Anthony Seibold responded to suggestions the circus surrounding Daly Cherry-Evans’ contract saga has affected Manly after they were blown away by the Storm 48-24.
Watch your team in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership. Stream every round LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
The club has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons over Cherry-Evans’ decision to leave the club at the end of the season, which has taken the focus off the players and the team as a whole.
CHANCES ARE YOU’RE ABOUT TO LOSE. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
However, Seibold believes it hasn’t affected his side’s preparation despite the heavy loss to the Storm.
“I’ll answer, we’ve had two really good preparations,” Seibold said.
“I thought we played really well against Parramatta last week. You saw what they did to the Dragons yesterday, who beat the Storm the week before.
“It’s a really tough competition, but I felt as though we had a really good preparation. We trained really well on Thursday, but sometimes you’re outplayed. Sometimes teams are better on the day than you are and that’s what I felt like today.”
Manly did well to fight back to 18-10 after conceding three early tries, but Seibold conceded they just let Melbourne score too many tries in a row.
“I think the game was won probably in two blocks,” Seibold said.
Storm tear through Manly at Brookvale | 01:23
“I think they scored three tries in consecutive sets in the first half and then three tries in consecutive sets in the second half.
“Inside of those six sets we either gave them field position through a penalty or fundamentals and they’re a very good side, so they made us pay.
MORE NRL NEWS
‘BLOWN AWAY’: Storm statement as awesome foursome run riot to embarrass Manly
BIG HITS: Reynolds’ blow sours Broncos win as Tigers’ halves injury crisis deepens
‘SOUND LIKE A WHINGER’: Benji responds to crackdown as Tigers blow lead
“It’s disappointing because I have got higher expectations than what we showed today.”
Seibold believes his side created enough opportunities to beat the Storm, but their defence and errors proved costly.
“You give them field position, they’re asking a heap of questions aren’t they?” Seibold said. “I think they scored off the back of two or three play-the-ball fundamental errors, we give them field position and they were really good. They were converting field position into points.
“I thought we kept fighting. It could have got really ugly there at one stage. We kept fighting and strangely, it was nine linebreaks each. We made nine linebreaks. They made nine linebreaks. They were able to convert theirs a bit better than ours.
“But ultimately we lost the physical battle there. I thought they won that middle part of the field so that’s where they beat us.”
Bellamy praises Hughes’ stellar return | 09:57
Cherry-Evans didn’t answer questions about the effect of his own contract saga, but conceded his side were disappointing in a big game at home against their arch rivals.
“I think Siebs summed it up pretty well, mate,” Cherry-Evans said.
“There’s a lot to our game that we have to go and own and review and ultimately, when you don’t execute, you don’t win the physical battle and you play a benchmark side, you get 40 points put on you.
“So, really disappointing day overall, especially where we played today. We’d like to have a bit more pride in our performance, but we were off and they were fantastic, and that’s footy, you don’t get the result.”
Seibold believes the Storm are a benchmark team, but feels his side could have given a better account of themselves.
“We haven’t played everybody, but certainly they’re very good,” Seibold said.
“Their spine connected really well. Their the middle forwards did a really good job. I thought their edge back-rowers. They’ve got a good team there. It’s the team that made the grand final. I thought Stefano was very good for them tonight as well.
Storm guns split Manly for STUNNING try! | 00:44
“They’re one of the benchmark teams, if not the benchmark team, but they were too good for us tonight.”
It doesn’t get any easier for the Sea Eagles, who fly to Perth on Monday to take on the Sharks next Saturday and Seibold conceded injuries wouldn’t help their preparations for Round 6.
“We’ve planned well in terms of player loads, but unfortunately we’ve got a number of injuries,” Seibold said.
“I don’t think there’s any opportunity to rest any players or anything like that, but it’s one job at a time. I’m not going to worry about 11 days down the track or whatever it is.
“We have a really narrow focus. We’ve got to move on pretty quickly. We’ll get over to Perth tomorrow. We’ve got to review the game and we’ve got to move on quick after that and focus on the Sharks next Saturday.
“I think we’re well beaten tonight. We were outplayed tonight, but there was also some parts of the game where we scored enough points, made enough linebreaks.
Reynolds injury dampens Broncos huge win | 02:47
“We gave ourselves a chance, but we just got to physically be better in first contact and when good teams get that momentum, we’ve got to try and wrestle it back, so that’s what we’ll be focusing on because we can control it.”
Seibold expects hooker Lachlan Croker back in a fortnight along with Tommy Talau, but Matt Lodge can’t boost the pack until later in the season.
“Hopefully Round 7,” Seibold said of Croker.
“And then hopefully Tommy Talau as well.
“Matt Lodge is on a part-time deal, so we can’t use Lodge until Round 11.
“Saab has got a high ankle sprain there. They tell me it’s minor, but I don’t know whether he’ll be available this week or not, which would be disappointing for us and for Saab because he’s had a pretty fair start this season.”
Discussion about this post