It was like the Grinch who stole Christmas. But he didn’t just steal it; he set fire to the tree, blew up the house and shot down Santa and his sleigh in full flight.
Manly played the role of villain to many last night, a role they carry out oh so well.
Written off and ridiculed as too old, small and busted by most critics, the Sea Eagles rose to the occasion with a brilliant 60 minute display to stun Souths.
The red and green, with 42 years of failure hanging over their heads, were like bunnies in the headlights when Manly started to claw back into the game and demonstrate their big-match class and experience.
Forget the fact that Souths set a bruising pace in the opening 20 minutes to blow the Sea Eagles off the park with a quick fire 14-0 lead, that the Redfern club had already beaten Manly twice this season, that they had a week off and effectively were playing at home.
The Sea Eagles gave Souths a masterclass in brilliant, attacking footy and the ability to soak up pressure and keep throwing punches.
The fairytale was there for the taking, the one that many in rugby league wanted, Souths back in a grand final again. But the Rabbitohs couldn’t take it and learned the hard way that fairytales victories aren’t given out – they’re earned, grinded and toughed out.
And there’s no tougher team in the NRL then the boys from Brookvale.
Manly earned this victory with their inventive play, their refusal to stop working for each other and continuance to play tired and hurt. Whether it was the flair of Daly Cherry-Evans, the shattering leg drives of Jorge Taufua, the freaky finishing of David Williams, the class of Jamie Lyon or the sublime partnership between the Stewarts, there were heroes across the park for the Sea Eagles.
Manly are now in their fourth grand final in the past seven years. They are aiming for their third grand final victory in the past six years.
It’s an amazing stat considering the budget they operate on and the motley crew of players they have. Manly can’t compete financially with the likes of Souths, the Roosters, the Bulldogs, the Broncos or the Storm (at least in the News Limited days) and their coach is a second-year rookie on a small wage.
The Sea Eagles have a formidable list of discards and journeyman who were unwanted by other clubs. But the maroon and white have taken them in, developed them and turned them into a formidable outfit.
Manly threw a lifeline to Brenton Lawrence, Tom Symonds and Justin Horo. Peta Hiku is on a pittance and Joe Galuvao and Geoge Rose were rejected by other clubs, while Cherry-Evans and the Stewart brothers were overlooked as juniors.
Canny recruitment brought in Williams and Taufua from western Sydney, Matai from Auckland and Ballin from Kingaroy and smart coaching polished them into diamonds.
Manly is a club that breeds success and this playing group is a close-knit outfit that stands up with the best sides to have ever come out of the northern beaches. Two players that know more about the culture and inner workings of the Sea Eagles than most are former Manly props Mark Bryant and Josh Perry. Bryant spent four years at Brookvale, playing 80 games for the club, and was a member of the famous 2008 grand final-winning side.
He has just retired from the London Broncos in Super League but the Raiders junior is returning to live in the Manly area, and told me he was wasn’t surprised by the club’s amazing comeback against Souths.
“Manly have big game players who are now old hands in pressure games,” he said.
“The culture at the club is one of a kind, they don’t contract dickheads and therefore have no problems. They might be an ageing squad but they are an ageing squad of champions and class has no age limits. Look at Beaver!!”.
Bryant credited the impact of trainer Don Singe.
“Donny and all the staff are the unsung heroes. Also the guys that they bring in that they mould into good players. Brenton Lawrence, for instance, a great guy and athlete and now has come on and playing in a grand final in his first year with the club.
“The Stewarts, Ballin, Choc, DCE and Foz get the wraps they deserve, great leaders. Tooves is a great coach, a different style to Des but still world class. I never doubted he would succeed.”
Perry spent three seasons with the Sea Eagles after joining them from the Knights. He was also part of the 2008 grand final thrashing of Melbourne.
“The whole set-up, from the strappers to the CEO, the owners, it’s just first-class. Donny Singe, the trainer, he’s probably worth his wait in gold. He just knows when to get the boys going at the right time and you can’t argue with that because he’s just been doing it time and time again everywhere. Yes I’m very jealous at the moment, very envious.”
Perry said Toovey was a massive part of the successful regime operated by Des Hasler previously.
“Not a lot’s changed except Dessie going out the window and of course, obviously, Tooves has his own spin on things but the playing group’s pretty good and that nucleus has been together for a long time. It’s obviously what’s paying dividends.
“I can’t really explain how strong the culture there is, it sounds a bit corny saying it’s a brotherhood but I’ve never come to anything close to what it was like at Manly, in what you did for each other and you just knew your mate next to you would turn up when they needed to turn up. You didn’t even give it a second thought, that’s what their game’s really built on.”
No matter how many times they are kicked down and seemingly out, Manly keep flying along. You learn not to count them out. The club many league fans love to hate just keep on winning.
Perhaps the best line concerning last night’s game from league journo Steve Mascord, who tweeted: “Souths had a date with destiny. Destiny stood them up.”
Manly’s date is on October 6, with their 19th grand final.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
Razza
Guest
"GO THE EAGLES" It does not matter who you have in your team, what matters is what happens on the night or day game, it is called "FATE" and if you don't believe in fate, just look what happened to Souths last Friday night. With the lead they had and in a final game all they had to do was defend and keep the Eagles from scoring, you have only got to win by one point. "GO THE EAGLES"
Sleemo
Guest
Not sure about that WW, Broncs average fell this year to just over 30,000 (less than 60% filling Suncorp) in a below-par season and Cowboys attendances, while up around 20,000 constantly during the mid-2000s (after their maiden finals appearance in 2004) have dwindled to at tick over 14,000 this year which is just over half capacity. Although they have probably more of an excuse to stay away during rough times than Sydney fans, many supporters of these two teams drive hours to attend on a regular basis but it's probably much more palatable to stay at home and watch it on the flat screen TV rather than drive hours each way when the team is losing.
WindarooWorry
Guest
Parochial at best BE. The league def needs expansion because without it the game will die. Ask Newtown and the North Sydney Bears if they agree with your thoughts. Too many clubs with very poor attendance. Roosters are lucky to get 10,000 at a game and Cronulla not much better. teams like the Cowboys and Broncos fill their grounds even when they are losing.
belrose eagle
Guest
and yes I understand clubs already get a grant that doesn't even cover the salary cap
belrose eagle
Guest
how about u the broncos and cowboys and titans go play with yourselves and we can just go back NSWRL u need us more than we need u why should any team have to move or relocate to keep u happy every team in the nrl put in to make the game worth 1 bill just for tv rights alone just from that every team could get 10 million a year 160 mil x 5 = 800mil that leaves 200mill from the tv rights alone and everything else they make money off on top of that over the 5 seasons that the tv contract is for to run the game think of every team as an actor on a show or something so they should get a fair chunk of the money instead silly people like okiee think that the nrl giving money to clubs is a hand out when its not they deserve the money if any team folds after that its there own problem and they should be allowed to die but until they all get a fair share of the money they generate on all levels of the game its wrong to just blame the clubs there not even getting there fair share why should a club have to fold because they weren't born into a ready made market and the only team in there state for anyone to get behind if it wasn't for all those Sydney clubs and there great comp there wouldn't even be a broncos for okiee to support
PNG Rabbitoh
Guest
Souths lost that one fair and square. That was a shocker of a second half - unable to penetrate plus desperate attacking tactics while they allowed Manly to pump holes into their defence from one end to the other end of the field. Congratulations Manly. You deserve it.
WindarooWorry
Guest
Oikee, I'm a Broncs fan and it's time you awake to smell the roses. Their retention and recruitment since before Bennett left has been suspect at best. You can't expect to win premierships with the pop gun forwards we have at the moment and we need to work out out to retain the better players. Over recent years the better ones have pretty much left the club. Not that long ago there was a massive queue to join our club. Now there is a line at the exit.
The Spectator
Roar Guru
there all signed for the next 3-4 years pretty much,
eagleJack
Guest
http://m.seaeagles.com.au/news-display/Theyll-dig-in-for-each-other-Donny/85177 Video attached Tony.
The Spectator
Roar Guru
IMO , DCE, B stewart, G Stewart, Choc ,Wolfman and Tafua are gunning for the world cup. Givin the form alone of manly there there and then counter in the fatigue with the quartet! only Smith should hold his place as he is just awsome.
Tony
Guest
Where did you see him interviewed? This guy is obviously doing his job well. He didn't want to go with Hassler?
Midfielder
Guest
Ron was as tough as old boots .... he was a very under rated coach...
bemused
Guest
LATEST NEWS REPORT.souths have been asked to crew the next new Zealand Americas cup bid.
Chui
Guest
As Merv Hughes said,"Tickets please". How's that long neck and feathers going Oikee?
Jim
Guest
souths choked big time last night some of the best defensive players like Goodwin had shockers even issac Luke made some stupid errors. manly's greatest strength was capitalizing on souths drop in form so quickly. we'll be back next year stronger for the experience. and at the end of the day being a losing rabbitohs member is a greater thrill than being a winning manly fan . ( notice member v fan ? , you fwf should try it .
Raugeee
Guest
On an different topic, if Knights win today won't that set up the ultimate Fibros vs Silvertails ever! With Wayne Bennett involved there is always talk of the best coach ever. I always wonder why Ron Wiley doesn't get a mention. he was the one that took Manly Warringah from perennial under achievers to champions in the 70s. His Origin record is 5 -2 , all against Bennett. He was the first to coach an Origin 3-0 as well. Just wondering.
Raugeee
Guest
I am no Manly fan but with the penalty count at 5-2 I was cheering for them (a little). Souths had it on a platter but had really poor ball retention. Did Luke drop it on the first tackle right in front of the Manly posts? Also Souths left hand side leaked 4 tries that I counted. Did Manly spot a weakness that was exposed in Origin 2 with Merrett? DCE was superb, what a player, such composure.
Chui
Guest
I don't know how sore he is, but the rest is obvious.
eagleJack
Guest
What are you doing next Sunday oikee? I'm going to the Grand Final!!!! My 4th in 7 years. Better get rid of Griffin or all you will have is memories of what it was like to see your team at the big dance. The Bennett era was great for the club. But it is now a distant memory as incompetency reigns supreme at Red Hill.
oikee
Guest
The Broncos have won 6 grand finals in less time and never missed a finals series for 23 years under Bennett. I am going to relish, cheer the fact when the Broncos put Manly well and truely in their place, and that wont be long. Then we will see who is crying Jamie Lyon. 2 years and its all over for manly. You heard it here first. Just like i told the rugby boys that union sevens will become rugby league feeder comp for speedmen and playmakers , that is happening now. Patience is a virtue. As the Broncos crack up premiership after premiership, crowds grow to 50 thousand, Manly will be useing water boys and mud filds in front of dwindling crowds, played out in the wheather. haha. The beginning of the end is nighe for Manly pensioners.