As the saying goes, “all good things must come to an end”.
ARTICLE: HAS HAYNE ALREADY MADE THE 49ERS’ 53-MAN ROSTER?
One of the greatest dynasties in modern NRL history has come to an end, with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles’ 46-10 loss to the Sydney Roosters on Friday night seeing the club eliminated from finals contention for the first time since 2004.
It was an era which saw the club win two premierships as well as produce numerous Test players, three Clive Churchill Medallists, one Dally M Medallist, one Dally M Rookie of the Year and a sustained period of on-field success.
The origin of this era of dominance can be traced way back to 2004 when Des Hasler was appointed as coach to lead the club’s rebuild after they reverted back to their original name in 2003 following the ill-fated Northern Eagles merger.
His first season as coach saw the club finish 13th ahead of only the New Zealand Warriors and South Sydney Rabbitohs, though there would be some slight improvement that was unknown to the fans at the time.
It was during this time that club icons such as the Stewart brothers and Anthony Watmough were only beginning to curve out what would ultimately be long and successful careers not only at club level, but also at representative level.
They would be joined in the ensuing years by experienced players such as Ben Kennedy, Michael Witt, Brent Kite, Matt Orford, Steve Bell, Jamie Lyon and Josh Perry, among many others.
The arrivals of these players, as well as the continual development of those already at the club, would set the precedent for a decade of sustained on-field success which would see the club win two premierships from four grand finals.
Following two seasons of steady improvement in 2005 and 2006, which saw the club reach the finals for the first time since 1998, the club achieved a second-place finish in 2007 on the back of a stable playing list and an impressive 18-6 win-loss record.
The club, which had lured Jamie Lyon back to the NRL after he had walked out on the Parramatta Eels in 2004, then reached its first grand final since 1997, only to be heavily beaten 34-8 by a Melbourne Storm side which was later found to have illegally breached the salary cap.
They say that “you have to lose a grand final before you can win one”. That’s the approach the Sea Eagles took as they sought to go one better in 2008.
The club took a while to get going in rugby league’s centenary season, losing three of their first five matches as they tried to adjust to life after Michael Monaghan, who had left for the English Super League, but as the season progressed the club rocketed up the ladder and eventually finished second for the second year running.
In the lead-up to the finals, halfback and captain Matt Orford won the Dally M Medal after being voted the best and fairest player throughout the course of the season. Then, he led by example as the Sea Eagles knocked the St George Illawarra Dragons out of the finals with a 38-6 victory at Brookvale Oval.
They then defeated the New Zealand Warriors in the preliminary final to return to the grand final, where again they would be pitted against the Melbourne Storm, who this time were missing their suspended captain Cameron Smith.
The Sea Eagles’ smoother path to the decider, as opposed to the Storm which had to play over four consecutive weeks after they’d lost a home qualifying final to the New Zealand Warriors in week one, saw them enter the match as favourites.
After leading by only 8-0 at half-time, the Sea Eagles would unleash in the second half and, on the back of a hat-trick of tries to winger Michael Robertson and a best-on-ground performance from Brent Kite which saw him win the Clive Churchill Medal. The club achieved the greatest winning margin in a grand final: 40-0.
Matt Orford also achieved what no player had done since Peter Sterling in 1986 – win the Dally M Medal and feature in a premiership side in the same year.
The Sea Eagles would then begin 2009 the way they finished the previous season, winning the World Club Challenge by defeating the Leeds Rhinos 28-20.
However, controversy would strike shortly after with Brett Stewart suspended for the first four weeks of the season after he was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl during the club’s season launch celebrations.
Suggestions of a premiership hangover then surfaced as the club lost their first four matches of the new season, thus becoming the first defending premier since the Melbourne Storm in 2000 to lose as many matches after Round 4.
Stewart would return against the Wests Tigers in Round 5 and scored a hat-trick of tries as the Sea Eagles finally got on the board in 2009, defeating the 2005 premiers by 23-10.
Unfortunately, Stewart would play only four more games for the season as the club eventually finished an underwhelming fifth at the end of the home-and-away rounds. This saw them pitted against the fourth-placed Melbourne Storm in a qualifying final that was to be played at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne’s Docklands precinct.
The Sea Eagles were never in the hunt against the Storm, going down by 40-12. It was thought that the club would be safe for another week, but losses to two of the three higher-ranked sides would see the club’s premiership defence come to an end after only one match.
The 2010 season started disastrously for the Sea Eagles with Brett Stewart suffering a season-ending knee injury in the first round against the Wests Tigers. That, coupled with suspensions to key players close to the end of the regular season, saw the club finish eighth, but it could have been a whole lot worse.
Had the Melbourne Storm not been punished for mass salary cap breaches which saw the club stripped of two premierships, three minor premierships and sentenced to finish the season dead last, the Sea Eagles would have finished ninth, which would have meant missing the finals for the first time since 2004.
As it turned out, the Sea Eagles were fortunate enough to play finals that year, but their season would come to its abrupt end when it lost to eventual premiers St George Illawarra by 28-0 in the first week of the finals.
In good news for the club, however, Stewart was exonerated over his sexual assault charge and his knee injury was close to healing, meaning he would be fit and ready for the 2011 season.
His return, as well as the emergence of halves Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans, would see the club shoot back up the ladder in 2011, finishing second on the ladder for the third time in five seasons at the end of the regular season.
Following wins against the North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos, the club then advanced to their third grand final since 2007, where they would be pitted against the New Zealand Warriors who had upset minor premiers the Melbourne Storm in the preliminary final.
The Sea Eagles’ recent finals experience would see them enter as favourites, and the club justified it, winning their second premiership in four years with Glenn Stewart winning the Clive Churchill Medal for his best-on-ground performance.
Stewart had only returned from a three-match suspension which arose following his role in the infamous “Battle of Brookvale” match which saw him trade punches with Melbourne’s Adam Blair in the penultimate round of the regular season.
But as the club’s premiership celebrations started to die down, speculation then started to surround coach Des Hasler, who was strongly considering a deal to coach the Bulldogs in 2013.
Six weeks after the club revelled in its latest premiership success, Hasler was sacked as Sea Eagles coach after it was revealed that he was planning to lure some of his staff to Belmore where he would have started in 2013.
Thus, Geoff Toovey, who would have taken over as part of a succession plan, was elevated to the head coaching role with Hasler starting work at the Bulldogs the following season, twelve months earlier than planned.
The Sea Eagles’ first season under Toovey kicked off with a loss to Leeds in the World Club Challenge, before the club finished in the top four for another season. Their premiership defence would then come to an end with a 40-12 loss to eventual premiers the Melbourne Storm in the preliminary final.
2013 saw the club achieve a fourth-place finish yet again, and after losing a tight and physical qualifying final to the Sydney Roosters by just 4-0, the club rebounded to defeat the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the South Sydney Rabbitohs to qualify for their fourth grand final in seven years.
There, they would face the Roosters for a fourth time in the season (fifth if you also include a pre-season meeting between the two sides), and despite having won the premiership two years earlier, the Chooks’ impressive form throughout the season saw the Bondi-based club start as favourites.
After scoring the first try of the match, and then leading 18-8 ten minutes into the second half, the Sea Eagles would lose by 26-18, ending their hopes of a third premiership in six years.
Despite the loss, Daly Cherry-Evans would win the Clive Churchill Medal as he was adjudged to be the best player on the field. This was the first time since 1993 that the medal had been awarded to a player from the losing side.
The club then spent most of the second half of the 2014 season on top of the ladder, but surrendered the minor premiership in the final round of the regular season after losing to the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville, meaning they had to settle for a second-placed finish behind the Sydney Roosters.
The season was, however, marred by news that Glenn Stewart and Anthony Watmough hadn’t been offered new contracts by the club, leading to them signing with the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Parramatta Eels respectively.
That, and a straight-sets exit from the finals series whereby they lost to the Rabbitohs and the Bulldogs (in golden point), led to many believing that season 2015 would bring about the demise of the Sea Eagles as a powerhouse.
Indeed, the Sea Eagles would start this season poorly, winning only four games up to Round 16 to be sitting last on the ladder and facing the prospect of their first ever wooden spoon.
Coach Geoff Toovey was informed that his services would not be required beyond this season, while Kieran Foran also announced that he would be heading to the Parramatta Eels for the 2016 season.
However, seven wins in their next nine games, including one over then-ladder leaders the Brisbane Broncos would see the club surge back into finals contention before back-to-back home losses to the Eels and Roosters would see their finals hopes, and premiership dynasty, all but extinguished.
It means that, for the first time since 2004, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles will miss the finals, and the club will face some tough decisions as many of their players ponder a rare September holiday.
Premiership stalwarts such as Brett Stewart, Matt Ballin and Jamie Lyon, as well as journeyman Willie Mason, are nearing the end of their playing careers with all four of them on the wrong side of 30.
While Stewart has signed a one-year contract which will see him retire as a one-club player, Ballin’s future remains unclear; not only was he reportedly informed that his services wouldn’t be required after this season, he also recently suffered an ACL injury against the Eels in Round 24, and the club has also signed Api Koroisau from the Penrith Panthers for the 2016 season.
Captain Lyon also appears to be looming closer to retirement as well, having led the club for so long throughout the club’s dynasty of on-field success.
However, there is some good news for the club, with Daly Cherry-Evans signing a deal for life that will keep him on the northern beaches after he had backflipped on a deal to join the Gold Coast Titans, while Maroons teammate Nate Myles will also join him in maroon and white for the 2016 season.
That will leave incoming coach Trent Barrett with a lot of work to do if the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are to return to the finals in 2016, but with the futures of Brett Stewart and Daly-Cherry-Evans having been sorted out, that at least will provide Barrett with a template with which to start building another Manly dynasty.
But for now, let’s take a moment to reflect on what has been, without a doubt, one of the most glorious eras not only in the history of the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, but also possibly in modern NRL history.
planko
Roar Guru
You do realise that Brookvale Oval cannot take 20k in its current configuration right
planko
Roar Guru
All I am going to say about this article is this 1) Tell the people what they want to hear 2)There results since Round 13 this year have been pretty good. Or more importantly since Round 16 when both Foran and DCE were sorted have been pretty good.
Sleemo
Guest
We don't have to imagine, because Brisbane made the finals every year from 1992 to 2009. They are pretty well-positioned as a result, although they have also been well-positioned in the few years they didn't make the finals or otherwise performed poorly, owing to having the whole of southeast Qld (except the Gold Coast area, and only then since 2007 - and a couple of years of the Crushers in the mid 90s) to themselves. That means plenty of supporters, plenty of big crowds and plenty of corporate backing available to them. Brisbane is half the size of Sydney though, so I think the real question you have to ask is how the Broncos would be positioned if there were three other teams of a similar history and support in the greater Brisbane region (population ~2.2m in Brisbane, versus ~4.4m in Sydney where there are 8 teams). I'd say they would probably be doing well to be trending as Manly are, even if they had made the finals ten years running. There are a lot of factors to consider when comparing Brisbane and Manly because it ain't apples and apples. Brisbane is a one-team town - Sydney, where Manly are based, isn't. In winter the Broncos have one AFL team and one S15 team to compete with - Sydney NRL clubs have 7 other NRL teams, two AFL teams and a S15 team. It's not a level playing field.
GB
Guest
10 years of finals and they should have been a sponsor's dream with home crowds consistently around the 20,000 mark. Yet 15,000 is deemed a "great" crowd and they struggle for sponsors. Put it another way, how would Brisbane be positioned if they made the finals 10 years in a row? 10 of the best years for the club on the field and barely a dollar to show for it. What will happen now as they have a downturn in on field performances? Suburban club still living in the days of the NSWRL. Their refusal to play in larger stadiums is a constraint that will hurt them in years to come.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Nice comment Con and welcome aboard for September!
Renegade
Roar Guru
Haha good one ;)
no one in particular
Roar Guru
One very important name missing from all of this – Noel Cleal. Manly are in for some very tough times. Lyon, Stewart and Matai are entering their twilight years. Lyon will be 34 at the start of next season, Stewart will be 31 and injury plagued Matai 31. Foran is gone. The biggest question mark is the coach. Barrett comes in with no NRL coaching experience, no reserve grade, no Holden Cup nor any Super League. His resume lists just 4 times as Country coach.
Sleemo
Guest
Don't think it was that Watmough wasn't offered a new contract by the Club, he actually chose to leave a year earlier because he was p!ssed off about what happened to Glenn Stewart. From what I understand the club actually wanted to extend his contract before he asked to leave. The offer was only taken off the table after he began carrying on like a goose. Didn't really work out well for him. He ended up at perhaps the only club that has more internal/board ructures than Manly (although Tigers fans might question that), Parra will finish below Manly (again), he had a pretty poor season, lost his Origin jersey, ended the year on the sidelines and will never be the player he was during the years he spent at Manly. Don't think he'll be adding a giant tattooed Eel to his bicep in addition to the two Manly premiership successes he has inked on himself. It's a shame such a popular and well-performed Manly player sullied his reputation so much for the sake of making a point.
Muzz
Guest
The playing surface looked good for a change. That's something to take out of 2015.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Hey Renegade, not much hope for my bunnies this year I think so Cronulla will be my second team come finals time. Should they finish 4th they'll play either the Roosters (who they have beaten twice) or Broncos (who they lost to very early in the season but I believe they can beat). They have also beaten Cowboys twice this year so I expect them to trouble the favourites but as you say only if they come 4th. Although some people think they'll struggle with the intensity and pressure of the finals I reckon it won't bother them too much as they have some experienced heads there (esp Gallen, Lewis, Ennis & Barba). Good luck mate.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Oh yeah it's huge for the Sharks. Absolutely. It's the type of game they have to win to put the other contenders on notice. Good to see you hang out with upstanding, intelligent humans Rene. Your best mate sounds like a top bloke.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Agree, i'll be there with my best mate who is a Manly supporter.... could be the last time he gets to see a lot of the squad running around in a manly jersey - the fact you might have nothing to play for is dangerous for the sharkies. Probably the most important regular season game played at Shark Park in a very, very long time - Cronulla have to win. Not being disrespectful to Manly but i think a loss on Sunday a week before the finals will ruin the Sharks chances of claiming the ultimate prize.... did I say this game was important? lol
eagleJack
Roar Guru
It deserves a sell-out more so for the Sharks who are starting to peak at the right time. Fantastic turnaround story for them, I'm sure their fans will be turning up in their droves. Sunday arvo footy with your team a chance to make the Top 4 doesn't get much better. Yeah not much to play for with respect to Manly. Unless the Tigers flog the Dragons on Saturday night. Which I highly doubt. Still, I'm sure they will want to send Tooves out a winner. And the 50 or so players they have told to look elsewhere.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Its looking like a sell out mate - I heard someone say a potential ground record, not sure if it will be that big but expecting shoulder-to-shoulder on Sunday at Shark Park. You could tell from 5-6 weeks ago - this game was going to carry a lot of importance.... unfortunately Manly look to be out of the race but I still think its going to be a good game of footy.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Yeah Squid the back to back efforts against the Warriors, Broncos and Souths, put them in a great position but definitely fatigued them. You need to be consistent from Rd 1 to be a force. And Manly were far from that this year. Big game this w/end. Last one for Tooves and you guys can cement a 2nd chance in the finals. Hoping for a bumper crowd!
Squidward
Roar Rookie
They did really well, I think all their energy was spent a fortnight ago getting themselves into this spot were they actually are a chance but think they gassed after that awesome souths effort
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
They can still technically get in the finals, but as a Manly supporter, i feel they would be wasting their time. So I hope they dont get there. 9th isn't bad since the wooden spoon was beckoning.
cedric
Guest
yep get rid of Stewart, Matai and Lyons, the Warriors will take them and boy don't we need them and we could also have Toov's as well. I think the big problem for Manly was ofcourse losing all the star players which left a depleted forward pack in the middle with a seasoned star studded back line!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Most clubs would accept a season where they are still a mathematical chance of making the 8 heading into the final round as their worst season in 11 years. It's a long way out but I reckon Manly will be back in the 8 next year. There were a lot if extenuating circumstances around their performance this season. Manly will have a season or two rebuilding and will be successful again almost immediately. I'll take Manly's model over a lot of clubs that have a season or two of success and then a decade of rebuilding.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Whilst it is never going to happen, I'm not sure where the 50 has come from. The PD is currently 61, so Dragons to lose by 32 and Manly to win by 30, will see Manly through. To be honest I'm pretty happy with a 9th finish. For a while there I thought we might get the spoon. It's a testament to the culture of the club that even in the worst season for over a decade, they were still in the hunt for the finals. Nice write-up btw mastermind. It's been a fun ride supporting the club during this period. Fingers crossed the "rebuilding" phase doesn't last too long.