We continue ‘Our Proud History’ series as part of our 70th Year Anniversary. The Sea Eagles were granted entry to the 1947 NSWRL first grade competition on November 4, 1946.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles will today play for the 34th time on Anzac Day.
Since their very first match on one of Australia’s most important national occasions, the Sea Eagles have won 18 of their 33 matches played on Anzac Day.
The Sea Eagles played their first game on Anzac Day in 1949, losing 32-0 to South Sydney in round three. Five days later, Manly backed up to beat Eastern Suburbs 17-7 at Brookvale Oval with winger Gordon Willoughby scoring three tries in the win.
Backing up after playing on Anzac Day was a common theme for the Sea Eagles the next few seasons.
In 1950, the Sea Eagles lost 25-18 to Western Suburbs Magpies at Pratten Park on Anzac Day (Tuesday) before backing up on the Saturday to record a 19-7 win over Eastern Suburbs at the Sydney Sports Ground (now Allianz Stadium).
On Anzac Day, 1951, South Sydney beat Manly 29-17 on the Wednesday. Three days later, the Sea Eagles backed up to lose 27-15 to Parramatta in round six at Cumberland Oval.
Following an 8-7 loss to Western Suburbs at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Anzac Day in 1952, the Sea Eagles finally broke through for their first victory on Anzac Day the following year with a 17-14 win over Newtown Jets at Brookvale Oval.
Here is Manly’s record through the decades on Anzac Day, April 25.
Played: 33 games, Won 18, .Lost 15.
The 50s
Rd 3, 1949: South Sydney 32 d Manly 0, Brookvale Oval; Rd 5, 1950: Western Suburbs Magpies 25 d Manly 18, Pratten Park; Rd 4, 1951: South Sydney 29 d Manly 17, Brookvale Oval; Rd 6, 1952: Western Suburbs 8 d Manly 7,SCG; Rd 5, 1953: Manly 17 d Newtown 14, Brookvale Oval; Rd 4, 1955: St George 30 d Manly 12, SCG; Rd 5, 1956: Manly 49 d North Sydney 16, North Sydney Oval; Rd 4, 1957: Manly 17 d Parramatta 10; Rd 4, 1958: Manly 12 d Newtown 7, SCG; Rd 6, 1959: Manly 7 d Parramatta 2, Cumberland Oval.
The 60s
Rd 4, 1960: Manly 13 d Newtown 12, SCG; Rd 3, 1961: North Sydney 17 d Manly 9, North Sydney Oval; Rd 4, 1962: Canterbury-Bankstown 26 d Manly 3, Belmore Sports Ground; Rd 4, 1963: Manly 13 d Parramatta 8, Cumberland Oval; Rd 4, 1964: Manly 31 d Canterbury-Bankstown 11, Belmore Sports Ground; Rd 5, 1967: Manly 15 d Balmain 13, SCG; Rd 5, 1968: Manly 22 d Eastern Suburbs 13; Rd 5, 1969: Balmain 18 d Manly 13, SCG
The 70s
Rd 5, 1971: Manly 20 d North Sydney 10, North Sydney Oval; Rd 6, 1972: Manly 9 d Parramatta 7, Cumberland Oval; Rd 6, 1973: Manly 38 d North Sydney 13, Brookvale Oval; Rd 6, 1976: Manly 38 d North Sydney 13, Brookvale Oval; Rd 6, 1977: Eastern Suburbs 20 d Manly 0, SCG.
The 80s
Rd 9, 1982: Manly 13 d Cronulla 7, Endeavour Field; Rd 8, 1984: North Sydney 26 d Manly 12, Brookvale Oval; Rd 7, 1985: St George 20 d Manly 16, SCG; Rd 9, 1987: Manly 18 d Eastern Suburbs 10, Brookvale Oval; Rd 8, 1988: South Sydney 28 d Manly 14, Brookvale Oval.
The 90s
Rd 6, 1992: Illawarra 23 d Manly 10, Wollongong Showground; Rd 7, 1993: Manly 11 d Western Suburbs 4, Campbelltown Stadium.
Post 2000
Rd 7, 2004: Wests Tigers 30 d Manly 22, Leichhardt Oval; Rd 7, 2009: North Qld Cowboys 26 d Manly 12, Willow Sports Ground, Townsville; Rd 8, 2015: Manly 12 d Melbourne Storm 10, AAMI Park.
