Stars Back Queenslander To Take Over As Souths Coach

Queensland State of Origin stars Darius Boyd and Valentine Holmes have thrown their weight behind Maroons assistant Anthony Seibold to get the South Sydney coaching job.

Seibold is considered the favourite ahead of fellow assistant David Furner to replace Michael Maguire, who was sacked on Tuesday.

Seibold has been an assistant coach of Queensland's Origin side for the past two years, and arrived at Redfern this year from previous stints at Manly and Melbourne.

"I think he is really good to be honest," Boyd said.

"He knows a lot about his footy and gets along well with the players.

"We've had him at Origin for two years now and I have been really impressed with what he has done.

"It's easier when you are an assistant, I don't know what he is like as a full-time coach but around the blokes at Origin he is quiet but gets through what he needs to say and gets his point across."

The 42-year-old Seibold is considered extremely composed by those who have played under and worked alongside him, and is understood to be a very deep thinker of the game.

He was ironically a teammate of Maguire in his only NRL season at Canberra in 1998, while he has a history in teaching and sports science.

He moved from Mackay's Queensland Cup coach in 2014 into a development role at Melbourne, where he was highly regarded by the likes of Craig Bellamy and the Storm playing group.

Working centrally in development and planning, he played a key role in the growth of Cameron Munster and Tim Glasby, and also coached Queensland's under-16s and under-18s sides between 2012 and 2014 which Holmes played in.

They're factors which could be considered important given Souths had five rookies play for them this season.

"He's really good - really direct," Holmes said.

"He knows his footy and he has obviously played it before. I think if he does get the job I'm sure he will do fine with the team he's got.

"He's obviously coached younger guys like me as a head coach, so it wouldn't be a big step for him."

- AAP