Seibold feels heat as Broncos bosses demand end to drought
BRISBANE chairman Karl Morris has warned it has been “too long” between premierships for the Broncos as highlevel pressure builds on coach Anthony Seibold to break the club’s title drought.
The Broncos’ most powerful figures, including CEO Paul White, have laid bare their expectations of Brisbane’s 2020 squad ahead of Friday night’s season-opening derby blockbuster against the Cowboys in Townsville.
Morris rarely speaks publicly but in a private address to shareholders in Brisbane’s latest annual report, the Broncos chairman lashed out at the club’s disastrous finals collapse last season.
The dismal 58-0 loss to Parramatta, the worst in Broncos’ history, extended Brisbane’s premiership drought to a clubrecord 14 years, prompting Seibold to undertake a forensic review in the off-season.
Morris is backing Seibold to turn around Brisbane’s fortunes this season, but the
Broncos chairman delivered a no-nonsense appraisal of the club’s failure to win a title since 2006.
“Our last game of the year (in 2019) was unsatisfactory on every level,” Morris told Broncos shareholders in his chairman’s report.
“We have made significant changes to the team and we are seeing significant improvement.
“It has been too long since we have won a premiership.” Seibold yesterday hit back
critics of the longest at premiership drought in Broncos’ history, saying his current players should not carry the “burden” of the inability of past squads to win a crown.
But Brisbane’s financial report rams home why they must challenge for the NRL trophy this season.
The Broncos amassed $51.9 million in revenue and posted a before-tax profit of $3.3 million, affording them more resources than any other club in the league.
Retiring veteran Darius Boyd, who has played 14 years of NRL, says Seibold has put the Broncos through one of the most punishing pre-seasons he has experienced.
Chairman Morris hopes to see immediate results, starting against the Cowboys in their NRL season opener at the new $290 million Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
“It is encouraging to see the progress made by our coach Anthony Seibold,” said Morris.
“We are very confident in his approach to form an environment for the on-field success of our club.”