BY KURT IRVINE & SCOTT DILLON

The Brisbane Broncos have finally confirmed the worst kept secret in rugby league – Anthony Seibold is stepping aside as head coach with immediate effect.

It comes on the back of reports the club are paying Seibold up to $1 million to walk away from his post after a season from hell for the once mighty Broncos.

Broncos CEO Paul White:

“As a result, Anthony approached Chairman Karl Morris late last week to indicate he did not wish to continue as Coach of the Brisbane Broncos.

“The Board understands Anthony’s situation and has accepted his wishes to step down from the position.

“The role as coach of the Broncos is one of the most high-profile and high-pressure in Australian sport and Anthony has performed admirably since starting in late 2018.

“But the levels of scrutiny some of it bordering on hysterical, if not slanderous in recent times, have placed a heavy burden on Anthony and his family.

“As a club we have endeavoured to support Anthony and his loved ones through all of this.

“But at the end of the day only Anthony can understand what it is like to walk in the shoes of a Broncos Coach, and live with the highs and lows of the role.”

Seibold:

“I was honoured to be appointed Brisbane Broncos coach at the end of 2018. This was the club where I started my Rugby League journey as a young man and it’s a club that I have always admired.

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“For many reasons my time at the Broncos did not work out as we had all hoped. But that’s sport. We love sport because it’s full of uncertainty. And rugby league seems to throw up uncertainty better than any sport I know.”

Seibold has copped plenty during his tenure as Broncos coach but being called ‘cancer’ by part owner Phil Murphy recently was the last straw.

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“I got his number and tried to call him today, but he hung up when I said who it was,” Seibold told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“Wouldn’t man up and own his comments. That’s the measure of a man.

“I don’t know the bloke. He has nothing to do with our club other than own some shares. Seen him three times in my life. The last time was when some players asked for him to be banned from the change rooms after a game last year because of his behaviour.”

It might be the end for Seibold but who knows what other misadventure the club can get itself into in the coming months.