Broncos coach Michael Maguire would not stand in the way of Matt Ballin departing to take up the Manly Sea Eagles top job, a declaration he made at the end of a week in which he lost one of his top assistants.
News broke shortly before Brisbane’s 26-12 triumph of the Dolphins that Anthony Seibold had been sacked by the Sea Eagles after a winless start to the 2026 campaign. Kieran Foran has been named as interim coach.
But if Manly are on the lookout for a man who has a deep understanding of what it takes to thrive at Brookvale Oval, Ballin looms as a compelling candidate.
While he is now one of Maguire’s assistants, leading the club’s back five, Ballin played 217 games as a hooker for the side – winning two premierships, one of which alongside the Sea Eagles current chief executive Jason King.
The 42-year-old has also worked under Billy Slater at the Queensland Maroons, and Maguire insisted he would not deprive him the chance to spearhead his old club’s revival out of the doldrums.
“I haven’t even spoken to Matty, but I want all my staff to excel in whatever it is that they do and what they want to do. If those things arise, we’ll talk about that,” Maguire said.
“As an NRL coach, sometimes you’re not sure whether you are or you aren’t [ready]. One thing I know is Matty is a great human and a great person, and those things come to people who work hard.
“If it’s the right time, it’s the right time.”
He has helped usher Deine Mariner from fledgling talent into a premiership-winning and international star, and helped inspire Gehamat Shibasaki’s rapid rise last year in which he went from a train and trial deal to a State of Origin and Kangaroos debut.
Before that, Ballin returned to Manly post-playing as a development coach with the Sea Eagles’ and Blacktown New South Wales Cup side, while also working with their education and wellbeing department. Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds believed he had the experiences to flourish as a head coach.
“He’s a great coach, he’s done a lot of great things for us at the Broncs, and he leads by example week to week – he’s got a big future,” Reynolds said.
“He does all the little things right, he understands the game – he’s played at the top level for a long time – and he’s done his apprenticeship under a few different coaches now, so he knows different styles as well and how to get the best out of players.
“If he gets the opportunity, I’m sure he’ll be ready to take it. Obviously, you don’t want to lose another one, but I like seeing coaches get an opportunity and excel.”
“Matty’s got a really smart brain. He’s a great coach in every aspect … hopefully he stays with our club, but if he has an ambition to be a head coach I think he’s got full capability to do that,” Brisbane prop Corey Jensen added.
“He’s been around the system for a long time and just knows footy inside and out. He lives and breathes it.”
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