Darren Lockyer has warned under-fire Brisbane coach improvements must be shown next season.

Broncos CEO White defended Seibold after an underwhelming first year at the helm that ended in an humiliating 58-0 elimination final loss to Parramatta, saying he expects the Broncos to be back in title contention next season.

However, pressure appears to be mounting on the former South Sydney mentor after reports emerged the Broncos had a performance-based termination clause inserted into Seibold’s five-year deal.

Club director Lockyer baulked at talk of a get-out clause, but the former skipper said the board would need to see results in 2020 after their premiership drought stretched to a 13th season.

“I am not going to go into those details,” Lockyer told Nine Network’s 100% Footy when asked about Seibold’s contract.

“But he is a modern-day coach with philosophies around how he wants to train and prepare the kids.

“We think that transition is going to take a little bit of time but we do need to see some up-side next year – we need to be seeing some improvement next year.”

White painted a much rosier picture, saying he expected Brisbane to flourish in 2020 after their first full pre-season under Seibold – something the ex-Rabbitohs mentor was denied in 2019 after a messy swap with Wayne Bennett.

“Obviously a lot’s been spoken about that long-term contract or commitment but …he understands the club, he came through here (as reserve grade player),” White told Nine Network.

“So he’ll have the team from the start of the pre-season, which he didn’t last year, and that should set us up nicely for 2020 if we make the most of this off-season.”

White was so confident with Seibold at the helm that he predicted a premiership tilt next year, dismissing claims the Broncos were “in crisis” after their record loss.

“I know what we’ve built here at this club, I know what we’re still building,” he said.

“I’ve got enormous confidence in the capabilities of this whole organisation – we’ll start next year and we’ll be a real chance.

“We won’t be starting next year with people not thinking these guys are a chance to win the comp.

“We set ourselves that target of being a top four team for a reason and we want to be a top four club.”