I was programmed early on to hate Manly.
“Do you go for Manly?” “No!” “OK, so you hate them.” “But I don’t hate all the teams that I don’t support. Why do I hate Manly?”
“You just do, ok?! We all do! It’s us against them. Don’t question it!”
I’m sure many of you reading this now had the same upbringing.
As the years went on, my hate for Manly grew. Thankfully, they made it very easy for me. The ‘silvertails’ just had this arrogance about them that made it simple to despise them. My team ended up having a huge rivalry with them, so the fate of my hatred was secured.
Buying anyone and everyone, that Greg ‘Hollywood’ Hartley incident, The Northern Eagles debacle – there has just always been something to get angry about.
If you weren’t from the Northern Beaches, you more than likely had the shirt that said, “I support (insert team here) and whoever is playing Manly.” And if you did live there, your shirt read “And we hate you back!”
My family and friends who go for Manly know that I love them just a little bit differently to everyone else. It’s still love, it’s just love with a mix of pity in it.
Over the years, clubs like the Storm, Panthers and Roosters may have overtaken Manly for most-hated team for some, but the Sea Eagles have always remained in the mix.
Along with hating the club, you also hated anyone associated with them. Names like Geoff Toovey, the Stewart brothers, Ken Arthurson, Bob Fulton, Craig Field, Steve Matai, Dylan Walker – once again, they made it very easy for me.
My world was simple, my loathing was strong, and everything was how it should be.
And then, Tom and Jake Trbojevic showed up.
What absolute out-of-this-world talents these guys are.
When Tommy ‘Turbo’ gets the ball, you just know something magical is going to happen. Many have rightly described him as a ‘freak’ – so good under the highball, super-fast and scores tries at will.
Then we have Jake. While not as flashy as his brother, Jake is an understated workhorse. A talent in his own right, always plays tough, gives his all and leaves everything out on the field.
It is a different Manly side when the brothers are on the field. They bring out the best in each other and their teammates, and have such an effect to the outcome of any game. They are just that good.
The boys have both represented NSW in Origin. Turbo played to his usual amazing standard this year and was rightfully awarded the Wally Lewis Medal for Man of the Series.
Ok, so the brothers are good. There are many talented footy players going around. Surely, they are just another two players with a whole lot of talent, and even more ego and attitude?
Sadly not. They are apparently two of the nicest guys in the NRL.
You can just tell in their interviews they are so polite, eloquent, take the time to speak to everyone and are extremely respectful and modest.
They are adored by the Manly fans, loved by their team-mates, highly respected by their opponents, and liked by fans from other clubs.
Ugh.
A lot of their good qualities have come from their upbringing. Their parents John and Melissa – who also seem like lovely people – have made sure that the boys have grown up to become kind, humble and caring.
“I think the most important thing isn’t the footy,” Melissa said. “It’s great that they can play and that’s their dream which is great. But you want your kids….you want them to be nice people.”
Turbo adds, “The values they have instilled in us is to be humble, and be nice, and to treat others the way you want to be treated.”
Dad John told his sons what they must do now they are big NRL stars. “Someone had to run the club for you to play football, so it’s your turn now, if you get a chance to help out, you help out.”
And the boys do just that. They get out on the BBQ, get involved with coaching, even help out with the ground announcements at their local club.
“One of the main things we love to do is give back to the community,” Jake adds. “The Mona Vale Raiders are a big part of our upbringing….whenever we can we try to get down there”.
So just to recap, Tom and Jake Trbojevic are part both superstars in the NRL, they are loved by all, they are polite and smart, and despite fame and fortune are still well grounded and humble young men who give back and help their junior club when they can. And. They. Play. For. Manly.
Pfft.
When you have hated Manly and all those who have played for them for so long, this new realisation just feels weird. Those who know me well will understand how difficult this is for me to admit.
My name is Lady League, and I am a fan of the Trbojevic brothers.
Now if you will excuse me, I’m just going to go and sit by myself for a while and ponder how it all went so wrong.
sheek
Roar Guru
Matth, How did Manly gut Souths? They got Bobby Moses in 1971, but by 1972 he was past it. They got two beauties in John O'Neill & Ray Branigan, but that's it. By 1976 Tom Mooney arrived, but he wasn't part of Rabbitohs glory days. Easts bought more, or same. They got Mike Cleary in 1971, Ron Coote in 1972 & Elwyn Walters in 1974. Don't forget Canterbury had Bobby McCarthy in 1976/77 & Gary Stevens in 1977/78. John Sattler went to Qld in 1973 & Denis Pittard to Parramatta in 1974. Souths board had no-one but themselves to blame for the exodus. All these guys left Souths because the board had fallen asleep at the wheel during the good times (unlike St.George during their 11 year streak) & the club lost money through apathy & negligence. It was similar with those players who left Wests in 1979, with Raudonikis also going to Newtown. Successful clubs are always hated because of their success on the field, & their intelligent governance off the field. As Roosters fans chant these days: "They don't like us because they ain't us". I bet those long suffering fans of Norths, Newtown, Wests & Balmain wished they had better management back in the day. Same with Valleys in Brisbane during that comp's heydays. Valleys won & played in more grand finals than anyone else because they kept regenerating their talent, on & off the field.
JAMES G HASLAM
Guest
Tom Trbojevic is such a good athlete he could play Aussie Rules.
Jak
Guest
Was born in Mona Vale hospital, grew up, educated and lived on the NB for 35 years. I like that everyone hates us and articles like this disturb me. Please don’t like us.
GregM
Roar Rookie
how can the great man Spud be on the list of hate? everyone, even non Manly fans would have tuned in whenever they played the Knights. Was never a fan of Bob Fulton (never saw him play tho) but it was because of his nepotism and continually picking his son Scott, & then the stories of Bozo and Fatties split of friendship and divide in the club because the Fatman spoke out about what 99% of the SeaEagles supporters and players were thinking. Everyone could see SF wasn’t up to the grade, yet picked him regardless
Paul Monaro
Roar Rookie
Yeah, my policy is to hate all the top players, until they sign with my club. But you have to like the Trbojevic brothers. What a breath of fresh air!
Danielle Smith
Editor
Hopefully you got to be there in 2008 or 2011 – nothing like being at your team’s Grand Final victory.
DavMan
Roar Rookie
People that call us Silvertails have obviously never been to Narraweena!
DavMan
Roar Rookie
I was there that day. I still cry too, but for a different reason! :crying:
Toto
Guest
It always make me smile - the hate manly thing. People were brought up to do that just like sheep. It’s all about jealousy and that Arthurson was ahead of his time in club management and the way the game was becoming professional. Imagine saying Man U “bought” their premierships. Roy Masters was great at fueling it and Manly have always had to overcome that bit extra effort from all clubs - but they are the only club with titles in each decade since the 70s so they have done well.
Milton Smith
Guest
I don’t agree that historically Manly were an arrogant lot. Menzies , Lyons, Eadie, The Stuart Brothers, Toovey stand out to me as just dedicated hard playing players. I’m not sure how much they have done for the junior league in the area.
Nicky Allen
Guest
Last week after the Bulldogs game Tommy was the only player who did a whole lap of the field after the game even tho the rest of the team were hurried off due to the next game being played soon after
CW Moss
Roar Rookie
Very timely article as I sit here, near Birchgrove Oval, the birthplace of League but in the knowledge that I went to Narrabeen Boys High with the boys Uncle Bob. When we arrived in Balmain in the late 70s my neighbour kindly suggested I cool it about Manly and lucky we did. The trendies from all over had no trouble climbing aboard the Tigers band wagon with Benny and co then Benji. We love League :stoked: :stoked:
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
I was a mad Wests ( magpies) supporter as a youngster and through my early married years and actually had to work on the peninsula so I had to be careful. Hated Manly with a passion due to Arthurson and also the Silvertails/ Fibros period . The only decent person I met was Jack Martin CEO Manly leagues . Seriously made a lot of good friends but when it comes to football they're still on the hate list. It's fair to say Hard Yards may be excluded .
G Len N
Roar Rookie
The Manly team and players are fine. It’s the Manly supporters that I hate.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
I was widowed 20 years ago. About 3 years after that I started conducting interviews, but haven’t taken the big step. I think friends with benefits is more my speed. All ladies are beautiful.
Danielle Smith
Editor
I applaud your loyalty Hard Yards, and I'm sure your lady is lovely :happy:
matth
Roar Guru
Strudwick the Rat
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
I’m a Manly supporter by law because I’ve lived on the Insular Peninsula up at Avalon for a million years. But I’m also a supporter by choice because it helps me attract the more mature sort of lady. They go for that. And you go with the flow.
Rosie
Roar Rookie
I agree about hating South’s, there is a long list of crappy things they have done to other clubs over the years that seems to be glossed over. One day someone will right a book on the true history of South’s not this silly book of feuds.
Ben Elvy
Roar Rookie
I'm only a casual fan of League. However, in the 2000's I worked in a business based in Surry Hills, laden with Sharks, Chooks, Tigers and Bunnies fans. Since I live within 1km of Brookie Oval and can hear the roar of the crowd (remember that?) when the nor'easter is blowing, I naturally over-egged my "love" for the Mighty Sea Eagles. How could anyone not have anything but enormous respect for Beaver Menzies? How good was his cameo & try in the 2008 40-0 GF win against the Drizzle? The Trbojevic brothers are cut from the same cloth. Tribalism is perfectly fine but generational hate of Manly can f-off with generational racism. Silvertails = Myth