The Manly Sea Eagles are on the search for their next head coach and Michael Maguire has claimed he won’t stand the way if club great Matt Ballin is approached. The Sea Eagles made the swift decision to sack Anthony Seibold three games into the NRL season with club losing all three matches at home.
The timing of Seibold’s sacking left fans stunned with the club now on the hunt for a full-time coach as they head into round four. Former player and current assistant Kieran Foran has been appointed the interim coach until the end of the year. But former Manly star Ballin is the name that has caught the attention of fans as the leading candidate to take the full-time job.
The Brisbane Broncos and MichaelMaguire (pictured right) could lose two assistants in the one season if the Manly Sea Eagles chase Matt Ballin (pictured left) as their head coach. (Images: Getty Images)
Ballin – a two-time premiership winner at the Sea Eagles – spent time coaching under Des Hasler at the club. He then made the move north to the Broncos in 2021. And the former Manly No.9 has found plenty of support for the head coach role if the club come knocking. Broncos captain Adam Reynolds told the media Ballin would be a great head coach if given the opportunity.
“He’s a great coach. He’s done a lot of great things for us at the Broncos and leads by example week after week,” captain Reynolds said. “He’s got a big future … If he gets the opportunity I am sure he will be ready to take it.
“He just does all the little things right. He understands the game, he’s played at the top level for a long time. He’s done his apprenticeship under a few different coaches now, so he knows different styles as well and how to get the best out of players.”
Matt Ballin (pictured) has been tipped as a frontrunner for the Manly head coaching role.
(Albert Perez via Getty Images)Michael Maguire supports Matt Ballin
Maguire also hinted he wouldn’t stand in Ballin’s way if given the head coaching role at the Sea Eagles. “I haven’t even spoke to Matty, but I want all my staff to excel in whatever it is they do and whatever they want to do,” If those things arise, we will talk about it.
“Matty is a great human, great person. And those things come to people who work hard. If it’s the right time, it’s the right time.” Although if he was to be approached, when he takes over is the tricky situation.
Broncos in tricky situation if Matt Ballin approached
The Broncos have been in the headlines this week after assistant coach Ben Te’o handed in his resignation after reports claimed he was at odds with Maguire. If Manly were to move on Ballin this year, it could see Maguire lose two assistants after a premiership.
This would not be ideal for the Broncos as they look for stability as they defend their NRL premiership. But Manly have yet to make any moves as they have only just appointed Foran as their interim for the remainder of 2026. And on Saturday, Manly chairman Scott Penn explained why Seibold had to depart after three games.
“So, during the review process at the end of last year, we said, ‘Look, we didn’t make finals, we weren’t happy about that. We thought there was more potential in the team, so we really want to turn that around in the ’26 season, and we didn’t see that progression,” Penn said after the decision to sack Seibold was made.
“We lost three games here at home for the first time in 20 years…doesn’t meet our club standards. We could have said, ‘yeah, we’ll give you another three games’, but we just didn’t want to risk it. We don’t want to be 0-6. We need to win now.”