Logical assumptions from prior evidence - italics
My own conclusions - normal text
ST Rumour - Silverails Rumour. The most factual of them all.
End of 2023
DCE asks for a release. First obvious indication that he doesn't like Seibold.
Throughout 2024
Upgrading of Lehi Hopoate, Simione Laiafi, and Caleb Navale, scouting, and signings of Joey Walsh, Onitoni Large, Hugo Hart, Zaidas Muagututia, etc.
- ST Rumour - Seibold scouted out these players himself. This can also be backed up by the fact that Peter Gentle was caretaker head of recruitment, until he wasn't, at some point in 2024. We only created a new replacement role, just a few weeks ago.
"Towards finals" 2024
Segment of the playing group - likely the senior players, have problems with Seibold's coaching methods.
November 2024
ST Rumour - DCE, Tom, and Jake Trbojevic, arrange a meeting with Tony Mestrov, informing him that Anthony Seibold was not the future of the club.
Probable reasons for this:
- Rigid coaching methodology and delivery
- Can't motivate anyone to save his life
- He's a **** coach
And on DCE's side:
- Wanting DCE to be a game managing halfback. He is not.
This likely unravelled from a peak in DCE's management and form in 2023, when Seibold arrived, a downgrade last year following his release request, and then free-falling until rock bottom against the Tigers last week. This is backed up later.
Mestrov proposes to George Mimi's, a plan where Michael Ennis would become head coach in 2027, with Seibold moving to a "Head of Football" role.
If I were to guess, this would be a Morris/Marshall situation, where Seibold cooks the formulas, and Ennis delivers the messages, or something along those lines.
Trbojevics: Probably liked this plan, as they:
- Didn't go on Channel 9 to announce they were leaving.
- They go on to say many compliments about Ennis throughout 2025.
- They were likely willing to wait on this, as they both believed they would extend to 2027+.
DCE: Doesn't like this plan.
- A one year extension, which is what Manly originally offered him, would never see him be coached by someone other than Anthony Seibold, for the rest of his career.
- DCE says he is hearing out open market offers in the SMH.
- ST - Handshake deal with the Roosters occurs then.
The Off-Season
DCE tells Mestrov he is leaving. Mestrov presumably thought that DCE telling him he was "leaving", meant he was retiring or going to ESL.
March 2025
DCE, Round 2 post game against the Warriors, said he actively went against Seibold's game plan (i.e. he played extremely erratically with no game management), and took responsibility for the loss. Seibold says this is fine, as DCE has a licence to feel for the game.
DCE has likely lost any faith he had left in Seibold, at some point around here. Likely wants him gone immediately. Whatever causes DCE to intentionally or unintentionally leak the information of his departure, it occured at this point.
DCE calls Garrick, and a few other people in the club, a few days prior to 100% Footy, telling them that he is leaving for a different club.
I believe that DCE didn't intend on making the announcement at this point. However Mestrov found out, is likely how Weildler found out. I don't think DCE is that evil; He's just stupid.
Mestrov catches wind of this, likely blindsided in a sense, and offers a revamped two year contract deal, to DCE's agent, on the morning of 100% Footy. DCE's agent doesn't inform DCE of this.
DCE is announced as the guest on 100% Footy, the night before iirc. DCE agrees to this, likely because he knows that the story has leaked, and wants to control as much of the narrative as he still can.
Danny Weilder publishes the story in the 6PM bulletin, just prior to DCE's 100% Footy appearance, as late as he possibly can, to limit Fox Sports/Murdoch coverage of it. This is also to boost the ratings of 100% Footy.
NRL360 is absolutely blindsided, the producer has to write the news on a piece of scrap paper, giving it to Anasta live on air. Scott Penn and Tony Mestrov were likely only aware of DCE's departure a few days before, and are probably shocked that it leaked so soon.
Penn and Mestrov indicate that they had offered a new contract to DCE that morning. Fox twists this into "DCE offered contract live on air".
100% Footy. I don't think anyone needs a run-down on this.
Following 100% Footy - aka Silvertails 9/11:
Jason Saab, Tommy Talau, blindsided, and post on social media.
ST Rumour - Turbos very clearly pissed at DCE. Particularly Jake.
All this points to, is a player divide occuring within the club.
Seibold only plays Faulalo and Navale when necessary for the rest of the year, debuts no one, despite giving Navale greater minutes last year, and, prior to the announcement, playing Faulalo as both a starting centre and winger.
If I were to guess, this is because he went through an extremely similar scenario at the Broncos. The issues the Broncos went through, did absolutely nothing for the development of their young players.
Seibold has hence gone in the exact opposite direction. It's as if he is trying to seperate the young players, from the older ones, who have been through similar situations before, at various clubs. Why on earth would he upgrade the young players to NRL contracts, if he had no intention of ever playing them? It doesn't make sense, unless it's viewed through this lens.
E.g. Hoppa was thrown in at fullback against the Storm, in his debut game. Would Seibold do something similar today? No. Why is that?
Hence, all of our "big changes" that'll "definitely fix us" have been swapping the chairs of the experienced players, who know how to deal with the outside noise.
May 2025:
At this point, basically no more information leaks. DCE and the club, both wish to control the narrative, as much as they possibly can. At some point this reaches a truce / stalemate.
June 2025
Matt Ballin says to Seibold directly, that he sees his future in Sydney.
Throughout the year
DCE playing erratically, as if he isn't being coached. Likely because he doesn't care. His apathy towards Seibold may have led him into doing the exact opposite of whatever he says.
No matter what's going through his mind, his athleticism is visibly declining. His game management is gone. He (hopefully) still wants to win games for Manly, but he is simply unable to execute this alone. With a lack of forward depth, playing this way becomes messy and produces garbage. As I said before, I don't think he is evil, and trying to bomb our season, he's just stupid. He's never been a natural controller, and by ignoring any advice from Seibold, he has gone in the opposite direction.
In a similarly bafflingly stupid decision, he has not announced his move to the Roosters. Everyone knows it. DCE wants to control the little pride he has left, and that's all that he has remaining.
Random leaks about coaching. Continued push by individuals to have Seibold sacked. Allegations that George Mimi's is all behind this. Other random drivel, in recent weeks.
Could DCE be inciting this, or playing poorly to get Seibold sacked? Probably not. He's not a mastermind. He's a guy who uses complicated words, without knowing what they mean. I don't think he ever had a master plan, but he's destroyed the club's season IMO.
Who's doing it? People like you and me, who want Manly to do well, and don't have the answers.
Hence, Penn, Mestrov, Seibold, and Ennis, are all just seemingly waiting for next year. Will we improve? I don't know.
I think we may get Ballin instead of Ennis post-2026. As we all know, the Trbojevics run the club, so it's basically going to be whatever they want.
