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.
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett has already confirmed he will head to South Sydney on a two-year deal from 2020 but hasn’t ruled out the Broncos board asking 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 told AAP.
“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.
“When I was playing for the Broncos if we didn’t make the grand final and at least win it 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 CEO 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 of Brisbane who suffered 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.
“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.”
