20 of the Best – Manly Sea Eagles
As we wait for the season to get underway, the Making The Nut team will take a look back over the last 20 years to name the 20 best players at all sixteen teams. Merged teams will take account of both clubs pre-merger and the only rule is that a player must have played at least three years post-1990. A player's time at the club is the only time that is taken into account.
Here, Cliff Bingham looks back at the greatest Manly Sea Eagles/ Northern Eagles.
Please note: As this list is intended to be reflective of the past 20 years, there are a couple of notable absentees whose impact commenced before that time, in particular Ian Roberts and Michael O’Connor. In addition, I’ve placed a high premium on being a part of the two best recent ‘eras’ for Manly: 1995 to 1997 (three consecutive grand finals, one premiership) or 2007 to 2011 (three grand finals, two premierships). With those things in mind, let’s get to the list.
20. Michael Robertson
It’s easy to overlook him –not a man mountain, nor a bone-crunching defender, nor grease lightning with the ball in hand. Nonetheless, he did exactly what was required of him, maintaining his first grade spot for the Sea Eagles (after moving from Canberra) for 150 games over six seasons in an era where the side won two premierships. His tries-to-games ratio for Manly (68 tries) also stacks up quite well against his fellow three-quarter line members in the team over recent years. The Sea Eagles may miss him more in 2012 than you would anticipate.
19. Matt Orford
After a promising debut year for the Northern Eagles in 2000, he headed to Melbourne for five seasons but subsequently returned to the maroon and white in 2006. His return to that club proved to be of great benefit to both parties – a Dally M Medal, two grand finals and a premiership. Whilst his time at the Sea Eagles was relatively brief, it was a period marked by quality over quantity.
18. Matt Ballin
The hooking role at the Sea Eagles has been something of a revolving door over the past two decades – David O’Donnell, Jim Serdaris, Shayne Dunley, Michael Monaghan – but to my mind Ballin has contributed the most. His game is centred around work ethic in defence, while his attacking play has improved significantly over the past couple of seasons. In five seasons at the club he has played in three grand finals, two premierships and a State of Origin match when deputising for the injured Cameron Smith – quite a haul for the first five years of your career!
17. Jason King
Now more than a decade on from his debut for the Northern Eagles in 2001, he has overcome numerous injuries to play some of his best football in more recent times, culminating in both the premiership success of the club and appearances for New South Wales in 2010 and 2011. More draughthorse than thoroughbred, he ticks all the boxes for an effective prop, rolling up the sleeves and embracing hard work in the centre of the field. Barring more injury concerns, he should reach his 200th first grade appearance early this season – just rewards for a high quality career.
16. Brent Kite
Moving to Manly after 67 games for the Sea Eagles, the seven seasons hence have been extremely successful for the former back rower turned prop. While his last two seasons have seen a slight dip in performance, his form from 2006 to 2009 was terrific, earning him 14 Test caps and a further 10 appearances for New South Wales. When on song he is a touch flashier than his fellow prop Jason King and more likely to pop an offload or two, while displaying a similar underlying work ethic.
15. Terry Hill
In a career that saw him suit up for five different NRL clubs, his best performances came at Manly in the period from 1994 to 1999. Those six seasons saw him score 61 tries in 126 games (and a further three tries in 16 games when returning in 2005), play the bulk of his 20 representative matches for New South Wales and Australia, and play in three consecutive Grand Finals, winning one. His strength was the focal point of his game in both attack and defence, breaking the line regularly while offering little in return to opposing centres.
14. Steve Matai
Yes, he gets into his share of fights and serves his share of suspensions. And yes, he spends an inordinate amount of time in the hands of the trainer (to the point where the rugby league fanatics at Oh Errol patented the “Matai Minutes” competition) on the field. The downside is more than compensated for by the upside – an aggressive and punishing defender in the centres who acts as an ideal foil for Jamie Lyon and brings plenty of intensity to the backline. Oh, and he has played 10 Tests for New Zealand while featuring in the aforementioned 207 to present day Manly side which has picked up two premierships. The pros definitely outweigh the cons with Steve Matai.
13. David Gillespie
It may have been the final four years of his NRL career, but there was still plenty of quality petrol left in the tank when ‘Cement’ Gillespie arrived at Brookvale. His four seasons at the club encompassed three grand final appearances, as well as the final of his 15 appearances for New South Wales and 19 for Australia. One of the hardest hitters in the game, he brought a level of toughness and experience to the team that helped them take the next step over the ensuing years. Of course, the contribution of the next man over that same period played no small part…
12. Mark Carroll
Another ‘gun for hire’ over the period from 1994 to 1997, he represented New South Wales and Australia during his time at the club, while also helping take the forward pack to the upper echelon of the NRL. Yet what I’ll remember most about the ‘Spud’ Carroll era at Manly was his rivalry with Paul Harragon, which remains my favourite prop rivalry to this day. Who can forget the epic collision between the two at Newcastle on a kickoff return in 1995 that left Harragon unconscious and with a torn stomach muscle? You’ll watch many a year of rugby league and not see an impact that immense.
11. Owen Cunningham
Hard working back rowers often get less kudos than their efforts warrant, slipping under the radar as their more high-profile teammates take the limelight, yet remaining invaluable to their club. So it was with the career of Owen Cunningham. 13 of his 15 seasons in first grade came for Manly or the Northern Eagles, with 231 games in total for the two franchises. He played four games for Queensland and was an automatic selection in the first grade side for the elite Manly sides of the mid 1990s – sufficient evidence to be deemed a more than worthy inclusion on this list.
10. Nik Kosef
He is one of the most fascinating ‘What if?’ stories in recent rugby league history. It’s easy to forget so many years on, given that his 158 first grade games spanned over 11 injury-plagued seasons, but Nik Kosef was a wonderful player in full flight. His fitness held up from 1995 to 1999 and in those five seasons he played 117 games, three grand finals, eight matches for New South Wales and as many for Australia. A tough defender and clever ball-playing lock who may have played 250 first grade games had injuries not consistently derailed his career.
9. Jamie Lyon
Put his enigmatic route to the club (from Parramatta via Wee Waa and St Helens) aside for a moment and focus on his performance since arriving – five seasons at the club for three grand finals, two premierships and representative caps both New South Wales and Australia. His ball-playing skills have seen him line up in the six jersey on numerous occasions for the club but it is when they can ‘afford’ to play him in the centres that his value and versatility really come to the fore. In an era of great success for Manly, few have been more valuable to the team than Jamie Lyon.
8. Glenn Stewart
While making his debut for the club in 2003 as a 19 year-old, it has been from 2007 onwards that his star has been on the rise. A back rower with great ball-playing skills and a penchant for tackling (a modern day Nik Kosef, anyone?), his outstanding club form has been rewarded with three caps for New South Wales and five more for Australia to date. At only 28 years of age, his peak years as a forward may be ahead of him – news to warm the hearts of the Brookvale faithful.
7. Matthew Ridge
I can still picture him, a picture of concentration as he sizes up another difficult conversion attempt before calmly slotting it through as if he were shelling peas. Yet his deadly accurate goal kicking was only one string in the bow. He was also a talented ball player in attack, safe under the high ball and resolute in defence. Unsurprising then that a player of such calibre found himself playing for New Zealand on 25 occasions, more often than not as one of the first picked. As a league fan consistently cheering against Manly, he always had my begrudging respect.
6. Brett Stewart
Here is one of the most telling statistics when evaluating the impact Brett Stewart has on the current Manly team – they have made the grand final in each season where he has played at least 20 games, while exiting much earlier from the finals in the two years where injuries have curtailed his year. He is quite simply a try scoring machine, crossing the stripe on 113 occasions in 138 games to date. Five games for New South Wales and one for Australia thus far only emphasise the quality of his play. No-one comes to life at Brookvale quite like Brett Stewart.
5. Des Hasler
While his representative career was all but over (bar one appearance for City) after 1991, he was an integral part of the Manly side through the early and mid-1990s. A hard-working and clever halfback who was known for being one of the fittest players in the game, he formed a tremendous halves partnership with Cliff Lyons for the better part of a decade. Later in his career, he also played at hooker on occasion, demonstrating a versatility and commitment to team that had been the hallmark of his career. There are very few that have ever worn the maroon and white with more pride.
4. Anthony Watmough
With a decade in the NRL now under his belt, he has evolved into a powerhouse back rower with seven matches for New South Wales and 14 for Australia to his name already. A punishing runner who can break a tackle or provide a sharp offload, his defensive work rate has also ramped up significantly in the last few seasons. Yet the relationship between Watmough and the Sea Eagles runs deeper than that. They’ve seen him grow up. They’ve seen him reach points where his career could have gone one of two ways. And now they are seeing his best days. Unlike a number of hired guns over the years, Watmough is the quintessential Sea Eagle.
3. Cliff Lyons
The likes of Laurie Daley, Brad Fittler and Darren Lockyer may have been better and more complete five-eighths, but for pure excitement value, it’s hard to go past old Cliffy. Weaving across the field, making defenders look foolish with sleight of hand or foot, he had so many tricks up his sleeve that defenders could be forgiven for simply trying to avoid embarrassment. While his representative career had come and gone by 1992, he was central to the successes of the club from 1995 to 1997. Manly fans must still smile whenever they think of Lyons hooking up with his old pal Steve Menzies for yet another try in front of an adoring Brookvale crowd. As a rugby league fan, I know that I still do.
2. Geoff Toovey
He looks to be five-foot-nothing and 50 kilograms wringing wet – is he meant to be at Brookvale or Randwick racecourse? He won’t shut up on the field, nor will he take a backward step from men far bigger in stature. His never-say-die approach wins the affection of teammates and fans, and the respect of even the most cold and cynical observer. He reminds you more than a little of Allan Langer, albeit that ‘Alf ‘never stuck his head into the front row of a scrum. He plays 286 games for Manly/ Northern Eagles, 15 for New South Wales and 10 for Australia, captaining at both club and state level. Whenever the all-time greats of Manly are discussed, his name is among the first thrown into the discussion. Yeah, Geoff Toovey was some player.
1 Steve Menzies
Is there anyone who didn’t love watching Steve Menzies play? The statistics are immense – 349 first grade games across the Eagles franchises, 180 tries (amazing for a back, almost beyond comprehension for a forward), 20 matches for New South Wales and a further 13 for Australia. Yet the memories are even more powerful – a galloping gazelle in attack, a more physical defender than he was often given credit for and the try scoring muse to Cliff Lyons for many a year. To understand what he meant to Manly, you need only think back to his final match, the 2008 Grand Final. The game was for all intents and purposes already done and dusted, yet when Menzies ran his trademark excellent line down the left flank and set sail for the try line, the Sea Eagles faithful lifted as one, hitting their crescendo as he sealed the four-pointer. It was the fairytale end to the career of a club legend and more than anything else, it was that memory of the reaction to his try that sealed the deal in my mind –Steve Menzies was the best Manly player of the past 20 years.
Thanks to Ezra Shaw/Getty Images AsiaPac for use of the photo.
