WHITE OUT CEO sidelined in search for the next Broncos coach
Long lunches lead to fresh horsepower Door is open for Smith
DEPARTING Broncos chief executive Paul White has refused to stand down immediately but will be excluded from Brisbane’s search for a new coach following the failure of Anthony Seibold.
Seibold officially severed ties with the Broncos on Wednesday, ending a 20-month tenure which has seen the NRL’s glamour club slump to 15th spot on the ladder.
White (right) played a key role in the sacking of foundation coach Wayne Bennett in 2018 and the appointment of Seibold to a five-year contract.
The decision ultimately proved to be wrong, with Seibold securing a seven-figure payout to leave the Broncos with more than three years remaining on his deal.
The Broncos have grown into a $52m powerhouse during White’s 10-year reign as chief executive. But their premiership drought now stretches 14 years, with Seibold becoming the fourth coach sacked during White’s tenure, joining the likes of Bennett, Ivan Henjak and Anthony Griffin.
White will depart the club on October 31, and he will not play a significant role in the appointment of Seibold’s successor given he won’t work with the coach next season.
“I’ll do what the board requires me to do,” White said.
“I understand my tenure is coming to an end. If the board decides it’s their decision, then I fully respect that.
“If they want me to be involved in any capacity, I will do what they ask. I’m not going to dictate my involvement.”
Both products of Rockhampton, White pushed hard to bring Seibold to Red Hill and secured the Dally M coach of the year from South Sydney for the 2020 season in October, 2018.
Seibold’s move was expedited after the messy sacking of Bennett but it has turned out to be a disastrous appointment.
Under Seibold, the Broncos suffered the two biggest losses in their 32-year history, 58-0 to Parramatta and 59-0 to Sydney Roosters, and are battling to avoid the wooden spoon.
White refused to shoulder the blame for Seibold’s appointment and insisted it was the right decision at the time.
“There is a collective accountability around those decisions,” he said.
“I’m as accountable as anyone. The board are involved, but I’m as accountable as anyone within the organisation.
“South Sydney had given him a four-year offer and wanted to keep him and we were competing with that offer. At the time we were judged quite positively for moving in that direction. With the benefit of hindsight, people now make judgment.
“Every decision has an element of risk in it. It could have gone in two directions. At the time, it was the right decision, I fully believe that.
“It hasn’t worked out and that’s coaching. I think Anthony will coach again and have success.”
White last week came under fire from club legends Glenn Lazarus and Kerrod Walters, who called for him to step down so the club could begin rebuilding. But White was adamant he would remain in the role until a new CEO came on board.
FRESH from renewing his contract with the Titans, head coach Justin Holbrook has not ruled out the possibility of poaching Cameron Smith as he looks to continue improving the club’s roster.
Holbrook this week inked a $1.5 million contract extension, which will take him through to 2024.
The long-term commitment will allow the rookie NRL coach time to plan for the future, with the likes of David Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Herman Ese’ese en route to the Gold Coast next year.
The Titans are also formulating a plan to poach Maroons legend Smith to the Sunshine State, with a two-year deal in the works.
Holbrook would love to have Smith at the club but played down any expectations. “You’d love to have a player like Cam Smith come to your club,” Holbrook said. “(But) in all honesty, I couldn’t see him leave Melbourne.”