You will pay for my pain

Departing Seibold’s warning to vicious trolls

ANTHONY Seibold has pleaded for society to stop being so negative and to crucify the social media trolls which contributed to his demise as coach of the Brisbane Broncos.

Seibold officially exited the Broncos on Wednesday morning only 20 months into a fiveyear contract.

A 35 per cent winning record across nearly two seasons was the killer blow for Seibold, who claimed it was his decision to leave the club immediately after he approached chairman Karl Morris last week to broker a release.

But Seibold has also endured an emotionally taxing time at the club, with slanderous rumours about his personal life circulating on social media over the past month.

Seibold engaged European cyber security experts to investigate the source of the rumours, with links to NRL figures reportedly arising.

The identities of the figures have remained private so far, but Seibold vowed to prosecute those responsible for the campaign.

When asked if it was his intention to take the matter as far as possible, Seibold said: “It is my intention.

“I’ve been in a bubble so I haven’t been able to get in front of the solicitor or speak to police. I’ve had some really good people reach out to me about it. There is some change needed in regards to legislation, cyberbullying and social media commentary. That’s for another time.

“I’ll certainly be making a considered decision, but I will be going to the police, giving them some names and letting them deal with it as they wish.”

Seibold’s two seasons at the helm of the Broncos were mostly unsuccessful, with poor on-field performances ultimately costing him his dream job.

But he has also had to combat a vicious rumour-spreading campaign on social media and text messages.

A married father of three daughters, Seibold was the victim of slanderous messages which became increasingly defamatory and prompted him to take legal action. Seibold, 45, admitted the rumours had taken a toll on him and his family.

“The last two or three weeks have been particularly unkind about the social media stuff,” he said.

TRAVIS MEYN