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‘Bit of a gamble’: Broncos great questions Seibold signing

Brisbane great Glenn Lazarus believes the Broncos are taking a risk signing Anthony Seibold, saying he doubts whether the South Sydney recruit can spark the NRL club to premiership glory.

Rabbitohs mentor Seibold is expected to be confirmed as Brisbane coach for 2020 at a Broncos board meeting on Tuesday night ahead of candidates Kevin Walters and Jason Demetriou.

Dubious: Brisbane great Glenn Lazarus has questioned whether Anthony Seibold is the right choice for the Broncos.

Dubious: Brisbane great Glenn Lazarus has questioned whether Anthony Seibold is the right choice for the Broncos.Credit:AAP

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett has already confirmed he will head to South Sydney on a two-year deal from 2020, but has stated the Broncos board could ask him to leave a season early.

Lazarus doubts whether Seibold is the right man to replace seven-time premiership winner Bennett at Red Hill.

"They are taking a bit of a risk, a bit of a gamble by signing Anthony Seibold," Lazarus said. "He seems to have the right credentials but Brisbane haven't won a grand final in over a decade (since 2006) – it's an issue if you start accepting mediocrity.

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"When I was playing for the Broncos if we didn't make the grand final … we were failures. They have been bumming along for 12 years and haven't done a thing.

"I just think they need to turn things around dramatically and whether Seibold can do it with the list he has got I am not sure."

While disappointed with the choice, Lazarus hoped Seibold came on board as Broncos coach a year early in 2019 after describing Bennett's relationship with Brisbane chief executive Paul White as "untenable".

Bennett and White reportedly fell out during the season after the foundation Broncos mentor publicly slammed the NRL club's handling of the coaching transition following months of speculation about his future.

Their relationship wasn't helped when the Broncos board knocked back Bennett's request to coach for one more season in 2020.

"Brisbane had a couple of good wins at the end of the year but they were just making up the numbers," Lazarus said, with the Broncos eventually suffering a shock elimination finals loss to St George Illawarra.

"Whether they like it or not it (coaching speculation) was a massive distraction for the side and within the organisation.

"The relationship between Paul White and Wayne Bennett is untenable. And I don't think the media is going to give up on the fact that Wayne and Paul don't get on.

Glenn Lazarus feels the Broncos have performed well below par over the past decade.

Glenn Lazarus feels the Broncos have performed well below par over the past decade.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"If Wayne is there next year and the Broncos happen to drop a couple of games all the media will be negative – it's just what you don't need

"I think you will find both camps are busily trying to come to some sort of arrangement that will see Wayne at Souths and Anthony at the Broncos next year."

It pains him to say it, but Lazarus also feels fellow Brisbane great Walters will be reluctant to apply for the Broncos coaching job again after missing out to Seibold.

"He would be disenchanted with the whole process," Lazarus said. "Wayne (Bennett) has never endorsed him.

"Ex-Broncos players at large have said Kevvie is the man for the job but no one seemed to listen in the Broncos hierarchy.

"Anthony appears to have all the right credentials but the Broncos have had someone sitting in their own backyard in Kevin and haven't really given him the time of day, which is very disappointing."

Lazarus couldn't understand why the Broncos seemed determined to sign Seibold once they missed out on Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy in June, overlooking Brisbane favourite son Walters.

"My frustration over all this is why Kevin Walters has never been mentioned (as coach) – he lost a lot of blood, sweat and tears for this club," he said.

"He's been mentored by the best, he has had coaching success. I think he would be ideal for the Broncos but it seemed once they missed out on Craig Bellamy they were going for Anthony Seibold.

"I hope it is not (Walters' last chance to coach Broncos) because I think he would help.

"Brisbane were very lucky to get into the eight this year. If Canberra or Wests Tigers didn't stumble, Brisbane were going to be very close to missing the eight.

"I know Kevin has the Broncos' DNA in him. I thought he would be a far better option."

AAP

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‘Bit of a gamble’: Broncos great questions Seibold signing

Brisbane great Glenn Lazarus believes the Broncos are taking a risk signing Anthony Seibold, saying he doubts whether the South Sydney recruit can spark the NRL club to premiership glory.

Rabbitohs mentor Seibold is expected to be confirmed as Brisbane coach for 2020 at a Broncos board meeting on Tuesday night ahead of candidates Kevin Walters and Jason Demetriou.

Dubious: Brisbane great Glenn Lazarus has questioned whether Anthony Seibold is the right choice for the Broncos.

Dubious: Brisbane great Glenn Lazarus has questioned whether Anthony Seibold is the right choice for the Broncos.Credit:AAP

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett has already confirmed he will head to South Sydney on a two-year deal from 2020, but has stated the Broncos board could ask him to leave a season early.

Lazarus doubts whether Seibold is the right man to replace seven-time premiership winner Bennett at Red Hill.

"They are taking a bit of a risk, a bit of a gamble by signing Anthony Seibold," Lazarus said. "He seems to have the right credentials but Brisbane haven't won a grand final in over a decade (since 2006) – it's an issue if you start accepting mediocrity.

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"When I was playing for the Broncos if we didn't make the grand final … we were failures. They have been bumming along for 12 years and haven't done a thing.

"I just think they need to turn things around dramatically and whether Seibold can do it with the list he has got I am not sure."

While disappointed with the choice, Lazarus hoped Seibold came on board as Broncos coach a year early in 2019 after describing Bennett's relationship with Brisbane chief executive Paul White as "untenable".Read More »

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