😃 Good: Anthony Seibold works wonders with Sea Eagles

😔 Badly: Mitchell Moses rumours affecting Parramatta Eels

😡 Ugly: James Graham speaks out on Kyle Flanagan’s biting storm

Manly growth for embattled coach Anthony Seibold

Manly wisely put contract extension talks on hold as coach Anthony Seibold negotiated a test fixture schedule earlier this season. After missing out on the finals last year, Sea Eagles chairman Tony Mestrov was understandably keen to see how things panned out as the club suffered a run of five defeats in seven games.

Seibold, with a year left on his contract, was not certain to receive an extension at this stage. But three months on, the Sea Eagles boss is building a convincing case to stay in the job beyond 2025.

Manly have won four of their last five matches sixth in the table. They play the Warriors and Tigers over the next two weeks, then finish with the Bulldogs and Sharks.

Two wins from those four will be enough to secure a top eight finish – and many good referees believe the Sea Eagles will be in real contention for the title once the finals get underway. They are a well-balanced side that can play hard, crushing games, but also entertain and score loads of points when they feel like it.

And they can match that with the best, having beaten heavyweights Penrith, Roosters and Melbourne this year. That should be enough to prompt a contract extension, although we’ve heard those discussions haven’t started yet. It seems a decision on Seibold’s future will be made long after the dust from the 2024 campaign has settled.

Parramatta copes with Mitchell Moses speculation

As if throwing away victory over western Sydney rivals Penrith It wasn’t bad enough, Parramatta still have to deal with it speculations about Mitchell Moses’ futureThe halfback has two years remaining on his contract, but the release clauses in his deal allow him to look around if he seeks a change of scenery.

Five-eighth Dylan Brown has similar clauses allowing him to stay with the Eels until 2031 if he chooses to trigger them. Former South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou says the clauses are great for players but not for clubs.

“I just don’t understand the clauses. I never could understand them and I never considered them as a coach at any level and I never would consider them,” he said.

“In terms of playing, if we offer a deal longer than two years, that’s a long-term commitment from the club, so you expect a long-term commitment from the player. Clubs don’t have release clauses and it’s really interesting that (Parramatta) have so many players.”

But the former Rabbitohs boss is confident Moses and Brown will stay and work with new coach Jason Ryles to rebuild the club as a finals force. He said: “As a rookie coach, those guys will be key to Ryles rebuilding the culture. I think Mitch will be that guy. I’m sure he’ll come out and say, ‘I’m all in’. That’s what the Parry fans want to hear from you, Mitch.

Kyle Flanagan Faces Ban for Biting Stephen Crichton

James Graham has been handed a 12-match ban for biting Billy Slater in the 2012 grand final, which puts him in a unique position to comment on what Kyle Flanagan is going through. The Dragons playmaker has a long way to go on the bench when he faces trial on Tuesday evening, accused of biting Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton Exactly.

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan vehemently denies his son took a sip, but video evidence suggests otherwise. Graham has unpleasant memories of the experience and the impact it had on those around him.

“The press, the noise, the publicity… it’s not looking good (for Flanagan),” the former Dogs captain told Triple M. “It’s awful to be involved in the incident that everyone’s talking about.

“You’re in front and behind (the page) and you can’t really avoid it. It’s not a pleasant position to be in. Every time something like that happens to me, it’s OK, I’ll deal with it, I’ll keep going.”

“But it’s the impact it has on your friends and your family, having to stand up for you and have difficult conversations on your behalf. It’s just shit on your loved ones. It’s awful.”