My team: Days when the Sea Eagles soared

Chris Valli
Chris Valli
It was 1996 - a year of significant sporting admiration for an enthusiastic, South Dunedin Irish Catholic with dreams of being a sports journalist.

There was, of course, the Atlanta Olympics, where a Dunedin product by the name of Loader did rather well in the pool. The All Blacks winning a series in South Africa made for some quality viewing, while a Sydney rugby league side - my side - called the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles won the Optus Cup grand final.

A year after the Super League debacle, it was two Australian Rugby League sides - the St George Dragons and the mighty Sea Eagles - in a final that bought fans back to a game that had been in turmoil.

Manly won 20-8, with former All Black Craig "Postie" Innes scoring in the fourth minute.

So what was it about a Sydney league team that stirred such interest for a Pirates Rugby Club and Marlow Pies fan?

Having Kiwi personalities in the mix was a big incentive, and when Deka had a VHS sale on and I stumbled across The Converts (a documentary on former Wallaby Michael O'Connor and former All Black come C-list celebrity Matthew Ridge), I was hooked.

Such were the personalities in the Manly team in the early-mid 1990s, it was a challenge to get off the couch, and put down the salt and vinegar chips and Diet Coke, during the weekends.

My favourite player was little Geoff Toovey. His combination with Cliffy Lyons was something special. I still have visions of Tooves bringing down hardman Paul Sironen by the bootlaces in a local derby against the Sydney (Balmain) Tigers. He was the Stu Forster of league halfbacks.

Stories of standoff/five-eighth Lyons having a ciggie before a big game to control the nerves were legend in my Marlow St home. Later, the sight of Steve "Beaver" Menzies running off or inside Jamie Lyons made for entertaining league with tries galore.

Purchasing a Manly jersey at a local retail store valued at $120 was worth wasting half my pay packet. Needless to say, that jersey was not worn to a Pirates Colts training, such was the sentimental value I held and still hold for it.

Another year where the Eagles soared to great heights was 2008, culminating in a 40-0 premiership win over the Melbourne Storm, the largest grand final margin in the history of the game, and the first final since 1978 where the losing team did not score a point.

Fullback Brett Stewart was a freak of explosive finishing power, crossing the chalk 22 times that season to raise his profile as the game's premier attacking force. Hopefully he is talked about this year only for his football talents and not the off-field dramas which have followed him over the past 18 months.

 


Chris Valli
Timaru teacher

Team: Manly Sea Eagles.
Sport: Rugby league.
Fan since: A pimply-faced third-former in 1990, when afro-topped former All Black Matthew Ridge made the switch to league under the tutelage of Graham Lowe.
Favourite player: Undoubtedly Geoff Toovey. The No 6/7 may have been small in stature but he had a heart the size of Ayers Rock.
Greatest moment: The 1996 and 2008 grand finals. Two teams that were blessed with talent and coaches (Bob Fulton and Des Hasler) who lived, breathed and slept the culture.
Been to Brookvale Oval: No, but my nephew has.


 

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