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The original 1947 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles team.

CAPTION: Manly's inaugural first grade team: Back row (l-r) C 'Kelly' McMahon, Merv Gillmer, Keith Kirkwood, Harry Grew, Johnny Bliss (middle row l-r) Jim Hall, A 'Bert' Collins, Max Whitehead (captain), Mackie Campbell, Jim Walsh; front row (l-r) Ern Cannon, Gary Maddrell, Pat Hines.

To celebrate our 70th Year Anniversary in 2016, we today begin a new series called ‘Our Proud History’.

The Sea Eagles were granted entry to the 1947 NSWRL first grade competition on November 4, 1946, and have gone on to win eight premierships to become one of the most powerful and successful rugby league clubs in the game.

1947 season

Home ground: Brookvale Oval

- First premiership match: lost 15-13 to Western Suburbs, Brookvale Oval, Saturday, April 12

- First win: vs Parramatta, 15-7, Saturday, May 31, Rd 8

- Finished: Ninth

- Top point scorer: Kelly McMahon (74 points, 8 tries, 25 goals)

- Top try scorer: Johnny Bliss (10).

- Biggest win: 33-0 vs Newtown, Rd 11, Brookvale Oval.

- Biggest loss: 61-11 vs St George, Rd 4, Hurstville Oval.

- Tries: 46, Goals: 52, Points: 242.

- 32 players used in first grade

- Coaches: Harold Johnston (Rd 1-5), Ray Stehr (Rd 6-18).

- Biggest home crowd: 3,600 v Balmain Tigers, Rd 6; Average home crowd: 3,400.

Rd 1: lost 15-13 to Western Suburbs, Brookvale Oval; Rd 2; lost 33-17 to Newtown, Erskineville Oval; Rd 3: lost 15-13 to South Sydney, Sydney Sports Ground; Rd 4: lost 61-11 to St George, Hurstville Oval; Rd 5: lost 26-8 to Eastern Suburbs, Brookvale; Rd 6: lost 24-10 to Balmain, Brookvale; Rd 7: lost 21-9 to North Sydney, North Sydney Oval; Rd 8: d Parramatta 15-7, Brookvale Oval.

Rd 9: d Canterbury 24-23, Belmore Oval; Rd 10: lost to Western Suburbs 13-9, Pratten Park; Rd 11: d Newtown 33-0, Brookvale Oval; Rd 12: lost 22-16 to South Sydney, Brookvale Oval; Rd 13: lost 15-7 to St George, Brookvale Oval; Rd 14: lost to Balmain 17-0, Leichhardt Oval; Rd 15: lost to North Sydney 19-11, Brookvale Oval; Rd 16: lost 11-6 to Parramatta, Cumberland Oval; Rd 17: d Eastern Suburbs 23-12, Sydney Sports Ground; Rd 18: lost 30-17 to Canterbury, Brookvale Oval.

Show your support and sign up as a Sea Eagles Member for 2016 here

Acknowledgement of Country

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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