There was some rugby league royalty and some great names of yesteryear at the inaugural Golden Eagles Barbecue Lunch today.
The concept of the Golden Eagles Barbecue is to invite some former Sea Eagles players from different playing positions to join the Manly players for lunch the day before a home game at 4 Pines Park. It came on the back of the Club forming a Sea Eagles Legacy Group.
At today’s luncheon ahead of tomorrow’s season opener against the Bulldogs, the playing position chosen was full-back, with the likes of Mike Eden, Shannon Nevin, Andrew King, and Brett Stewart able to enjoy the opportunity of meeting the current team following their final training session.
The great Graham Eadie was unable to attend the luncheon.
And to make the first event even more special was the appearance of former Sea Eagles Coach, Sir Graham Lowe, who took Manly to the finals in 1990-91.
Full-back Flashback
Mike Eden #282
A Manly junior, Eden played 22 first grade games for the Sea Eagles in 1981-82.
An accurate goal-kicking full-back who was known for his ability to kick off either foot, Eden kicked 72 goals and scored two tries for 150 points for Manly.
In 1983, he joined Easts to play more in the halves, going on to win the Rothmans Medal that season.
Today, Mike runs his own solicitor business, Eden Lawyers, with offices in Albury and Main Beach on the Gold Coast.
Shannon Nevin #409
Nevin made his first grade debut for the Sea Eagles in 1995 and went on to play 29 games for Manly over three seasons.
A dashing full-back and quality goal-kicker, Nevin kicked 52 goals and scored six tries for 128 points for Manly.
He played full-back in Manly’s 1997 Grand Final loss to the Newcastle Knights before joining the Balmain Tigers for two seasons in 1998.
Today, Nevin runs his own gym in Seaforth called 'That Fitness Place'.
Andrew King #437
King played a combined 64 first grade games for Manly (1999) and the Northern Eagles (2000-01).
The full-back scored six tries in 17 games for Manly and 18 tries in 47 matches for the Northern Eagles.
Today, King works as a Construction Supervisor for Newcrest in PNG and lives on the Gold Coast.
Brett Stewart #477
‘The Prince of Brookvale’, Brett Stewart could certainly bring Manly supporters to their feet with his sheer attacking brilliance.
Considered by many to be one of Manly's greatest fullbacks, Stewart played a staggering 233 games for the Sea Eagles from 2003-16, scoring a club record 163 tries (652 points).
Nick-named ‘Snake, Stewart played in four grand finals for Manly, winning premierships in 2008 and 2011.
Stewart also played eight Origin matches for NSW, one Test for Australia, and was the Dally M Top Tryscorer in 2008, a year that saw him score 22 tries for Manly.
Today, Stewart works for All Pro Chemical and Cleaning Supplies in between his role as a Mentor Positional Coach for the Sea Eagles.
