Brad Arthur vs Anthony Seibold

Brad Arthur has had a bit on his plate as Eels coach during his tenure. The debacle created by the former CEO with Kieren Foran's contract, the subsequent salary cap dillema and the inheritance of a fractured roster when he first took on the role as head coach.

In 2017, we made an amazing rush towards the finals, led by the likes of Semi, Mitch Moses and Corey Norman! We fell short, but, if we're all being honest, we probably went as far as we were going to that year.

In 2018 there was much expectation. Jarryd was back at the club. We finished 4th the year prior and things looked like they were heading north. We played one trial and belted the Knights. We turned up at Penrith Park in Round 1 and looked like world beaters until 10 minutes before half time when Waqa Blake scored his try. The second half, they steamrolled us. Round 2, it was 50 degrees and BA decided, for reasons best known to himself, to run the players on Brookvale for some 20 minutes, in the heat, before kick off. We got beaten by 50 points.

Those two results caused our confidence to be shot and we came last in 2018, yet the whole time, after every painful loss, BA fronted up at the press conference - always referred to the team as 'us' and 'we', not 'the players', and admitted that, despite effort at training, the team was down in confidence and that both he, and the players, would keep fronting up because things would 'eventually turn around'. 

I certainly didn't see any players laughing one week or crying the next! They seemed generally peeved after every loss - as they should!

The club, rightfully, undertook a review and gave BA an ultimatum in 2019 - start winning or piss off! We had an up and down start to the season, but, there were positive things happening and the club - to its credit - took a conservative approach. One of the reasons they did so is because the players seemingly all loved their coach. The players wanted to be at the club and they wanted to enjoy the success, as a group, when it inevitably came.

The club noted that and didn't fall for the cynical tactics of player managers. They stood firm on their stance with Gutho, Moses, Lane, Jennings, Dylan Brown and even the coach himself. They re-signed all of them - and at an appropriate value. Nobody is getting 'underpaid' and nobody is on 'silly money' and underperforming. The result? Team harmony! A sense of togetherness.

Before the start of this crazy season, BA admitted he made 'some errors' in 2018 and had sought to remedy them during the 2019 and 2020 pre-season. It's refreshing to hear a coach admit to his mistakes.

Now, I found it extraordinarily telling on the weekend that BA, in his presser, spoke about how the team wanted to "show the captain what they think of him" in his 100th match by putting a cricket score on the Cows. A complete 'team first' platitude in response to a well-rounded and quality performance to reward an entirely 'team first' oriented player and captain. That's the sort of public comment that 'buys you tickets' with the playing group!

Compare that with Seibold who, despite his throng of underperforming big money players in Croft, Milford and Boyd, decided to drop the winger, Corey Oates! The root of the problem! Now, Corey didn't come out and say, "well, my performance has been down and Seibs had every right to drop me". No! He said, "I was really disappointed to be dropped and I was dirty on the coach". Didn't even mention Seibold by name!

This idiot has some 7 SOO players running around each week, and with one of the most dynamic and explosive forward packs I've ever seen! How many do we have! Yet he places himself at arms length from the performances of his team, insisting that 'he's a good coach', 'his messaging is sound' and 'he's taken his teams to the semis in both his years as a first grade coach'! An examination of his record as head coach at lower levels shows that his record is anything but good!

Seibold has clearly lost the dressing room! Something that BA never did during our darkest hours!

Now, Seibold was supposed to be the new breed of 'technical coach' fit for the new age of rugby league! Gone are the days of the Wayne Bennett's of the world - the man managers! Gone are the days of the Brad Arthur's! The "bush coaches" of the game!

We've won nothing yet so please don't see this as any form of gloat - but, there's a few blokes on this forum - who, despite never lacing up a boot, or making a tackle in anger, generally think know more than everyone else when it comes to the inner workings of a rugby league football team - that death rode our coach.

At the end of this season, we may well be disapointed yet again. But, in the current climate - riding the 2020 version of the coaching merry-go-round, I for one, am happy we have the "bush coach" at the helm of our great club! 

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  • Playing on the wing outside Darius Boyd would make anyone look like a reserve grader.

  • Great blog Bourbs.
    I blame the result in 2018 squarely on Dickhead Norman. The halves couldn’t gel after a season of footy and one had to go.
    Now, look how the Dragons are going. They now have Hunt coming off the bench, Norman at fullback etc.
    It’s been an interesting watch the Dragons’ halves debacle.

    • Norman is actually a pretty good fullback. He played his best games for Parra there, and that's where he should stay.

      • Exactly.  I see the same in Milford. They're two players that clubs have tried to turn into the next Darren Lockyer. Both were far better fullbacks and never should have been shifted. And yes, both those players are accountable too, especially Norman who Brisbane refused to play at 5/8.

    • Yeah Grunta, gotta agree. Watching the games live each week when Norman played, i was always dismayed at his attitude, and the wrong decisions he would make, not to mention his antics on the field with his team mates. In his mind He could do no wrong and it was more often then not the other blokes "team mate" fault attitude. It was infectious as well and spread to ther players. It wasnt just the halves not gelling but those around him on the park as well. Anyway we got past it St George can keep him, he dosnt do much for them as a team either.

      • Such a COVID was Canadian club - good riddance 

        • lol - you can crack me up sometimes 

  • 'Us' will win over 'Self' every time. BA is not the most articulate person on the planet but he has a way with words. He makes them meaningful and about the team. He definately inspires and can relate doable messages. After Siebolds last, pathetic media effort I am totally amazed he still has a job. 


    Great blog and agree wholeheartedly Bourbs

  • Well said BM

  • Yep, me too!

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