From the days of the ‘Silvertails and the Fibros’ to the latest battles as a joint-venture, there is just something special about matches between Manly and Wests.
As standalone clubs, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Western Suburbs Magpies were great rivals, playing 116 times until 1999, with the Sea Eagles winning 68 of those games.
The rivalry took on a new front when the Wests Magpies and Balmain Tigers merged in 1999 for their first season together as the Wests Tigers in 2000.
Since then, the two clubs have played 25 times with Manly winning 15 of the games.
This Sunday’s match at Lottoland is shaping up to be another great contest with Manly and the Wests Tigers sitting inside the top eight after five rounds.
Faced with a horrendous draw in the opening rounds, Wests Tigers have overcome adversity to win four of their five matches, including beating reigning premiers the Melbourne Storm twice. Their only loss was a controversial Golden Point defeat to Brisbane Broncos at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in round three.
Coach Ivan Cleary’s men may not score many points to win games but their tenacity in defence and ability to work for the full 80 minutes has been a key to their early season success.
History shows that the Wests Tigers have also struggled on the Northern Beaches, having won just one game at Lottoland (formerly Brookvale Oval) back in 2003.
Wests Tigers will be looking to nullifying Manly early at home. The Sea Eagles have blown the Parramatta Eels and the Canberra Raiders off the park at Lottoland with brilliant first half performances in their two matches there this season.
Full-back Tom Trbojevic and half-back Daly Cherry-Evans have been the main destroyers and if the Wests Tigers don’t control them, the Sea Eagles could well put plenty of points on in front of the Manly faithful.
Round 6 Game Day Info - Manly Warringah Sea Eagles v Wests Tigers
Sunday, April 15, Lottoland (Brookvale)
11.10am: Gates open (Ken Arthurson entrance)
11.30am: Harold Matthews Cup Qualifying Final: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (3) vs Parramatta Eels (2)
1.10pm: SG Ball Cup Elimination Final: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (7) vs Canberra Raiders (6)
2.30pm: Pine St and North Gates open
2.45pm: Physical Disability Exhibition Game: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles vs Wests Tigers
4.10pm: NRL: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles v Wests Tigers
Manly vs Wests Tigers
Head-to-head: Played 25; Sea Eagles 15, Wests Tigers 10
2017 results: Sea Eagles 28 d Wests Tigers 16, Lottoland; Wests Tigers 30 d Manly 26, Leichhardt Oval.
At Lottoland
Played 9, Manly 8, Wests Tigers 1
2003: Wests Tigers 38 d Manly 12, Rd 4
2004: Manly 26 d Wests Tigers 18, Rd 18
2005: Manly 34 d Wests Tigers 26, Rd 9
2006: Manly 16 d Wests Tigers 12, Rd 14
2007: Manly 34 d Wests Tigers 4, Rd 18
2009: Manly 23 d Wests Tigers 10, Rd 5
2014: Manly 40 d Wests Tigers 8, Rd 18
2015: Manly 30 d Wests Tigers 20, Rd 15
2017: Manly 28 d Wests Tigers 16, Rd 19
‘The Fortress’
The Sea Eagles will be out to make it eight straight wins at Lottoland since their Round 13 win over Canberra last year. Can Manly protect ‘The Fortress’ once more?
2017
Rd 13, June 4: d Canberra 21-20.
Rd 14, June 9: d Newcastle 18-14.
Rd 19, July 16: d Wests Tigers 28-16.
Rd 22, August 6: 2017: d Sydney Roosters 36-18
Rd 26, September 2, 2017: d Penrith 28-12
2018
Rd 2, March 18: d Parramatta 54-0
Rd 4: March 31: d Canberra 32-16.
Silvertails v Fibros
Enjoy a trip down memory lane by reading this article from Sporting News Australia.
