2011 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 65th in the club
's history. Coached by Des Hasler
and co-captained by Jamie Lyon
and Jason King
, they competed in the National Rugby League
(NRL) Telstra Premiership, and finished the regular season in second place (out of 16 teams). The Sea Eagles then qualified for the NRL grand final
, in which they defeated the New Zealand Warriors
, claiming the club's eighth first-grade premiership.
, barely qualifying for the finals series. They were defeated by the St George Illawarra Dragons
in a qualifying final; the Dragons subsequently won the premiership. Manly lost four first-team players at the end of the season: first-choice halfback Trent Hodkinson
, forwards Chris Bailey
and Josh Perry
, and utility back Ben Farrar
. Joining the club were the unheralded Tim Robinson
, Liam Foran
and Daniel Harrison
. Between them, only Foran had first-grade experience.
However, Manly's squad was boosted by the return of fullback Brett Stewart
. After Manly had won the NRL premiership in 2008, Stewart missed all but six matches of the following two seasons with knee injuries. Manly's season would also see the emergence of key youngsters such as halfback Daly Cherry-Evans
, who would win the NRL's Dally M Rookie of the Year
award, and winger Will Hopoate
, son of Manly's 1996 premiership-winner John
, who would debut for New South Wales
in the 2011 State of Origin series
.
made his first-grade debut as Manly's starting halfback, but was penalised for a "foot fault" when kicking a line dropout. The following week, Manly played the grand finalists from the previous season, the Sydney Roosters
, without co-captains Jamie Lyon
and Jason King
, and Glenn Stewart
and Steve Matai
. Despite the losses of key players, the Sea Eagles scored their first win of the season, 27–16, thanks to performances from Cherry-Evans and his halves partner Kieran Foran
that the ABC described as "outstanding". Manly won again the following weekend, defeating the Newcastle Knights
26–12. It was Manly's first match of the season at their home ground, Brookvale Oval
. An aggressive physical performance from the Sea Eagles saw the Knights reduced to just 13 fit players by the second half, enough to put a full team on the field but with an empty substitutes bench.
April started badly for the Sea Eagles, losing 32–30 to the South Sydney Rabbitohs
, and suspending two players—long-serving club veteran Anthony Watmough
and squad player Terence Seu Seu—after they were arrested by police and fined for public urination. The following weekend, Manly bounced back with a victory over the Cronulla Sharks
in Cronulla, the win being sealed with a try to rookie winger Michael Oldfield
in the final seconds of the match. The team then took their record to five wins from seven matches, defeating the New Zealand Warriors
at Brookvale, then the Penrith Panthers
in Penrith, before their winning streak came to an end with a narrow loss to the North Queensland Cowboys
in Townsville. The defeat to the Cowboys came in controversial circumstances. Jamie Lyon
was denied a try by the video referee that may have won Manly the match; later, the video referee was removed from duties for the following round after officials considered his decision to have been in error.
Manly started the month of May with a home win over the lowly Canberra Raiders
in which Brett Stewart
scored his 99th, 100th and 101st tries for the Sea Eagles. It was the first in a six-match winning streak, as Manly then defeated the Gold Coast
, Brisbane
, Canterbury, North Queensland
and arch-rivals Parramatta
. The run of wins took the team to second on the NRL ladder. It also helped Manly's players with representative ambitions. Four Sea Eagles featured in the mid-season State of Origin series
: Jason King
, Anthony Watmough
, Glenn Stewart
, and, at the age of 19, William Hopoate, who scored a try in his first match for New South Wales
and followed his father John
in played for both Manly and his state. At the time, Hopoate announced that he would be leaving professional football at the end of the season to embark on a two-year mormon mission.
Manly's winning streak came to an end in late June, when the team was defeated by the reigning premiers St George Illawarra. The match was played a week after the death of the well-known former Manly player turned commentator Rex Mossop
. Manly returned to winning form quickly, defeating South Sydney
in their next match, before thrashing Newcastle
, 32–10, and defeating Penrith
, 12–8. A defeat to the Wests Tigers
followed, in a home game that Manly decided to play at Gosford's Central Coast Stadium. Manly responded to the defeat to the Tigers with another winning streak, beating the Sydney Roosters
, the Parramatta Eels
and the Canterbury Bulldogs
in successive weeks. The cost to Manly was an injury to their co-captain Jason King
in the Roosters match. He would miss the remainder of the season with a torn pectoral muscle.
King's loss was only the start of things to come for Manly. On Friday, 26 August 2011, Manly hosted the Melbourne Storm
at Brookvale Oval
for the penultimate match of the regular season. Melbourne was then on top of the NRL ladder and looking to secure the minor premiership
; Manly was in second place. The two clubs had been rivals since they played 2007 and 2008 grand finals, winning one apiece. The one thing that united the club's fans was a mutual dislike for the NRL's chief executive David Gallop
. Gallop had decided to strip Melbourne of its 2007 and 2009 premierships for salary cap breaches. He had also angered Manly by suspending Brett Stewart
in 2009 for his behaviour at an official event; Stewart was charged with, and subsequently acquitted of, committing rape at the event. Gallop decided to attend the Friday night match, in front of a packed Brookvale Oval crowd of 20,059, leaving Manly to consider hiring security guards to protect him. The match that ensued earnt the name "The Battle of Brookvale". In the first half of the match, a skirmish broke out between Manly's Darcy Lussick
and Melbourne's Ryan Hinchcliffe
. A number of players joined the brawl, including Manly's Glenn Stewart
and Melbourne's Adam Blair
, who the referee decided to send to the sin bin. As Stewart and Blair left the field for their ten minutes on the sidelines, a fight broke out between them. A series of Manly and Melbourne players ran from the field and the sideline benches to join the fight, giving rise to a large brawl in front of Brookvale Oval's main stand. Stewart and Blair were both sent off for the remainder of the match, which Manly went on to win. Manly suffered four suspensions arising from the match: Stewart and Lussick were suspended for three weeks each as the brawls' principal protagonists, while Foran and Stewart's brother Brett received lesser suspensions for their parts in the melee. Each club was fined $50,000 by the NRL. Gallop said after the match: "The sight of so many players from both teams fighting, of people running in and leaving the bench area, was an horrendous look for the game." The fallout from the match also claimed the scalp of Manly's long-serving media manager and former player Peter Peters
, who was stood down and then sacked for making a sexist comment to a female reporter when leaving an NRL judiciary hearing for Glenn Stewart. Meanwhile, Manly winger David Williams
suffered a neck injury in the match that would end his season.
Manly thus fielded a depleted side for their final regular season match against the Brisbane Broncos
at Suncorp Stadium
. Even though the Broncos won 18–10, Manly had already secured second place on the NRL ladder behind Melbourne; the Broncos finished third.
. Manly were disappointed that their right to a "home final" could not be exercised at Brookvale Oval
, where they had been undefeated during the regular season. The NRL forced Manly to play the match at the Sydney Football Stadium, in front of a crowd of only 13,972. Nonetheless, despite trailing the Cowboys at half-time, Manly scored 42 points in the second half to win 42–8.
Defeating the Cowboys put Manly one win away from the NRL grand final. Their opponents in the preliminary final would be the Brisbane Broncos
, who had defeated them three weeks earlier. Much of the focus in the week leading up to the match was on whether Brisbane's retiring captain and 355-game veteran would play after fracturing his cheekbone in the second week of the finals. Lockyer was initially named in the Brisbane team, but late in the week withdrew from the match. Lockyer's withdrawal made Manly the firm favourites, and they won 26–14.
Manly's opponents for the grand final, held at Stadium Australia on 2 October, were the New Zealand Warriors
, who had finished sixth on the NRL ladder. The Warriors had defeated the Melbourne Storm
in the second qualifying final, ruining the chances of a "Battle of Brookvale" grand final re-match. The Warriors were playing in their second first-grade grand final; it was Manly's 18th. Manly would also become the first club to play in grand finals in seven consecutive decades. Reflecting on this record, rugby league historian David Middleton said leading up to the match: "No other club has done what they have, it's a unique achievement."
Manly fielded a near full strength team for the grand final. Ten of its 17-man squad had previous grand final experience. Glenn Stewart
returned from his "Battle of Brookvale" suspension, while Jason King
and David Williams
were the only players missing through injury. While the grand final was held in Sydney, Manly received little support from Sydneysiders other than their own fans. Reflecting what the Irish Times observed from abroad was a long-standing "inherent hatred" for Manly, many Australians supported the foreign New Zealand Warriors
to win the match.
The match was played in front of 81,988 spectators and, for the third year in a row, in the rain. After a tight opening 30 minutes, the Warriors led 2–0. However, Manly broke clear with two tries before half-time, the first to Brett Stewart
and the second to Daly Cherry-Evans
, one play after an audacious kick from forward Glenn Stewart
in his own half allowed winger Michael Robertson
to break free. Manly stretched its lead to 16 points after half-time following a try to Glenn Stewart, setup by a blind flick pass from William Hopoate as he was pushed out of play. The Warriors scored two unconverted tries in the final fifteen minutes to narrow the deficit to eight points; however, Manly held onto its lead and celebrated victory with a try to captain Jamie Lyon
in the final minute of play. Glenn Stewart was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal
as the player of the match.
Source: Rugby League Project
for the NRL season. Daly Cherry-Evans
was named the best rookie in the league, for a season in which he started at half-back in every single match. Steve Menzies was the last Manly player to have won the award, in 1994. Jamie Lyon
was named in the NRL's team of the season, as the league's best centre.
On 3 November 2011 the annual RLIF Awards
dinner was held at the Tower of London
. Manly coach Des Hasler
was named the world's top coach of the year, while Cherry-Evans and Lyon added to their Dally M awards by being named the best players in their positions.
At Manly's club awards, Glenn Stewart
was named the best and fairest player for the season, Steve Matai
the "players' player", and Daly Cherry-Evans
the best rookie. Five Manly players were selected in the Australian Kangaroos squad for the post-season Four Nations: Glenn and Brett Stewart
, Anthony Watmough
, Tony Williams
and Cherry-Evans, although the Stewart brothers subsequently withdrew from the squad before the tournament.
had already decided to leave the club to play in England in 2012. Barely days after the grand final, the other grand final winger, star rookie Will Hopoate
, signed to play for the Parramatta Eels
upon his return from a two-year Mormon mission
.
Hopoate's loss was shortly followed by that of the club's head coach, Des Hasler
. Hasler had won two premierships with the club in a long playing career (in 1987 and 1996), and two as the club's coach (in 2008 and 2011). Speculation about Hasler's future had been building in the weeks leading up to the grand final, but he appeared to quash the rumours by announcing after the match that he would be at Manly for 2012, the last year of his contract. However, within days, Hasler signed an agreement to coach the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs from 2013. He agreed with Manly's board to remain as Manly's head coach for 2012, while the club would appoint Hasler's assistant Geoff Toovey
from 2013.
Within the following weeks, a series of Manly staff followed Hasler in signing for the Bulldogs, including the club's recuitment manager and former premiership-winner Noel Cleal
, who cited "factional infighting" as his reason for leaving. In early November, the Manly board suspended Hasler from his duties, alleging that he had been trying to entice fellow Manly staff to defect to the Bulldogs, which the board considered amounted to "serious breaches" of Hasler's employment contract. Ultimately, on 11 November, less than six weeks after winning the premiership, the board terminated Hasler's contract and immediately appointed Toovey as his successor. Hasler initially threatened to sue Manly for the termination of his contract; Manly's chairman Scott Penn claimed in response that the club had "verbal and email evidence that he was involved in coercing staff to leave". The 82-year-old former Manly player, coach and club secretary Ken Arthurson
said: "To do what [Hasler] has done is beyond the pale". The club's 1978 premiership-winning captain Max Krilich
called Hasler a "mercenary", while another former premiership-winning captain Fred Jones
called his defection to Canterbury "disgraceful". After reaching an agreement to commence as the Bulldogs' head coach from 2012, a year earlier than first agreed, Hasler dropped his threat of legal action against Manly.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
's history. Coached by Des Hasler
Des Hasler
Des Hasler is an Australian former professional rugby league player and current head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He played in 309 matches in a first-grade career spanning 16 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won two premierships...
and co-captained by Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League...
and Jason King
Jason King
Jason King may refer to:* Jason King , cultural critic and musician* Jason King , British television programme* Jason King , ice hockey player* Jason King , British radio DJ...
, they competed in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
(NRL) Telstra Premiership, and finished the regular season in second place (out of 16 teams). The Sea Eagles then qualified for the NRL grand final
2011 NRL Grand Final
The 2011 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the NRL's 2011 Telstra Premiership season. It was played between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the New Zealand Warriors on the afternoon of Sunday, 2 October, and it was the first time the two sides have met in a...
, in which they defeated the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
, claiming the club's eighth first-grade premiership.
Background
Manly had finished eighth in the 2010 NRL season2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium...
, barely qualifying for the finals series. They were defeated by the St George Illawarra Dragons
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
in a qualifying final; the Dragons subsequently won the premiership. Manly lost four first-team players at the end of the season: first-choice halfback Trent Hodkinson
Trent Hodkinson
Trent Hodkinson is an Australian rugby league player who currently plays at halfback for the Canterbury Bulldogs. He previously played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles...
, forwards Chris Bailey
Chris Bailey (rugby league)
Chris Bailey is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Harlequins RL of Super League. He plays as a five-eighth and can also lock the scrum...
and Josh Perry
Josh Perry
Josh Perry is an Australian professional rugby league player for St Helens RLFC in the Super League competition...
, and utility back Ben Farrar
Ben Farrar
Ben Farrar is an Australian professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League competition....
. Joining the club were the unheralded Tim Robinson
Tim Robinson (rugby league)
Tim Robinson is a Australian rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. He made his first grade debut in Round 2 of the 2011 NRL season against the Sydney Roosters which Manly won 27-16. He is the younger brother of former NRL player Chad Robinson.-External links:*...
, Liam Foran
Liam Foran
Liam Foran is a rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly Sea Eagles. He plays as a half-back or five-eighth...
and Daniel Harrison
Daniel Harrison (rugby league)
Daniel Harrison is a Australian rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. He made his debut game in Round 2 2011 against the Sydney Roosters, a game the Sea Eagles won 27-16....
. Between them, only Foran had first-grade experience.
However, Manly's squad was boosted by the return of fullback Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring...
. After Manly had won the NRL premiership in 2008, Stewart missed all but six matches of the following two seasons with knee injuries. Manly's season would also see the emergence of key youngsters such as halfback Daly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He is a half-back...
, who would win the NRL's Dally M Rookie of the Year
2011 Dally M Awards
The 2011 Dally M Awards were presented on Tuesday 6 September 2011 at the Entertainment Quarter in Sydney and broadcast on Fox Sports.-Dally M Medal:The Dally M Medallion was presented by former Australian rugby league player, Robert Laurie....
award, and winger Will Hopoate
Will Hopoate
William "Will" Hopoate also known as Viliami in Tonga is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin three-quarter back, he has also represented NSW City...
, son of Manly's 1996 premiership-winner John
John Hopoate
John Hopoate is a former professional rugby league footballer and boxer. He played club football for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Wests Tigers and Northern Eagles in the National Rugby League competition. Hopoate also gained selection for Tonga, in the Australian national team and in the New...
, who would debut for New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
in the 2011 State of Origin series
2011 State of Origin series
The 2011 State of Origin series was the 30th annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams contested under "State of Origin" selection rules. Game I was played in Brisbane, Game II was played in Sydney and...
.
Regular season
Manly opened their season with an 18–6 loss to the Melbourne Storm, their grand final opponents from 2007 and 2008. Daly Cherry-EvansDaly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He is a half-back...
made his first-grade debut as Manly's starting halfback, but was penalised for a "foot fault" when kicking a line dropout. The following week, Manly played the grand finalists from the previous season, the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, without co-captains Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League...
and Jason King
Jason King
Jason King may refer to:* Jason King , cultural critic and musician* Jason King , British television programme* Jason King , ice hockey player* Jason King , British radio DJ...
, and Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,...
and Steve Matai
Steve Matai
Stephen "Steve" Matai is a professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays as a centre. He is a New Zealand international of Samoan Heritage...
. Despite the losses of key players, the Sea Eagles scored their first win of the season, 27–16, thanks to performances from Cherry-Evans and his halves partner Kieran Foran
Kieran Foran
Kieran Foran is a New Zealand rugby league player who has represented his country. He currently plays for the Manly Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He plays as a five-eighth or half-back though he can also play centre...
that the ABC described as "outstanding". Manly won again the following weekend, defeating the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
26–12. It was Manly's first match of the season at their home ground, Brookvale Oval
Brookvale Oval
Brookvale Oval is a sporting ground located within Brookvale Park at Brookvale, New South Wales, Australia. The ground is owned by Warringah Council and is primarily used by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league team...
. An aggressive physical performance from the Sea Eagles saw the Knights reduced to just 13 fit players by the second half, enough to put a full team on the field but with an empty substitutes bench.
April started badly for the Sea Eagles, losing 32–30 to the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
, and suspending two players—long-serving club veteran Anthony Watmough
Anthony Watmough
Anthony Watmough is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the National Rugby League...
and squad player Terence Seu Seu—after they were arrested by police and fined for public urination. The following weekend, Manly bounced back with a victory over the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
in Cronulla, the win being sealed with a try to rookie winger Michael Oldfield
Michael Oldfield (rugby league)
Michael Oldfield is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL competition. He plays centre or on the wing.-National Youth Competition:...
in the final seconds of the match. The team then took their record to five wins from seven matches, defeating the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
at Brookvale, then the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
in Penrith, before their winning streak came to an end with a narrow loss to the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in Townsville. The defeat to the Cowboys came in controversial circumstances. Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League...
was denied a try by the video referee that may have won Manly the match; later, the video referee was removed from duties for the following round after officials considered his decision to have been in error.
Manly started the month of May with a home win over the lowly Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
in which Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring...
scored his 99th, 100th and 101st tries for the Sea Eagles. It was the first in a six-match winning streak, as Manly then defeated the Gold Coast
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
, Brisbane
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
, Canterbury, North Queensland
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
and arch-rivals Parramatta
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
. The run of wins took the team to second on the NRL ladder. It also helped Manly's players with representative ambitions. Four Sea Eagles featured in the mid-season State of Origin series
2011 State of Origin series
The 2011 State of Origin series was the 30th annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams contested under "State of Origin" selection rules. Game I was played in Brisbane, Game II was played in Sydney and...
: Jason King
Jason King
Jason King may refer to:* Jason King , cultural critic and musician* Jason King , British television programme* Jason King , ice hockey player* Jason King , British radio DJ...
, Anthony Watmough
Anthony Watmough
Anthony Watmough is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the National Rugby League...
, Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,...
, and, at the age of 19, William Hopoate, who scored a try in his first match for New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
and followed his father John
John Hopoate
John Hopoate is a former professional rugby league footballer and boxer. He played club football for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Wests Tigers and Northern Eagles in the National Rugby League competition. Hopoate also gained selection for Tonga, in the Australian national team and in the New...
in played for both Manly and his state. At the time, Hopoate announced that he would be leaving professional football at the end of the season to embark on a two-year mormon mission.
Manly's winning streak came to an end in late June, when the team was defeated by the reigning premiers St George Illawarra. The match was played a week after the death of the well-known former Manly player turned commentator Rex Mossop
Rex Mossop
Rex Peers Mossop was an Australian rugby league and rugby union footballer—a dual-code international, and an Australian television personality from 1964 until 1991.-Rugby union career:...
. Manly returned to winning form quickly, defeating South Sydney
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
in their next match, before thrashing Newcastle
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, 32–10, and defeating Penrith
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
, 12–8. A defeat to the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
followed, in a home game that Manly decided to play at Gosford's Central Coast Stadium. Manly responded to the defeat to the Tigers with another winning streak, beating the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
, the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
and the Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
in successive weeks. The cost to Manly was an injury to their co-captain Jason King
Jason King
Jason King may refer to:* Jason King , cultural critic and musician* Jason King , British television programme* Jason King , ice hockey player* Jason King , British radio DJ...
in the Roosters match. He would miss the remainder of the season with a torn pectoral muscle.
King's loss was only the start of things to come for Manly. On Friday, 26 August 2011, Manly hosted the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
at Brookvale Oval
Brookvale Oval
Brookvale Oval is a sporting ground located within Brookvale Park at Brookvale, New South Wales, Australia. The ground is owned by Warringah Council and is primarily used by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league team...
for the penultimate match of the regular season. Melbourne was then on top of the NRL ladder and looking to secure the minor premiership
Minor premiership
A minor premiership is the name of the title given to the team which finishes a sporting competition first in the league standings after the regular season but prior to commencement of the playoffs....
; Manly was in second place. The two clubs had been rivals since they played 2007 and 2008 grand finals, winning one apiece. The one thing that united the club's fans was a mutual dislike for the NRL's chief executive David Gallop
David Gallop
David Gallop is an Australian sports administrator who has been the Chief Executive Officer of the National Rugby League since February 2002. He has also been the Secretary of the Rugby League International Federation since its inception in 1998.-Early life:...
. Gallop had decided to strip Melbourne of its 2007 and 2009 premierships for salary cap breaches. He had also angered Manly by suspending Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring...
in 2009 for his behaviour at an official event; Stewart was charged with, and subsequently acquitted of, committing rape at the event. Gallop decided to attend the Friday night match, in front of a packed Brookvale Oval crowd of 20,059, leaving Manly to consider hiring security guards to protect him. The match that ensued earnt the name "The Battle of Brookvale". In the first half of the match, a skirmish broke out between Manly's Darcy Lussick
Darcy Lussick
Darcy Lussick is a Australian rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. He made his debut game in Round 14 2011 against the North Queensland Cowboys, a game which the Sea Eagles ran out easy 24-4 winners at Brookvale Oval against the previously in-form...
and Melbourne's Ryan Hinchcliffe
Ryan Hinchcliffe
Ryan Hinchcliffe is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the NRL. Hinchliffe began his NRL career at Parramatta. He previously played for the Canberra Raiders before moving to the Storm, with whom he won the 2009 NRL Premiership.Ryan Hinchcliffe is a hooker...
. A number of players joined the brawl, including Manly's Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,...
and Melbourne's Adam Blair
Adam Blair
Adam Blair is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League until 1 November 2011, when he will join the Wests Tigers. A New Zealand international representative forward, Blair spent six seasons with the Storm, winning...
, who the referee decided to send to the sin bin. As Stewart and Blair left the field for their ten minutes on the sidelines, a fight broke out between them. A series of Manly and Melbourne players ran from the field and the sideline benches to join the fight, giving rise to a large brawl in front of Brookvale Oval's main stand. Stewart and Blair were both sent off for the remainder of the match, which Manly went on to win. Manly suffered four suspensions arising from the match: Stewart and Lussick were suspended for three weeks each as the brawls' principal protagonists, while Foran and Stewart's brother Brett received lesser suspensions for their parts in the melee. Each club was fined $50,000 by the NRL. Gallop said after the match: "The sight of so many players from both teams fighting, of people running in and leaving the bench area, was an horrendous look for the game." The fallout from the match also claimed the scalp of Manly's long-serving media manager and former player Peter Peters
Peter Peters
Peter Peters is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer, commentator and journalist.He was a first grade player for Parramatta Eels and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles from 1969 to 1974, playing in the 1972 and 1973 premiership winning teams, Later he became a football commentator on...
, who was stood down and then sacked for making a sexist comment to a female reporter when leaving an NRL judiciary hearing for Glenn Stewart. Meanwhile, Manly winger David Williams
David Williams (rugby league)
David Williams is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays on the wing and can also play in the centres...
suffered a neck injury in the match that would end his season.
Manly thus fielded a depleted side for their final regular season match against the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
at Suncorp Stadium
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
. Even though the Broncos won 18–10, Manly had already secured second place on the NRL ladder behind Melbourne; the Broncos finished third.
Finals series
Finishing second on the ladder gave Manly the comfort of knowing that they would not be eliminated from the finals series if they lost their opening match, and that if they won, they would move straight into the series' third and final week. Their opponents in the qualifying final were the North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. Manly were disappointed that their right to a "home final" could not be exercised at Brookvale Oval
Brookvale Oval
Brookvale Oval is a sporting ground located within Brookvale Park at Brookvale, New South Wales, Australia. The ground is owned by Warringah Council and is primarily used by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league team...
, where they had been undefeated during the regular season. The NRL forced Manly to play the match at the Sydney Football Stadium, in front of a crowd of only 13,972. Nonetheless, despite trailing the Cowboys at half-time, Manly scored 42 points in the second half to win 42–8.
Defeating the Cowboys put Manly one win away from the NRL grand final. Their opponents in the preliminary final would be the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
, who had defeated them three weeks earlier. Much of the focus in the week leading up to the match was on whether Brisbane's retiring captain and 355-game veteran would play after fracturing his cheekbone in the second week of the finals. Lockyer was initially named in the Brisbane team, but late in the week withdrew from the match. Lockyer's withdrawal made Manly the firm favourites, and they won 26–14.
Grand final
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles |
Position | New Zealand Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| Brett Stewart Brett Stewart Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring... |
FB | Kevin Locke Kevin Locke (rugby league) Kevin Samuel Locke is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League. His usual position is at fullback.-Playing career:... |
| Michael Robertson Michael Robertson (rugby league) Michael Robertson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for London Broncos of Super League... |
WG | Bill Tupou Bill Tupou Bill Tupou is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors.-Early years:... |
| Jamie Lyon Jamie Lyon Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League... (c) |
CE | Lewis Brown Lewis Brown (rugby league) Lewis Brown is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors. His position of preference is in the second row, where he plays for the Warriors whilst occasionally playing in the centres... |
| Steve Matai Steve Matai Stephen "Steve" Matai is a professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays as a centre. He is a New Zealand international of Samoan Heritage... |
CE | Krisnan Inu Krisnan Inu Krisnan Nevada Inu is a New Zealand professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the Australasian National Rugby League competition... |
| Will Hopoate Will Hopoate William "Will" Hopoate also known as Viliami in Tonga is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin three-quarter back, he has also represented NSW City... |
WG | Manu Vatuvei Manu Vatuvei Manu Vatuvei is a New Zealand rugby league player for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition. His position of choice is on the wing. He is the cousin of Japanese Rugby Union player Ruatangi Vatuvei. Vatuvei was a member of the New Zealand Kiwis squad that won the 2008... |
| Kieran Foran Kieran Foran Kieran Foran is a New Zealand rugby league player who has represented his country. He currently plays for the Manly Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He plays as a five-eighth or half-back though he can also play centre... |
FE | James Maloney James Maloney James Maloney is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League.- Playing career :... |
| Daly Cherry-Evans Daly Cherry-Evans Daly Cherry-Evans is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He is a half-back... |
HB | Shaun Johnson Shaun Johnson Shaun Johnson is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors.NRL commentator Phil Gould has described him as the "New Benji Marshall".-Early years:... |
| Joe Galuvao Joe Galuvao Joe Galuvao is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League... |
PR | Russell Packer Russell Packer Russell Packer is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League competition... |
| Matt Ballin Matt Ballin Matthew Ballin is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He primarily plays at hooker.-Early years:... |
HK | Lance Hohaia Lance Hohaia Lance Hohaia is a New Zealand rugby league player, he currently plays for St Helens RLFC. In 2008 Hohaia was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team.-Early years:... |
| Brent Kite Brent Kite Brent Kite is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing in the NRL with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. A Tonga and Australia international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative front-row forward, he has played club football for the St. George Illawarra... |
PR | Jacob Lillyman Jacob Lillyman Jacob Lillyman is an Australian professional rugby league footaller, currently playing for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League. Lillyman formerly played in the second row, where he had appeared for Queensland in State of Origin... |
| Anthony Watmough Anthony Watmough Anthony Watmough is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the National Rugby League... |
SR | Elijah Taylor Elijah Taylor Elijah Taylor is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors.-Early years:... |
| Tony Williams Tony Williams (rugby league) Tony Williams is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League... |
SR | Simon Mannering Simon Mannering Simon Alexander Mannering is a New Zealand professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition... (c) |
| Glenn Stewart Glenn Stewart Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,... |
LK | Michael Luck |
| Shane Rodney Shane Rodney Shane Rodney is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Harlequins RL of Super League. He previously played for the Penrith Panthers, winning the 2003 NRL premiership with them. and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles whom he won the 2011 NRL Grand Final with... |
Reserve | Sam Rapira Sam Rapira Sam Rapira is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors. His usual position of choice is at prop-forward... |
| Jamie Buhrer Jamie Buhrer Jamie Buhrer is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL competition. He was educated at Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown. He plays as a Second Row or Lock.-National Youth Competition:... |
Reserve | Aaron Heremaia Aaron Heremaia Aaron Aspin Heremaia is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League... |
| Vic Mauro Vic Mauro Vic Mauro is an Australian rugby league player of Italian heritage who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He plays in the second-row and can also play as a prop.... |
Reserve | Feleti Mateo Feleti Mateo Feleti Sosefo Mateo is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition. Mateo plays a variety of positions from centre to five-eighth to second row and is renowned for his versatility and extravagant style of play... |
| George Rose | Reserve | Ben Matulino Ben Matulino Benedict Andrew Matulino is a rugby league player who has represented his country. He currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League... |
| Des Hasler Des Hasler Des Hasler is an Australian former professional rugby league player and current head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He played in 309 matches in a first-grade career spanning 16 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won two premierships... |
Coach | Ivan Cleary Ivan Cleary Ivan Cleary is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League and former head coach of the New Zealand Warriors where he achieved much success... |
Manly's opponents for the grand final, held at Stadium Australia on 2 October, were the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
, who had finished sixth on the NRL ladder. The Warriors had defeated the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
in the second qualifying final, ruining the chances of a "Battle of Brookvale" grand final re-match. The Warriors were playing in their second first-grade grand final; it was Manly's 18th. Manly would also become the first club to play in grand finals in seven consecutive decades. Reflecting on this record, rugby league historian David Middleton said leading up to the match: "No other club has done what they have, it's a unique achievement."
Manly fielded a near full strength team for the grand final. Ten of its 17-man squad had previous grand final experience. Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,...
returned from his "Battle of Brookvale" suspension, while Jason King
Jason King
Jason King may refer to:* Jason King , cultural critic and musician* Jason King , British television programme* Jason King , ice hockey player* Jason King , British radio DJ...
and David Williams
David Williams (rugby league)
David Williams is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays on the wing and can also play in the centres...
were the only players missing through injury. While the grand final was held in Sydney, Manly received little support from Sydneysiders other than their own fans. Reflecting what the Irish Times observed from abroad was a long-standing "inherent hatred" for Manly, many Australians supported the foreign New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
to win the match.
The match was played in front of 81,988 spectators and, for the third year in a row, in the rain. After a tight opening 30 minutes, the Warriors led 2–0. However, Manly broke clear with two tries before half-time, the first to Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring...
and the second to Daly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He is a half-back...
, one play after an audacious kick from forward Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,...
in his own half allowed winger Michael Robertson
Michael Robertson
Michael Robertson is the founder and former CEO of MP3.com, which quickly became one of the most popular Internet music sites. In the years following his departure from MP3.com, Robertson launched several small start-up companies, including Linspire, SIPphone, MP3tunes, and Ajax 13...
to break free. Manly stretched its lead to 16 points after half-time following a try to Glenn Stewart, setup by a blind flick pass from William Hopoate as he was pushed out of play. The Warriors scored two unconverted tries in the final fifteen minutes to narrow the deficit to eight points; however, Manly held onto its lead and celebrated victory with a try to captain Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League...
in the final minute of play. Glenn Stewart was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal
Clive Churchill Medal
The Clive Churchill Medal has been presented to the man-of-the-match of the National Rugby League's annual Grand Final match ever since the 1986 season. The award was created to honour Clive Churchill, one of the greatest rugby league players in Australian history, following his death in 1985...
as the player of the match.
Season statistics
| Player | Appearances: Starting (interchange) | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Ballin Matt Ballin Matthew Ballin is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He primarily plays at hooker.-Early years:... |
27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Daly Cherry-Evans Daly Cherry-Evans Daly Cherry-Evans is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He is a half-back... |
27 | 7 | 25 | 3 | 81 |
| Kieran Foran Kieran Foran Kieran Foran is a New Zealand rugby league player who has represented his country. He currently plays for the Manly Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He plays as a five-eighth or half-back though he can also play centre... |
26 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| Jamie Lyon Jamie Lyon Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League... |
25 | 9 | 59 | 0 | 154 |
| Anthony Watmough Anthony Watmough Anthony Watmough is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the National Rugby League... |
24 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Glenn Stewart Glenn Stewart Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,... |
23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Brent Kite Brent Kite Brent Kite is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing in the NRL with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. A Tonga and Australia international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative front-row forward, he has played club football for the St. George Illawarra... |
23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Matai Steve Matai Stephen "Steve" Matai is a professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays as a centre. He is a New Zealand international of Samoan Heritage... |
22 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| Michael Robertson Michael Robertson (rugby league) Michael Robertson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for London Broncos of Super League... |
21 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 48 |
| Brett Stewart Brett Stewart Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring... |
20 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 60 |
| William Hopoate | 19 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 56 |
| Joe Galuvao Joe Galuvao Joe Galuvao is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League... |
16 (11) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Jason King Jason King Jason King may refer to:* Jason King , cultural critic and musician* Jason King , British television programme* Jason King , ice hockey player* Jason King , British radio DJ... |
16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Oldfield Michael Oldfield (rugby league) Michael Oldfield is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL competition. He plays centre or on the wing.-National Youth Competition:... |
12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| David Williams David Williams (rugby league) David Williams is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays on the wing and can also play in the centres... |
12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| George Rose George Rose The Right Honourable George Rose was a British politician.Born at Woodside near Brechin, Scotland, Rose was the son of the Reverend David Rose of Lethnot, by Margaret, daughter of Donald Rose of Wester Clune... |
10 (16) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Tony Williams Tony Williams (rugby league) Tony Williams is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League... |
8 (12) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Shane Rodney Shane Rodney Shane Rodney is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Harlequins RL of Super League. He previously played for the Penrith Panthers, winning the 2003 NRL premiership with them. and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles whom he won the 2011 NRL Grand Final with... |
8 (4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamie Buhrer Jamie Buhrer Jamie Buhrer is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL competition. He was educated at Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown. He plays as a Second Row or Lock.-National Youth Competition:... |
7 (19) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Vic Mauro Vic Mauro Vic Mauro is an Australian rugby league player of Italian heritage who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He plays in the second-row and can also play as a prop.... |
4 (17) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dean Whare Dean Whare Dean Whare ' is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. His position is at .-Playing career:... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Robinson Tim Robinson (rugby league) Tim Robinson is a Australian rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. He made his first grade debut in Round 2 of the 2011 NRL season against the Sydney Roosters which Manly won 27-16. He is the younger brother of former NRL player Chad Robinson.-External links:*... |
0 (13) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darcy Lussick Darcy Lussick Darcy Lussick is a Australian rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. He made his debut game in Round 14 2011 against the North Queensland Cowboys, a game which the Sea Eagles ran out easy 24-4 winners at Brookvale Oval against the previously in-form... |
0 (8) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terence Seu Seu | 0 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daniel Harrison Daniel Harrison (rugby league) Daniel Harrison is a Australian rugby league player who currently plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. He made his debut game in Round 2 2011 against the Sydney Roosters, a game the Sea Eagles won 27-16.... |
0 (3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Source: Rugby League Project
Awards and honours
Two Manly players were recognised in the official Dally M Awards2011 Dally M Awards
The 2011 Dally M Awards were presented on Tuesday 6 September 2011 at the Entertainment Quarter in Sydney and broadcast on Fox Sports.-Dally M Medal:The Dally M Medallion was presented by former Australian rugby league player, Robert Laurie....
for the NRL season. Daly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He is a half-back...
was named the best rookie in the league, for a season in which he started at half-back in every single match. Steve Menzies was the last Manly player to have won the award, in 1994. Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon
Jamie Lyon is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently captains for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League...
was named in the NRL's team of the season, as the league's best centre.
On 3 November 2011 the annual RLIF Awards
RLIF Awards
The Rugby League International Federation currently oversees and awards the major international sporting award for rugby league on an annual basis and has done so since its inception in 2004....
dinner was held at the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. Manly coach Des Hasler
Des Hasler
Des Hasler is an Australian former professional rugby league player and current head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He played in 309 matches in a first-grade career spanning 16 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won two premierships...
was named the world's top coach of the year, while Cherry-Evans and Lyon added to their Dally M awards by being named the best players in their positions.
At Manly's club awards, Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,...
was named the best and fairest player for the season, Steve Matai
Steve Matai
Stephen "Steve" Matai is a professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League. He plays as a centre. He is a New Zealand international of Samoan Heritage...
the "players' player", and Daly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He is a half-back...
the best rookie. Five Manly players were selected in the Australian Kangaroos squad for the post-season Four Nations: Glenn and Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart
Brett Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League. He is an Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback known for pace and his prolific try-scoring...
, Anthony Watmough
Anthony Watmough
Anthony Watmough is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the National Rugby League...
, Tony Williams
Tony Williams (rugby league)
Tony Williams is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League...
and Cherry-Evans, although the Stewart brothers subsequently withdrew from the squad before the tournament.
Post-season turmoil and sacking of Des Hasler
Even as Manly was still celebrating its grand final victory, it was struggling to hold on to some of its key people. One winger, Michael RobertsonMichael Robertson (rugby league)
Michael Robertson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently playing for London Broncos of Super League...
had already decided to leave the club to play in England in 2012. Barely days after the grand final, the other grand final winger, star rookie Will Hopoate
Will Hopoate
William "Will" Hopoate also known as Viliami in Tonga is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the NRL. A New South Wales State of Origin three-quarter back, he has also represented NSW City...
, signed to play for the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
upon his return from a two-year Mormon mission
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
.
Hopoate's loss was shortly followed by that of the club's head coach, Des Hasler
Des Hasler
Des Hasler is an Australian former professional rugby league player and current head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He played in 309 matches in a first-grade career spanning 16 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won two premierships...
. Hasler had won two premierships with the club in a long playing career (in 1987 and 1996), and two as the club's coach (in 2008 and 2011). Speculation about Hasler's future had been building in the weeks leading up to the grand final, but he appeared to quash the rumours by announcing after the match that he would be at Manly for 2012, the last year of his contract. However, within days, Hasler signed an agreement to coach the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs from 2013. He agreed with Manly's board to remain as Manly's head coach for 2012, while the club would appoint Hasler's assistant Geoff Toovey
Geoff Toovey
Geoffrey "Geoff" Toovey is an Australian rugby league coach and former professional player of the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. He was educated at Davidson High School...
from 2013.
Within the following weeks, a series of Manly staff followed Hasler in signing for the Bulldogs, including the club's recuitment manager and former premiership-winner Noel Cleal
Noel Cleal
Noel Harvey "Crusher" Cleal is an Australian former rugby league footballer who also had a successful coaching career...
, who cited "factional infighting" as his reason for leaving. In early November, the Manly board suspended Hasler from his duties, alleging that he had been trying to entice fellow Manly staff to defect to the Bulldogs, which the board considered amounted to "serious breaches" of Hasler's employment contract. Ultimately, on 11 November, less than six weeks after winning the premiership, the board terminated Hasler's contract and immediately appointed Toovey as his successor. Hasler initially threatened to sue Manly for the termination of his contract; Manly's chairman Scott Penn claimed in response that the club had "verbal and email evidence that he was involved in coercing staff to leave". The 82-year-old former Manly player, coach and club secretary Ken Arthurson
Ken Arthurson
Kenneth Richard "Arko" Arthurson AM is an Australian rugby league football identity. Affectionately known as "The Godfather of Manly", he played, coached and was later an administrator at the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership...
said: "To do what [Hasler] has done is beyond the pale". The club's 1978 premiership-winning captain Max Krilich
Max Krilich
Max Krilich is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. He was a hooker for the Australia national team, playing in 13 Tests from 1978 to 1983 and as captain on 10 consecutive occasions in 1982 and 1983...
called Hasler a "mercenary", while another former premiership-winning captain Fred Jones
Fred Jones (rugby league)
Fred Jones is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1960s and 70s. An Australian international and New South Wales interstate representative hooker, he played his club football for Manly-Warringah, with whom he won the 1972 and 1973 NSWRFL Premierships.A product of the South Coast,...
called his defection to Canterbury "disgraceful". After reaching an agreement to commence as the Bulldogs' head coach from 2012, a year earlier than first agreed, Hasler dropped his threat of legal action against Manly.