Some great tryscorers of yesteryear were the special guests at Manly Warringah Sea Eagles training today as part of the third Golden Eagles Barbecue.
The concept of the Golden Eagles Barbecue is to invite some former players from different positions to join the current Manly players and coaching staff for lunch the day before a game as part of the Sea Eagles Legacy Group through our Eagle Hearts program.
The inaugural lunch saw full-backs such as Mike Eden, Shannon Nevin, Andrew King, and Brett Stewart attend the day before the opening round win over the Bulldogs.
Some former Manly props such as Ian Thomson, David Gillespie, Solomon Haumono, and Jason King attended the team barbecue the day before the round four match against South Sydney.
Ahead of tomorrow's home game against the Gold Coast Titans at 4 Pines Park, former wingers/centres David Ronson, David Liddiard, Mitch Creary, and Michael Oldfield joined the current team at today's luncheon. Several other ex-players were unable to attend the luncheon.
Manly centres/wingers of yesteryear
David Ronson #321
A Manly junior from the Belrose Club, Ronson played 101 games for the Sea Eagles from 1985-91.
Ronson made his first grade debut against Canterbury in round 16, 1985 after coming through the SG Ball side at Manly.
A talented winger/centre, Ronson played in the 1987 premiership winning Manly side under Coach Bob Fulton and captain Paul Vautin. Nick-named 'The Kid', Ronson scored 34 tries and kicked two goals for 140 points for Manly.
Today, David lives with his family on the Northern Beaches.
David Liddiard, OAM #369
Liddiard played for the Sea Eagles from 1990-1992 following previous stints at Parramatta and Penrith, and in England.
He scored 10 tries in 34 matches for Manly, winning 20 of the matches he played in. Liddiard played in the 1990 finals series for the Sea Eagles.
A well known passionate advocate of Indigenous Australians, Liddiard was recipient of the Dally M Rookie of the year in 1983 and played in two grand finals for Parramatta Eels in 1983 and 1984 - winning the premiership in the 1983 season.
Today, David is the Managing Director of the David Liddiard Group (2014-present)
which brings together experienced and reputable industry leaders who are committed to supporting Indigenous business development.
Mitch Creary #471
A Manly junior with the Avalon Bulldogs, Creary scored four tries in 10 games for the Sea Eagles from 2003 and 2005-06.
Prior to Manly, Creary scored four tries in five games for the now defunct Northern Eagles in 2002.
Today, Mitch owns the Commercial Hotel in Bega.
Michael Oldfield #539
Oldfield started his long NRL career at the Sea Eagles in 2010 with his first grade debut against St George-Illawarra.
The winger scored 14 tries in 24 games for Manly from 2010-12, including a memorable hat-trick against the Dragons at Brookvale Oval in 2012. He also played in Manly's World Club Challenge match against Leeds in 2012.
Following his time at Manly, Oldfield went on to play for the Sydney Roosters, Souths, Penrith, Canberra and Parramatta in a career that saw him score 30 tries in 56 NRL games. He also played 44 games for Catalans in the English Super League.
Today, Michael is a financial planner and a keen golfer.
