Anthony Seibold says he KNOWS who spread vicious rumours about his personal life online after hiring private investigators and reveals it's someone within the NRL

Former NRL coach Anthony Seibold has shed more light on those responsible for  the vile and slanderous rumours that forced him to walk away from the game.

The 45-year-old recently quit his Brisbane Broncos coaching job less than two seasons through his five-year contract in the wake of vicious rumours circulated about on social media about his personal life and his family.

He employed cyber security experts to track down those responsible and was given a list of names, which he forwarded to police and the NRL Integrity Unit. 

Seibold has confirmed the rumours came from within NRL circles but can't reveal their names due to legal reasons.  

False rumours spread by online trolls took a heavy toll on former NRL coach Anthony Seibold

'There's someone who makes a living from our game who is part of this conversation, who's added to the rumours, who's then forwarded on through messages on social media platforms,' he told 60 Minutes.

The program claimed a NSW Rugby League employee was named in the report.

'They've got some very high profile friends from within our game,' Seibold added.

'That's what so ironic. I can't sit here and tell you these names because essentially 60 Minutes could be charged. It's crazy.'

No action has yet been taken against anyone regarding the rumours. 

Seibold also opened up on damaging toll the rumours had on he and his family. 

'I went through some pretty dark times there a few week back because the amount of hate and defamatory comments that was spread. And people were happy to spread,' Seibold said

'And that's not the Australia that I grew up in.'

Anthony Seibold has vowed to bring those responsible for the rumours to justice.  He's pictured with wife Hollie at the 2018 Dally M Awards

The worst of the false rumours was about one of his young daughters.

'The very last message on social media was the one that probably upset me the most, because it spoke about my daughter,' an emotional Seibold said as he fought back tears.

'For my mum and dad too it was hard for them to see those messages.'

'I don't know what the motivation was for those messages.'

He was forced to exit the Broncos' quarantine bubble in early August to stay in Sydney with his family for personal reasons.

He returned to Brisbane several days later and quit the Broncos within days of completing his mandatory 14-days of quarantine.

'In some ways it’s like the wild west out there. My situation went viral with defamatory comments. My reputation was ruined in a lot of respects,' Seibold said.

The rumours disappeared from social media as soon as Seibold vowed to take action against the online trolls tarnishing his reputation when he stepped down from the Broncos coaching role in August.

Anthony Seibold fought back tears as he recalled the rumours about his young daughter

'Eighty per cent of the messages that were on social media platforms came down straight away. It obviously put a bit of a scare across a lot of the people who were sharing the different messages,' Seibold said.

'They're pretty weak.

'I've got quite a few names … so I'd like to see some people made accountable, that's for sure.' 

He remains committed to bringing the culprits accountable for their actions in his quest for a better world for his three young daughters.

'From a really negative and hurtful situation, if there is some legislation change going forward, then I think that's a fantastic legacy to leave,' he said. 

It's been a dramatic fall for Seibold, who was hot property after being named the Dally M coach of the year in 2018 after his maiden campaign in charge of South Sydney resulted in 17 wins and 120 losses.

Seibold left the Broncos with a 35 per cent record with 14 wins, a draw and 25 losses from 14 games.

The emotional toll of the rumours could be seen on a drained Anthony Seibold when he quit as Brisbane Broncos coach in August 

Replacing legendary coach Wayne Bennett, Seibold led the Broncos to the finals in 2019 only for the club to crash out at the first hurdle after a 58-0 flogging by Parramatta.

The 2020 season began with back-to-back victories but since the resumption in May following the COVID-enforced hiatus his position had become increasingly untenable with just one win.

2020 ended up as the Broncos' worst season in the club's 33-year history by finishing last on the ladder. 

Adding to the chaos were off-field dramas including failing to retain star young forward David Fifita from signing with Queensland rivals Gold Coast while Tevita Pangai Jnr narrowly avoided being sacked over multiple COVID protocol breaches. 

The Broncos were also hit with $140,000 in fines after 10 players breached biosecurity protocols to have lunch at a pub on August 1 

The team was fined $75,000 by the NRL and each of the ten players were fined five per cent of their salary - totalling $65,000. 

A relaxed Anthony Seibold was spotted at a Super Netball match in Brisbane last month

Seibold’s rise and fall at Brisbane

September 2018: Anthony Seibold is named Dally M coach of the year after leading South Sydney to third in his debut season as head coach

December 2018: Seibold swaps clubs with NRL supercoach Wayne Bennett after he's announced as the new coach of the Brisbane Broncos for 2019

September 2019: Brisbane have a woeful start to the season and are in danger of missing the finals for the first time in the club's 32-year history. The club bounces back to scrape into the NRL finals in eighth spot.

September 2019: The Broncos crash out of the finals with a humiliating 58-0 thrashing against the Parramatta Eels, which at the time became the biggest loss in the club's history

March 2020: The Broncos record two wins from their first two games of the season before the NRL is put on hold due to COVID-19.

Anthony Seibold announced his immediate departure from the club on Wednesday

May 2020: The Broncos season restart with a 43-6 loss against the Eels. The club has recorded just one win to date since the competition resumed.  

June 2020:  The Broncos' woes continue the following week with an embarrassing 59-0 loss against the Sydney Roosters, the club's worst ever defeat.

August 8 2020: Seibold exits the NRL quarantine bubble to stay in Sydney with his family for personal reasons following his side's loss against the Rabbitohs. He returns to Brisbane several days later to undergo 14 days of quarantine

August 11 2020: Seibold hires lawyers in response to rumours about his personal life being circulated online

August 26 2020: Seibold quits as Brisbane Broncos coach