It’s a tag that was thrown at Manly by bitter coaching rival Roy Masters in the 1970s and has stuck.
‘The Silvertails’, the chequebook club and moneyed outfit who came up against his ‘Fibros’ from Western Suburbs in some amazing battles.
It was largely a baseless description but for Masters it was all about using it as the ultimate motivational tool to inspire his troops, although that tactic ultimately fell flat.
The Sea Eagles came out of that period with the on-field honours over the Magpies.
But the name has endured as Manly keep winning and recruiting promising talent from around the country, ensuring the jealously grew and the Sea Eagles became the club most league fans love to hate.
Other rivalries have sprung between Parramatta in the 80s and Newcastle in the mid 90s.
In time the ‘Silvertails’ moniker has been adopted proudly by some of the Manly faithful, as can be seen here, and the hatred of the club has helped breed a successful ‘us against the world mentality’.
Manly’s strong club culture and history of excellence remains consistent with 19 grand final appearances, eight premierships and 47 finals appearances since its founding in 1947.
Their most recent run has been remarkable with the Sea Eagles making it to their fourth grand final in the past seven years.
While in the 70s, 80s and 90s Manly was a well-run, professional outfit backed by a loaded leagues club, the Super League war marked Manly’s decline and it was forced into a merger with Norths.
It returned as a sole entity in 2003 but almost went bankrupt, turning to private ownership in 2004 to remain afloat.
Since then the club has battled to stay alive, relying on smart recruitment, rookie coaches and powerful team spirit, not big pay packets, to slowly build into a contender.
Boardroom instability remains common and Manly has turned to its old boys, ex-players Des Hasler and Geoff Toovey, as coaches as it has been unable to afford a big-name buy like Wayne Bennett or Tim Sheens.
The Sea Eagles play at the dilapidated suburban Brookvale Oval, one of the oldest grounds in the NRL, which is crying out for government-assisted redevelopment.
And their current side has been built on the development of cast-offs, journeyman and youngsters, sprinkled with an imported star or two.
Apart from Jamie Lyon, who returned from Super League in 2007 and Manly had a big lure for him in Noel Cleal, and Brent Kite, who was a NSW Origin player who came from the Dragons in 2005, the Sea Eagles have nurtured a team together without high-profile stars from other clubs.
They have built their own stars from within – Anthony Watmough, Steve Matai, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans etc – and reaped the benefits.
They usually try and remain, as Hasler famously coined it, ‘under the radar’.
Does that sound like the behaviour of a ‘Silvertail’ club?
Now, contrast that with their grand final opponents, the Sydney Roosters.
With their big-name signings of Sonny Bill Williams, Michael Jennings, James Maloney and Luke O’Donnell, backed by the bank balance of Nick Politis, the Roosters stormed to the minor premiership this season. They are a club in the limelight.
A club that represents Bellevue Hill, Vaucluse, Double Bay and Bondi Junction, with a hell of a lot more dinero in the eastern suburbs than in the northern beaches.
A club that plays out of the vast Allianz Stadium, formerly known as the SFS, that has been backed by the Packers and has had the likes Nine Network boss David Gyngell as a director.
That has rarely taken a backward step in its capture of stars from other clubs in recent times – Todd Carney, Brad Fittler, Mark O’Meley, Willie Mason, Adrian Morley, Craig Fitzgibbon, Braith Anasta, Nate Myles, Jason Ryles, Chris Walker and others.
A club that not only spends big on players but has previously on coaches too, from Phil Gould to their failed attempt to snare Bennett.
Current boss Trent Robinson is of course the exception, as he is probably the lowest-paid coach in the NRL and has done a fantastic job.
Yes they have developed their own stars as well, and their own juniors. Anthony Minichiello is rightly a club legend and the Tricolours have put a lot of work into players like Mitchell Pearce, Jake Friend, Boyd Cordner, Aidan Guerra and several others.
But the Roosters, not to mention the Knights, Broncos, Bulldogs, Souths and a host of others, have a lot more money than Manly.
Generally, they don’t have a problem throwing that financial might about. The capture of Sonny Bill from rugby has emphatically demonstrated that to all.
Their godfather, Politis, who is estimated to be worth about $182 million, keeps them ticking along. His wallet has helped them stay among the NRL’s elite for two decades.
Now, I know you shouldn’t let facts get in the way of a good story, and it seems the same is true when it comes to grudges in rugby league – don’t let logic cloud your hate.
The truth is the Sea Eagles should have shed the ‘Silvertails’ tag a decade ago. Today’s Roosters are much more deserving of Manly’s mantle.
But identity, correct or incorrect, and animosity in sport is a funny thing. It certainly drives rugby league in Australia, along with tribalism. And, for better or worse, that won’t be changing anytime soon.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
Meesta Cool
Guest
With all the end of season upsets with star players jumping ship in the AFL, is their draft falling apart?... .
Meesta Cool
Guest
Yes Mushi, guess I do... don't you?. . by the way, I no idea what you are suggesting.. try 65yrs... I watched Wigan play when I was five, at ten yrs old my Dad told me that they got extra pay offered if they were behind at half time... nothing has changed!.... just the amount, the Jerseys and the names.
mushi
Roar Guru
So you don't think paying one of the best halves in the league 85k was a reward? Your system would effectively rebalance the cap and would mean that players couldn’t move for a fair value as you’ve got single iteration thinking going on here. Also you would be better off swinging for potential here meaning players careers shorten and likely a drop in quality of product as people group think. Every time I see this – we need to protect teams that “develop” juniors I think podunk inbred rednecks in the deep south of the US that can’t even spell their own name (which is bad when your name is Bob) have figured out their teams are better off with lowly paid young players that outplay their contract – even if they leave the first chance they get. And yet we NRL supporters can’t grasp it. Come on guys surely we aren’t worse than the lowest common denominator for sport in the deep south!
mushi
Roar Guru
So Meesta when thing happen in accordance to 30 years worth of research you get suspicious?
Meesta Cool
Guest
Hey Oiks, thanks for this years rants.. I hope you have a great Chrissy and New Year... see ya next time round!...
Meesta Cool
Guest
When I read about players taking a cut for the sake of the club (Any club), alarm bells start to ring. this is what we thought was happening at Storm!.. yup, usually two things are true: 1/. where there is smoke, there is normally fire close by 2/. If it looks like dung and it smells like dung and it feels like dung -- guess what!. Just some clubs seem to be able to cover facts year after year!.. The hatred of Manly can be attributed to obe thing only, Other fans FEAR them!.. -- You have to earn the respect to be hated and these guys have paid their dues!.. Go Manly!.
Meesta Cool
Guest
When I read about players taking a cut for the sake of the club (Any club), alarm bells start to ring. this is what we thought was happening at Storm!.. yup, usually two things are true: 1/. where there is smoke, there is normally fire close by 2/. If it looks like dung and it smells like dung and it feels like dung -- guess what!. Just some clubs seem to be able to cover facts year after year!.. The hatred of Manly can be attributed to obe thing only, Other fans FEAR them!.. -- You have to earn the respect to be hated and these guys have paid their dues!.. Go Manly!.
Dylan
Roar Pro
Is Oikee really gone until next year? I'll believe that when it happens
Dylan
Roar Pro
i think you mean Thaiday Oikee. Are you sure you go for the Bronco's?
Glenn Innes
Guest
I have three problems with a draft - firstly it is illegal so to implement one you would have to cut a deal with the players union and then hope no player jumps ship and heads to court when they find they can't play at the club they want to play with. The second problem I have with a draft is it denies kids a chance to play for the club they supported growing up or the area they grew up in.Grow up in say Maitland dream of playing for the Nights - sorry son you are off to Townsville. The third problem is that I don't actually think as a tool for talent equalization that it works that well.Parramatta the worst team in the NRL won five games (I think) GWS won one and from memory the year before they won one.I take no interest much in AFL but it seems Geelong Hawthorn and Sydney have been dominating for quite a few seasons now. Adraft is a bit like the bhuddist wheel of karma it is a very slow process you finished last you get the first draft pick but one player is not going to solve your problems.The League system is far from perfect(nothing ever is) but it is better than a draft.
beachart
Guest
Money cannot buy heart. Something Easts players and supporters will find out about on Sunday evening.
Clark
Guest
Who he was about to get knocked over by if it was not so farcical.
Fran_Gipani
Guest
Can someone enlighten me to what a "mods ad" list is? Besides when I put my VK in to be worked on in 94'? Gotta make sure I'm still covered by insurance see.
Fran_Gipani
Guest
I just can't stand how his (PR, or NRL media whores) made the whole "SBW" abbreviation . Why can't he just be "Bill Williams" if he likes getting about known as "Bill". Or should every player have their nicknames inserted? Yeh that'd work. Eg: "Wolfman" "choc" "snake". Ahhh clusterduck... it may be amusing. I just don't like him. And I don't care ;)
Fran_Gipani
Guest
I know right?! Hahahaha!
mushi
Roar Guru
They also let him go around the ring with the 102 year old morbidly obese South African bloke
The eye
Guest
Do you know the details of that Japanese contract ? Was he ever going to be more than a one year advertisement for the game preluding their world cup hosting and the Panasonic brand ? And,of course it was in the NRL off season so had no long term affect on his Roosters contract(injury aside).He wouldn't be losing that much that his Aussie lifestyle wouldn't be compensating for.
Phil
Guest
best moderator comment ever
Fran_Gipani
Guest
Best ARTICLE EVER! Thanks Johnny! *cheering* GO MANLY! Oikee: take a bubble bath and a bag of cement. The PROBLEM with my home team (drongos) is the coach. You know it too pal :)
valgo
Guest
this is guy is making up he's own facts tomkins signed for 750k a year no player is worth 1.2 million a year with such low salary cap. cherry is on $500 a year so is foran. It is a known fact that manly players did take pay cuts so they can stay with the club its called brotherhood and dedication something that most club are missing these days we havent bought anyone notable since 2007 in lyon we have created our own players from basically scratch and recruited rejects from other clubs. Manly these day and age are envy of NRL