Watching the game of the year so far on Friday night, as the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Manly Sea Eagles battled it out at Brookvale Oval, it dawned on me just how much hatred plays an integral part in the success of rugby league.
Every NRL fan wants their team to do well, but they also have a vested interest in witnessing the pain and/or defeat of the opponents they love to hate. And surprisingly, it is not just Manly.
The Sea Eagles have always been a club that other teams’ fans have enjoyed disliking. It harks back to their ‘slivertails’ days when they earned a reputation of stealing other teams’ best players.
Yet there is certainly a modern day hatred for the club from the Northern Beaches of Sydney as well.
Apart from their success – the main ingredient in any case of hatred – a lot of the vitriol towards the club can be attributed to Steve Matai; a player whose frequency of visits to the NRL judiciary means he should pay rent there.
This is a man who single-handedly prevented Darren Lockyer playing in a semi-final two years ago. The legendary Brisbane Broncos five-eighth was nursing a broken cheekbone, and doctors advised him against playing because they thought Matai might target him.
That’s right, Lockyer didn’t play in a game of football because of the public knowledge Matai would attack his weakness. Never mind that ‘weakness’ was Lockyer’s head, and targeting it would have therefore been illegal.
Though to be fair to Matai, he is far from the only reason to hate Manly.
Coach Geoff Toovey has a PhD in whinging. The Stewart brothers aren’t adverse to cheap shots and punch-ups. Anthony Watmough is the poster child for despised NRL players. Dave ‘The Wolfman’ Williams choked in Origin. Kieran Foran is a Kiwi and Daly Cherry-Evans is a Queenslander, right when NSW needs some halves.
If it feels like I’m singling Manly out, it’s because I am. I hate them.
Though in the interests of fairness and objectivity, it’s worth noting I respect the Manly football club tremendously, and the hatred simply allows me to enjoy football even more.
After all, every good story needs a villain, and it’s nice to be passionate about games my team isn’t even playing in.
To that point, and for those who don’t already know, I follow the Bulldogs.
Before you bombard me, allow me to admit that between cheating the salary cap, being involved in something ‘untoward’ in Coffs Harbour, Willie Mason’s mouth, James Graham biting Billy Slater, Josh Reynolds’ niggling, the club’s Mad Monday antics last year, Des Hasler’s crankiness, Michael Ennis’ sledging, Ben Barba getting suspended, and the behaviour of some of the club’s fans, I can certainly appreciate why the Dogs are widely hated too.
In fact, every fan has a justification, or simply creates a subplot, in order to rationalise their hatred of another team.
The Melbourne Storm cheated the salary cap, allegedly brought the much-maligned ‘grapple’ tackle into the game, plus they’re from AFL country.
The Cronulla Sharks have a drug cloud hanging over them, the Penrith Panthers are run by Gus Gould, and the Wests Tigers used to be everyone’s darlings, but now they’re just perceived as petulant losers.
The Newcastle Knights have Darius Boyd, who makes Wayne Bennett look like Robin Williams when it comes to interviews.
The Gold Coast Titans seem to always have some off-field dramas, the Parramatta Eels just plain stink, and the Canberra Raiders’ green jerseys are historically ugly.
The St George Illawarra Dragons gave us Anthony Mundine, Jamie Soward, and will no doubt be signing Josh Dugan any minute.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have a developed a superiority complex, the North Queensland Cowboys’ Johnathan Thurston abuses referees, and the New Zealand Warriors are from New Zealand.
The Brisbane Broncos are very successful, receive the benefit of being a one-town team, and have Justin Hodges giving everyone an earful.
And the Roosters are the Roosters. Enough said.
As you can tell from the above, reality doesn’t need to factor into your particular hatred. After all, emotion is very rarely rational, and hatred is just about the most powerful emotion that exists.
The hatred isn’t contained to fans either. Over the years, feuds in rugby league have often been the biggest stories and have gained most of the media coverage in the game.
Don’t believe me? Just consider the hatred that runs thick between the following rugby league personalities:
Phil Rothfield and Gus Gould. David Gallop and Brett Stewart. Mal Meninga and the NSW media. Adam MacDougall and Russell Crowe. George Piggins and Andrew Denton.
Paul Harragon and Mark Carroll. Mario Fenech and Benny Elias. Jason Taylor and Michael Hagan. Bill Harrigan and Bob Fulton. Peter Sterling/Ray Price/Brett Kenny and Dennis Fitzgerald.
Ray Hadley and everybody.
I could easily list plenty more.
While every sport has their rivalries, along with personalities that don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye, few sports thrive on pure hatred as much as rugby league does.
Make no mistake about it, there is nothing contrived or manufactured about the bad blood that exists in the code. In fact, in many ways, the hatred is the lifeblood of the game.
So don’t hide that venom, let it out. You wouldn’t be a rugby league fan if you didn’t have a little bit of hatred in you.
Michael
Roar Rookie
The only bad thing about Parramatta is we suck
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
You're free to hate the Dogs, but at least base it on some reality. Or at least take a pot shot that makes some sense. The entire Bulldogs team has been purchased from other clubs? Wrong. Josh Reynolds is a Bulldog junior for starters, so there is just one example. In any event, am I'm meant to be upset or embarrassed that we're good recruiters and players want to play for the club? Not one player remains from our 2004 premiership? That probably makes sense, considering it was 8 years ago. How many players remain from your 2004 squad? The Stewarts and Watmough? 3? Really? And that's somehow impressive? And as for Des, yes we poached him from your club. Because he couldn't stand to be around there anymore. So thanks, we'll take him.
manlyman
Guest
I get that you hate manly and how it helps you enjoy other nrl games because I am the same ever since the 'bEagles' stole des hasler from us i like nothing more than watching your pretenders struggle and lose. Your entire team has been purchased from other clubs same with your coaching staff! Not one player remains from your gf team a few yrs back. Your team is a joke with a great coach manlys coach. All the bEagles success last yr you can thank manly for! Theres some hate for you o'connell
Clark
Guest
Seeing South Sydney fail whilst having 15 players on the field every week will just be brilliant. A bunch of soft, tatted up , wannabe gang members who in reality can handle the rough stuff and know the cheerleaders in the media will back them up if one gets a chipped nail. Plus the way their fans/bandwagoners carry on is just embarrassing
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
So do you consider Steve Menzies to be a one-club player?
Bearfax
Guest
Revisionist rubbish you guys. I remember that period very well and Manly was not the cause of North Sydney's woes. I have great respect for the Bears and want them back in the League in Gosford. But the plight of North Sydney was the reneged deal by the League brought about by the Super League War. That and that alone brought Norths to its knees. You guys dont seem to recall that it was Manly, more than any other side, that stood firm when Canterbury, Cronulla and Penrith of the Sydney clubs walked out on the league to join SuperLeague. Manly was offered a place but said NO (caused a big row between old time friends Canterbury's Bullfrog and Manly's Arko) and tried to hold the comp together, which including Norths. It was just before that time that Norths had spent a fortune helping develop Bluetongue and were virtually broke. They were counting on the move to recover financially. But SuperLeague forced the non SuperLeague teams to the wall financially trying to compete with extraordinary contracts offered to players with the other cashed up SuperLeague clubs for players, financed backed by Murdock. When the agreement, after court battles, finally allowed non SuperLeague teams into Murdocks world, it was Murdock's controlled Administration that made it clear that only certain teams would be given franchises. Manly was one but Norths wasnt. But the financial state non SuperLeague teams had been put in forced amalgamations that no one wanted. Wests and Balmain are still squabbling and will split soon. Souths refused to join Easts or Cronulla, who were granted franchises, and as we know fought on alone to finally win back their place. The Manly-Norths Beagles was primarily Manly financed and under the Manly franchise. It could have worked but the respective boards squabbled over amalgamation issues, and in frustration Manly went it alone...and almost as a result had to close their doors..they were days from being financially wiped out before they got sponsorship, which if you will recall Norths could not secure for almost a decade. It took Manly a decade to recover financially and they are still struggling after being one of the richer clubs in the League. Now I'm not blaming Norths for the break up. The Boards just could get on as Wests and Balmains Boards now cant, and Souths never wanted to be a party to. It was a failed concept. But Norths plight is the result of SuperLeague guys. The old Admin would have granted Norths the Central Coast move, but SuperLeague brought these clubs to their financial knees and then when they got virtual control they refused many clubs franchises to go alone based on their criteria. That is what brought Norths undone and that alone. Norths were already dead because what you then had was virtually a Manly controlled Northern Eagles, and that only included a revitalising Norths because Manly saw in the long run that it would be financially viable and they didnt think they could financially cope. So get your histories right and aim at the real cause of North's woe. Norths were already gone when the amalgamation occurred and that was the result of SuperLeague.
KiwiBear
Guest
North Sydney were screwed over and stabbed in the back by Manly. Duded is the biggest understatement I've ever heard. The Bears were streched financially short term financing the stadium and the powers that took advantage of it.
up in the north
Guest
That was funny mate.
matt h
Guest
Can anyone really hate the Roosters? Or is it just pity that they have spent sooooooo much money over the years for soooooo few titles. I reckon their ratio of $$ to silverware would be the worst in the comp. At least when the Raiders and Storm and Bulldogs rorted the Cap to win premierships, they actually won. But Manly, I hate them with a passion. They wrote the book (later plagerised by Ricky Stuart) in whinging and blaming everybody else when things go wrong. A stiff arm tackle from a repeat offender is the ball's fault for getting in the way. Two spear tackles is the fault of the attacker for the way he runs. the only good thing to come out of the Storm salary cap saga was that one of the titles was over Manly. I hate Souths at the moment because they are getting so smug without actually having won a damn thing. I hate the Tigers for taking Scott Prince from the Broncos in 2005, meaning they won a comp and we had to put up with Peter Wallace. Prince/Lockyer would have been a joy to watch. I would like to hate Penrith, Sharks, Canberra, but its hard to muster the passion for such boring teams. My first love was the Bulldogs and Stevie Mortimer, but then along came Warren Ryan to reinvent league and turn the mid 80's into the most boring period in history. So now I hate the Bulldogs. I used to hate Balmain because of Warren Ryan and Benny Elias. Oh well. But I really hate NSW. I really really do. Sending interstate games in the 70's to park grounds becasue they were no contest, because half the NSW sides were Queenslanders. But even worse the rest of the best Queenslanders were sitting in NSW not playing for either team. I hated how before the last seven years NSW would always be installed favourites, all evidence to the contrary. And I hated how (again up until recently) QLD could win the Origin series 3 nil and still get less than half of the Australian team. And how after 1 loss NSW could never sell all the tickets to their home games. And Benny Elias, and Ricky Stuart and Luke O'Donnell, and Les Boyd, and Steve Roach when he took out Bobby Lindner in back play, and Benny Elias (God I hated Benny!), and Paul Gallen's "we was robbed" speech, and Alan Langer being called for a strip by Kevin Roberts, and, and, and .... Isn't footy great!
Trent
Guest
I wouldn't touch brooky it's great the way it is..
PuntPal
Roar Pro
Top read mate, awesome article. Happy the only thing you hate abotu Raiders is our jersey...which I love because the Green Machine wouldnt be the same if we had any other colour! Strange as it may seem, but Raiders jerseys are pretty damn popular becuase they stand out so much
redbur95
Roar Rookie
You can add Les Boyd and Darryl Brohman to that list.
planko
Roar Guru
Von I just wanted to point out that Hopoate's finest moment was not as an Eagle. Poor Darren ....Nothing to do with Manly it was own "philthy" team mate that delibrately kneed him in the head.
planko
Roar Guru
NickF please get it right "Pride of the Loige"
Brendan Bradford
Roar Pro
Have to add that the venue made a huge difference. 20,000 jam packed into Brookvale equals one of the best crowds in the the game. A similar audience at ANZ and sometimes even the SFS seriously lacks atmosphere. Must be like playing in the middle of a desert sometimes.
Bearfax
Guest
No. I wont have that. Oikee getting under one's skin?
SouthSydneyTiliDie
Guest
Took 10 minutes, also helped that there were no customers in the shop at that point in time & the boss was out. :) I hadn't thought of it like that @NickF , I'm just glad the judiciary went hard on Fa'aoso. The players know that its illegal, it takes a certain amount of forethought to go in low and lift vertically, its not exactly a heat of the moment thing. Does that make sense?
dogforlife
Guest
Awesome article Ryan. For my 2 cents worth, I HATE Parra for no other reason than they are Parramatta. The Roosters.. well because they are the roosters. West Tigers because they are still assosiated with Balmain (real shame cause I used like the magies), The Broncos because they destroyed the BRL comp and channel nincompoop only play unco's games live up here on Friday nights and last of all I absolutely HATE anything or anyone in sky blue. This last one is real and it burns very very deep within, a tradition passed down from my forefathers that I am obliged (by law up here) to pass onto my children and their childrens children There is a list of reasons and it is very very long however cheats, grubs and sore loosers are the top three in recent times. Now if only WA, NZ or even VIC could field a reasonably competitve side we could play QLD V QLD residents because everyone knows all those other places are in QLD anyway. But I couldnt HATE the opposition in that game and would miss the drama and suspense that comes with hating the blues (dont get me started on their IQless supporters though) Ryan thank you what a great way to finish lunch that was, damn I feel good now.
dogforlife
Guest
Awesome article Ryan. For my 2 cents worth, I HATE Parra for no other reason than they are Parramatta. The Roosters.. well because they are the roosters. West Tigers because they are still assosiated with Balmain (real shame cause I used like the magies), The Broncos because they destroyed the BRL comp and channel nincompoop only play unco's games live up here on Friday nights and last of all I absolutely HATE anything or anyone in sky blue. This last one is real and it burns very very deep within, a tradition passed down from my forefathers that I am obliged (by law up here) to pass onto my children and their childrens children There is a list of reasons and it is very very long however cheats, grubs and sore loosers are the top three in recent times. Now if only WA, NZ or even VIC could field a reasonably competitve side we could play QLD V QLD residents because everyone knows all those other places are in QLD anyway. But I couldnt HATE the opposition in that game and would miss the drama and suspense that comes with hating the blues (dont get me started on their IQless supporters though) Ryan thank you what a great way to finish lunch that was, damn I feel good now.
Bearfax
Guest
I operate on the 'Goldilocks' principle. Queensland is lovely, no doubt about it. But its one flaw is the excessive humidity. Tough here in Sydney's west in summer but Queensland is even worse. The Northern beaches though temper this so that it is not only not too hot and not too cold but also not to humid and not too dry. Yep. Gods country.