The Manly Sea Eagles have made a stunning call in the wake of Anthony Seibold’s axing, turning to club legend Kieran Foran as interim coach for the remainder of the NRL season.
Manly favourite son Foran will step into the top job less than a year after retiring from a 17-year playing career.
The 35-year-old only hung up the boots in July last year and had been working as an assistant coach under Seibold since returning to the club in late 2025.
Now, he has been tasked with reviving Manly’s season after a disastrous 0-3 start forced the club’s hierarchy into swift action.
Foran, a premiership winner with Manly in 2011 and one of the club’s most respected figures, admitted he was blindsided by the decision.
‘It was business as usual for us this morning,’ he said on Fox League when the news broke of Siebold’s sacking on Friday night.
Manly shock fans by appointing recently retired Kieran Foran as interim coach after Anthony Seibold’s sudden sacking decision
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‘We were in there at 630am with Seibs going through the review of last nights game and preparing for Sunday’s training.’
The abrupt nature of Seibold’s exit has only added to the scrutiny surrounding the Sea Eagles, with the coach becoming the fastest to be sacked since Jason Taylor in 2017.
And while Foran’s appointment has been welcomed in some quarters due to his deep connection to the club, many fans and commentators have openly questioned whether he is ready for the role.
Veteran footy commentator and podcaster Andy Raymond captured the mood in a blunt social media post, writing: ‘What the actual’.
Supporters quickly flooded social media with disbelief.
‘This is ridiculous if it’s true,’ one fan wrote.
‘Ohhhh dear. Just finished playing 6 months ago,’ another added.
Others pointed to broader concerns about the club’s direction.
Foran said he was ‘shocked’ when asked about Siebold’s sacking live on Fox Sports as the news broke
Critics question Manly’s direction, claiming club lacks roster strength to contend despite drastic mid-season coaching change
‘What are they thinking? They haven’t really got the cattle to win a premiership, they sack the coach and employ a guy who has only just hung up the boots,’ one supporter posted.
‘Foran is not the man for the job,’ another said.
The criticism centres largely on Foran’s lack of coaching experience, despite a decorated playing career that included 318 NRL games and 34 Tests for New Zealand.
He only transitioned into coaching late last year, making his rapid elevation one of the most unusual mid-season appointments in recent memory.
Fans also questioned Foran’s appearance on the Fox Sports panel on Friday night, where he was questioned about Siebold’s sacking.
‘Shocked mate. Shocked,’ Foran said.
Some Manly fans believe that Foran had to have known, after his appointment was revealed the next morning.
‘You could see on his face when asked that he knew something. He would have been approached long before the moment occurred,’ one fan posted.
‘He knew exactly what was going on, he’s not a good liar,’ added another.
However, those within the club believe Foran’s leadership, communication and understanding of the ‘Manly Way’ could galvanise a struggling playing group.
A key figure in the club’s 2011 premiership and a recently inducted life member, Foran is seen as someone who commands instant respect within the organisation.
The Sea Eagles’ decision now places enormous pressure on both Foran and the club’s leadership, with CEO Jason King and chairman Scott Penn set to front the media as questions mount over the long-term direction of the team.
Manly have already begun considering permanent coaching options, with names such as Brad Arthur, Michael Ennis and Geoff Toovey among those linked to the role.
