The great coach swap: Souths eye Bennett as Broncos settle on Seibold
Anthony Seibold looks certain to be unveiled as the future coach of the Brisbane Broncos as early as next week and Wayne Bennett could be headed to South Sydney in a direct swap.
After an interview process that also included Maroons State of Origin coach Kevin Walters, former Rabbitohs man Michael Maguire and current Brisbane assistant Jason Demetriou, Seibold has emerged as the favourite to step into one of the code's most coveted roles.
Fairfax Media understands no formal deal has yet been tabled but any contract would be centred on Seibold taking the role from 2020 after his current deal at South Sydney expires.
Bennett and the Broncos were both proceeding under the notion that he would be in charge at Red Hill next season. He had wanted an extension but Brisbane decided it was finally time to part ways with the supercoach, who has orchestrated six premierships for the club.
That arrangement could change in a hurry should Bennett secure a job in the mean time, possibly in a straight swap to Souths.
There has been increasing speculation that the seven-time premiership-winning coach will sign with Souths for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Discussion has now turned to whether Seibold and Bennett could make the switches a year early and immediately begin in new posts.
The loss of Seibold, who won the Dally M Coach of the Year as a rookie, can't be viewed as anything but a blow but getting Bennett in exchange would be quite the fall-back option.
Seibold is a Queenslander and has a long-standing relationship with Broncos chief executive Paul White and that would have played a significant role in his mooted return to the Sunshine State.
He will get a club with all the resources in the world and an excellent, youthful list that looks primed to make a premiership tilt over coming seasons.
It also means the first domino in The Great Coach Swap of 2018 has now fallen, setting in place a chain of events that could see Bennett at Redfern, Maguire at the Wests Tigers and Ivan Cleary at Penrith in time for the 2019 season.
Most Viewed in Sport
Please explain
Our weekly podcast giving you insight into the stories that drive the nation.
Listen now