Of all the ritual humiliations I’ve suffered as a Canberra Raiders fan in recent years, none are seared so deep into my retinas as the events that transpired at Brookvale Oval in Round 8, 2014.
Considering I flew across the Tasman to watch Shaun Johnson and Manu Vatuvei rack up hat tricks in the Warriors’ 50-16 rout of the Green Machine in 2013 – and that just a month after sticking it out at the pub until 62-0 when the Storm ran riot at Bruce Stadium – this is no mean feat.
This isn’t a story about blindly following a lovable but hapless bunch of plodders, but an admission that, via some form of subconscious osmosis, I’ve become a secret admirer of the Manly Sea Eagles.
It didn’t begin on that fateful Sunday afternoon in April, as the Sea Eagles backline ignored drizzly conditions to run through dazzling training drills which pierced the Raiders defence like a laser pointer through a soccer goalie’s soul.
As the 2013 NRL finals series unfolded and the good guys – the good guys being teams not from New South Wales – kept getting themselves eliminated, the casual fan had to jump on someone. Taking sides in a Roosters versus Sea Eagles season decider is a choice no rugby league fan should be forced to make, but it was the fashion in which Manly fought their way through to the first Sunday in October which had me wishing the Roosters would be the team receiving runners-up medallions.
The Sea Eagles can play tough. Anthony Watmough is a heads-down, bum-up workhorse who storms into opposition defensive lines with the force of a thousand suns. Matt Ballin is an old-school hooker in the body of an extra from 300. Tom Symonds is the irrepressible redhead every back row needs.
Meanwhile, out wide, Steve Matai pulls out of every second tackle clutching his shoulder in such a state that the only way forward appears to be immediate amputation, yet inevitably pulls himself together and gets on with it.
But it’s in attack where the Sea Eagles have this lifetime hater nodding with grudging admiration. Admittedly there wasn’t much admiration in the first half of the match, in which they consigned my beloved Raiders to the 2014 scrapheap, with my wingman for the day kindly updating me on the margin between points scored and time elapsed as they hit 42-4 by halftime.
Then this happened.
And I just had to shake my head and laugh as I headed for the warmth of an hour-long bus ride home.
Phil Gould recently lamented that “if all teams played in the same coloured jerseys, it would be hard to tell them apart”, so similar are their attacking structures. Gould noted the New Zealand Warriors as an exception, and I agree – they play with such freestyle flair that they either drag opposition teams up to their level (see recent games against the Rabbitohs and Broncos, who both emerged victorious) or blow them apart (the Raiders, naturally).
Regardless of the result, their games are mostly a pleasure to watch.
Gould also noted Manly, who aren’t far behind the Warriors in the excitement stakes. When the Sea Eagles machine got humming in their 40-8 flogging of the Tigers, there was a joie-de-vivre in the interplay between Daly Cherry-Evans, Kieran Foran and Brett Stewart that’s unmatched in the competition.
Peta Hiku and Jorge Taufua stroll over in the corner with such monotonous ease you’d swear they were Darius Boyd running off Greg Inglis in a Queensland jersey. If Jamie Lyon rediscovers the dynamic running and silky ball skills he exhibited as 2013 drew to a close, the Sea Eagles will be at short odds to go one better this year.
And the entertainment doesn’t end at full time, with coach Geoff Toovey proving himself as one of rugby league’s greatest showmen week in, week out in his post-match pressers.
In short, any rugby league fan who can’t nod begrudgingly in admiration as Manly work their magic is no rugby league fan at all. If the rumours that have this squad on the brink of dismantling itself carry any weight, grand final day 2014 might be the last chance we get to see them in action.
Which means a Raiders fan can return to Brookvale next year with some hope.
kazblah
Roar Guru
Having been raised on the northern beaches, I have long bled maroon. It's great you're seeing the light, Kris. They all do in the end.
Tom
Guest
Written Manly off this year. They're coming first... Have you had a bit too many concussions? Where are the roosters on the ladder? hmm. Haters gonna hate.
Nate
Guest
I seen it! I'm not surprised there are repercussions!
Don
Roar Rookie
Add in those 2 seasons of Phil Blake magic in '82/83. No one has chipped and chased like it ever again. They are a bit left field but along with Randall and Boyd I really liked Mark Broadhurst and Paul McCabe.
Don
Roar Rookie
Interesting you talk about some of the old Manly recruits alienating their fans. A mate was a Manly fan from when he was a kid but stopped supporting them when Craig Field was playing with them. He can pinpoint the time he lost his passion. Craig Field, under no pressure, kicked a ball into touch on the full - his mistake. Yet he turned around and started absolutely abusing his team mates as if they had made the mistake. My mate reckons if it wasn't for Menzies pushing Field away it looked like Carroll and Gillespie were going to kill him. Cliff Lyons came on for him straight away. He hated Terry Hill too but Field was the final straw and he turned to the Broncos thereafter. I think I'd struggle to support the Cowboys if they signed Gallen or Bird...
Adam
Guest
It's professional sport, everyone buys their way to the top. Unless the manly players are all simply playing for love not money?
Muzz
Guest
2) Biodegradable bags (the brown slimline ones)
up in the north
Guest
Well I for one never thought I'd see the day where I would actually give Manly any kudos, but they are without doubt 'the form team' going into the latter stages of the season. But what makes it even more unpallatable is they have been bloody good over the last ten or so years too, with different coaches, heaps of financial strife, the usual injuries and dramas. They seem to thrive on adversity, and have proven to be a truly great club. Man, that hurt.
JB
Guest
There are other things to do on the northern beaches. Hook baited.
JB
Guest
I'm a convert to, I grew up on the northern beaches but was a tigers fan born and bred because my father played for them. Manly during the 90's had some real nasty pieces of work Mark carrol Terry Hill Craig Field Danny Moore just guys that I disliked, and the fans are the worst. I felt serious guilt when somewhere inside I enjoyed watching Menzies and Ben Kennedy tear apart Melbourne in that Grand Final. Each year since then my admiration for Manly has grown and I'm out of the closet now being a big fan openly of their work. I've noticed the prejudice against manly waine the last few years. There is no doubt for me they are mentally the toughest team in the comp.Given all the injury concerns and off field dramas they just get on with it, best attitude and work ethic in the comp. They still have a couple of gooses Choc and Matai but largely I reckon they come off as a good bunch. Big Fan of Lyon Ballin Hiku Stewart brothers foran, Lawrence and DCE
Ken
Guest
Poor old Roosters? I'm not a fan but they've made 6 grand finals in the NRL era - admittedly 'only' winning 2 - they've had a couple of ordinary seasons in there too but the next best at making the last dance of the year would be your boys with half that many.
The spectator
Guest
I was having a bad, thanx squid! ; )
bearfax
Guest
Eadie, Reilly, Phil Blake, Gartner, O'Connor, Menzies...the list goes on and on. But I also recall Martin and Johnnie Gibbs. I agree with you about will o the wisp Gibbs. An exceptional talent, even better than Steve Mortimer, who had similar traits and I admire, but injury brought him down early. Manly have been certainly blessed with some outstanding talent.
bearfax
Guest
The advantage of having Foran, Cherry-Evans and Brett Stewart in the same side is a telling factor. When one of them is out, Manly dont quite function as smoothly. It is certainly one of the best baclines I've seen in 50 years of watching the game. And with that young Gutherson coming through, its going to be a question of where do you put him. Mind you I suspect Matai will be gone after 2015. But its the forwards that lay the foundation for these very clever backs and its there that Manly's foundation lies. Watmough, Symonds, Ballin, Buhrer, Lawrence, Horo and King are a formidable pack that is relentless. Not the cleverest pack around, especially without Glen Stewart there, but they do the necessary job of giving the back space. Talk of premierships though depends very much on who is on the field on the day. If Manly has their full complement, they are a very strong chance. A few of their stars down and they may be bridesmaids or worse. Luck of the game.
Mick the Clown
Guest
What i respect about Manly. 1) that even with a board room brawl lasting for decades, they still have the best interest of the club at heart. Compare this with every other club's boardroom brawls that spill onto the playing field. 2) - 3)
V.O.R.
Guest
Unlikely Mozzie...Kris's condition is simply a statistical outlier..an abnormality. We can safely assume that it is not contagious.
Muzz
Guest
Dr, i've never seen anything like this before.Could this be an epidemic?Are we likely to see less people hate Manly in the future?
V.O.R.
Guest
No, i'm here. Let's see....
The Barry
Roar Guru
Like most supporters I've been a long time Manly "hater" but I respect the hell out of them now. I respect the way they are insular and keep things in house. I respect that they've maintained their culture over the decades that has been handed down from Arko to Bozo to Hasler and Toovey. They've had consistent success from the early 70s thru to today. From 2007 they've defied the trend that clubs only have a 3 year window to win a comp - although that appears to be catching up with them with the back loaded contracts. Then you watch them play. Every week their pack looks on paper like it will get out muscled. But no team gets in the trenches and toughs out a period when things aren't going their way like Manly, then as soon as they get any momentum they're able to capitalise. Unlike most teams they can attack down either side of the field and they can play structured backline plays or ad lib off the cuff footy. I look forward to watching them play more than any team other than the Dogs. Hopefully the rumoured issues with DCE and the release of Stewart don't derail the Manly culture...or maybe hopefully they do?
Muzz
Guest
Kris,Dr VOR is next door,perhaps he can assess your head knock.