Michael Ennis dismisses speculation about succeeding Anthony Seibold as Manly coach.

Former NSW hooker Michael Ennis has dismissed speculation suggesting he is in line to take over as head coach of Manly from Anthony Seibold at the conclusion of the 2027 season.

This denial follows a report from the Sydney Morning Herald indicating that Seibold is contemplating a shift to a management role once his contract comes to an end in two seasons.

According to sources, Manly’s CEO Tony Mestrov recently discussed Ennis’s long-term ambitions after Seibold hinted that his future might lie in an administrative position rather than continuing on as head coach.

Ennis, who has been identified by Seibold as a potential successor, has long harboured ambitions of becoming an NRL coach. He previously applied for the head coaching position at Parramatta but was overlooked due to concerns that he required more experience in a full-time assistant role.

Mestrov shared a similar viewpoint, encouraging Ennis to pursue a full-time position that could bolster his qualifications for a head coach role.

He is known to attend every training session with Manly, excluding captain’s runs, and if he were to accept a full-time coaching position with the Sea Eagles, he would likely have to relinquish his lucrative contract with Fox Sports.

Although the offer to join Manly’s full-time coaching staff was on the table, Ennis indicated that he would prefer to consider such a move in 2027, a year prior to the proposed transition.

Nonetheless, he has refuted the speculations during his appearances on Fox Sports, labelling the discussions around a succession plan as “inappropriate”.

“Honestly, I believe it is inappropriate to engage in such discussions,” Ennis remarked. “Anthony has brought me on board and provided an opportunity to coach at Manly. He has not only entrusted me with significant responsibilities but has also committed to my personal development.”

He continued, “He arranged for me to learn from Chris Scott at Geelong in the AFL over the summer and allowed me to spend a week with the Canterbury Crusaders in Super Rugby. His investment in my growth as a coach and at Manly is something I value deeply, and I cherish our working relationship.”

“Right now, we definitely need to refocus and turn the situation around, and it’s essential to prioritise team goals over personal aspirations.”

With Ennis opting against a deal that would have secured him the head coach position in 2028, Manly has a couple of alternatives moving forward.

There is significant interest in bringing Broncos assistant coach Matt Ballin back, who has previously played and coached with the club.

The report from SMH indicates that Ballin recently met with Seibold and expressed his enthusiasm for returning to Sydney.

Another contender for the role could be Brad Arthur, who recently led Leeds Rhinos from ninth to third in the Super League after taking over at the end of last season.