Anthony Seibold 'walk-out' comes to light as Manly rocked by massive new injury blow

Anthony Seibold's future at Manly is in doubt after contract negotiations with the Sea Eagles broke down. The 49-year-old is under contract until the end of 2025 and was in talks to extend his stay at Brookvale.

But after losing three games on the bounce, his position is no longer as secure. After looking like premiership contenders in the opening rounds, the Sea Eagles have lost to the Broncos, Dolphins and Raiders in the last three weeks.

Seibold and his manager Isaac Moses had been speaking to the club for several weeks about extending his stay at Manly but with the side struggling to find form in recent weeks, the club has decided to hold off on making a decision on his future beyond next season. Adding fuel to the fire, a Manly source revealed that Seibold walked out of a meeting with the club management on Thursday morning, with discussions over a new contract now put on hold. "It’s a results-driven business and we won’t be rushed," one Manly source told The Daily Telegraph.

The coaching future of Seibold at Manly is a difficult topic for Manly CEO Tony Mestrov, given his close relationship with Seibold. "I don’t think it’s an issue because Anthony is under contract for another 12 months," Mestrov said.

"We will continue to have discussions with his agent at the appropriate time." After missing out on the finals last year, Manly are now running 10th on the ladder, with the club deciding it is best to put his contract re-negotiation on ice for the time being.

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Tolu Koula blow hands Lehi Hopoate opportunity

Already missing star fullback Tom Trbojevic through injury, the man who has replaced him, Tolu Koula, has now been ruled out for this weekend's match against the Storm with a shoulder injury. Koula's absence from the line-up will see young gun Lehi Hopoate make his NRL debut, with either he or Reuben Garrick set to play fullback.

It means the Hopoate family are poised to become the first family to have five siblings play NRL and NRLW this century. Hopoate - the youngest of eight children of ex-Manly winger John Hopoate - will play his first NRL match this weekend, with the 19-year-old following brothers Will, Albert and Jamil in having played in the NRL, while his sister Kalosipani has played 13 NRLW games for the Sydney Roosters.

The list takes them beyond the four Sims that have played NRL and NRLW and past the quartets from the Burgess, Mata'utia and MacDougall families. "It's really special. He's a terrific young kid," Seibold said of Lehi.

"He did the pre-season with us and he did such a good job we took him out to Vegas just for the experience. You see a lot of young outside backs coming into the game at the moment, full of speed and energy and that high-tempo type play."

with AAP