Manly target Seibold success against old club Brisbane

Manly have declared their desire to beat Brisbane for Anthony Seibold, as the Sea Eagles coach prepares to face the Broncos for the first time since his 2020 exit.

The Manly mentor's stint at the Broncos remains the messiest in the club's history, with Seibold moving on 18 months into a five-year deal.

Seibold was regularly the target of criticism from Broncos old boys during his time at Red Hill, after being chosen ahead of Kevin Walters to succeed Wayne Bennett in the hotseat.

After his exit, Seibold suggested he had not been treated fairly and had been the target of many 'agendas'.

He also feared his acrimonious departure from Brisbane would cost him another chance in the NRL.

Three years later, that chance arrived with Manly.

The Sea Eagles have endured their own dramas headed into this week's Magic Round, with a spotlight on Josh Schuster's fitness and Scott Fulton's exit from the club as recruitment boss.

But the players are adamant a 'siege mentality' can bring out the best in the team.

"The good thing about chaos, and it feels like there is a bit of chaos at the moment, is it can bring people together," prop Josh Aloiai said.

"And we're the kind of team that it is going to bring us closer together.

"If we can go up there, do a job on Brisbane, it would be pretty cool for Seibs as well if we can get it done for him."

Asked if Seibold's exit at Brisbane was a genuine motivating factor for the Sea Eagles this week, Aloiai insisted it was.

"This is a chance for us to give back to our coach a little bit as well," Aloiai said. "He has been through a lot.

"If we can get up to Brisbane, do a job on a team that is performing really well, it would be a really good thing for the players to do for our coach."

Tom Trbojevic is set to return from a groin strain for Friday night's clash at Suncorp Stadium but brother Jake is likely to be sidelined with a calf injury.

Manly have beaten Melbourne and Parramatta this year while drawing with Newcastle, losing to Gold Coast and scraping home against Wests Tigers.

Winger Jason Saab insisted the gulf in the team's performances was not causing undue concern for the players.

"We have a good team, we can be a top-four side. We have done it before," he said.

"We are human, we can lose a game as well. It's not scary, it's just footy."