Manly Warringah Sea Eagles will farewell current club greats Brett Stewart and Steve Matai in the club’s final home game of the season against the Penrith Panthers at Lottoland on Saturday, September 2.
In a special tribute for fans, dual premiership team mate Matt Ballin will also be recognised at the farewell.
The dual premiership players will have the opportunity to do a lap of honour in front of their home crowd for the final time after career ending injuries prevented them both from playing in 2017.
Stewart is looking forward to appearing one last time at a ground where he was dubbed "The Prince of Brookvale."
Matai has moved away from the northern beaches to settle on the far north coast. If he is unable to attend, the club will afford him a video tribute at the ground for fans.
Stewart is considered - along with Graham Eadie - Manly's greatest fullback while Matai will be remembered as one of the toughest, most courageous and wholehearted players to wear the maroon and white.
The Sea Eagles have worked closely with the ex-players group, the Golden Eagles Association, for some time to lock in the details of the farewell.
Sea Eagles chairman Scott Penn paid tribute to Stewart and Matai - both loyal one club players.
"Their records speak for their contribution to our great club. They are considered amongst the best in their respective positions in the history of the club. They were a major part of one of our most dominant eras and earn their spots in our list of great players,’’ Penn said.
"We wish them well in their retirements.”
In a special gesture for fans, long time Stewart and Matai dual premiership team mate Matt Ballin will also be afforded a tribute at the farewell.
Ballin left the Sea Eagles two years ago to become a Wests Tigers player and recently retired from the game.
His departure prevented a farewell until now but Ballin remains an icon of the club and is one of the most popular players to represent Manly.
He has humbly accepted the club's invitation to be part of the Stewart/Matai farewell.
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Game Day times: Gates open 2.45pm, NYC 3.05pm, NRL 5.30pm
The amazing records of the three Sea Eagles greats
Stats courtesy of David Middleton (League Information Services)
Brett Stewart
Born: February 27, 1985, Wollongong, NSW (age 32)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 90kg
Points: 652 (163 tries)
NRL games: 233
First Grade Debut: Manly v Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium, 6/7/2003 (Rd 17)
Club: Manly 2003-16
Junior Football: Illawarra Wests
Australia: Tests 1 (2007)
New South Wales: State of Origins 8 (2007-12)
Country Origin: 2007
Grand Finals: 4 – Manly 2007 (L), 2008 (W), 2011 (W), 2013 (L)
Junior Rep Honours: Junior Kangaroos 2004; NSW Under-19s 2004
Other information:
Played in Manly’s World Club Challenge win over Leeds 2009
Roy Bull Medal winner 2007 (Manly Best and Fairest)
Dally M Top Tryscorer 2008; Australian Prime Minister’s XIII 2006
Life Member of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (2016)
Steve Matai
Born: August 5, 1984, Auckland, NZ (age 33)
Height: 183cm, Weight: 94kg
Points: 404 (91 tries, 20 goals)
NRL games: 230
First Grade Debut: Manly v Melbourne at Brookvale Oval, 27/3/2005 (Rd 3)
Club: Manly 2005-16
Junior Football: Ponsonby/Richmond
New Zealand: Tests 12 (2006-10), Tri-Nations 2006, World Cup Winner 2008, Four Nations 2009
Grand Finals: 4 – Manly 2007 (L), 2008 (W), 2011 (W), 2013 (L)
Other information:
Played in Manly’s World Club Challenge win over Leeds 2009
New Zealand A 2005; NSW Residents 2005
Played with Ipswich Jets 2004
Life Member of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (2016)
Matt Ballin
Born: January 5, 1984, Nanango, QLD (age 33)
Height: 179cm, Weight: 90kg
Points: 88 (22 tries)
NRL games: 220
First Grade Debut: Manly v Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval, 24/3/2007 (Rd 2)
Current Club Debut: Wests Tigers v Newcastle at Campbelltown Stadium, 21/5/2016 (Rd 11)
Clubs: Manly 2007-15 (217 games), Wests Tigers 2017 (3 games)
Junior Football: Kingaroy Red Ants
Queensland: State of Origins 1 (2010)
Grand Finals: 3 – Manly 2008 (W), 2011 (W), 2013 (L)
Junior Rep Honours: Junior Kangaroos 2003; Queensland Under-19s 2003
Other information:
Roy Bull Medal winner 2012 (Manly best and fairest)
Played in Manly’s World Club Challenge win over Leeds 2009
