We look back at some great moments and telling stats against the Raiders as we launch into Manly’s 80th Anniversary season with a Round 1 clash against Canberra.
The two clubs have met 67 times since their first match in 1982, with Manly winning 41 games compared to Canberra’s 25.
The 1987 Grand Final
Under the coaching of Manly great Bob Fulton, the Sea Eagles claimed their fifth premiership title with an 18-8 victory over the Canberra Raiders in 1987.
Captained by Paul Vautin, the Sea Eagles dominated the season to finish minor premiers with Manly recording a 12-game winning streak from rounds 9 to 21.
Manly beat Easts 10-6 in the major semi-final to earn a week off and headed into the last ever grand final at the Sydney Cricket Ground as dominant favourites.
Manly Moments: Cliff Lyons in the 1987 Grand Final
The Sea Eagles were boosted by the return of tough Great Britain prop Kevin Ward for the grand final after the Englishman returned to Castleford, having played his last game for Manly six weeks earlier.
Manly took a 6-0 lead into half-time after five-eighth Cliff Lyons broke through from a scrum win to score.
Lyons was at his magical best, mesmerising Canberra’s defence in a masterful display to win the Clive Churchill Medal, the first Manly player to win the prestigious medal.
Five Doubles
It’s the Sea Eagles try scoring record that has stood the test of time against the Canberra Raiders for 43 years.
On Sunday, July 11, 1982, at Brookvale Oval, five Sea Eagles players all scored two tries each in a 61-20 win over the Raiders.
The ‘Fab Five’ were centre Michael Blake, the magical Phil Blake, winger Phil Carey, second-rower Paul McCabe, and lock Paul Vautin, who combined to score 10 of Manly’s 13 tries. John Ribot, Alan Thompson, and Ian Thomson also scored tries in the win.
Phil Blake’s double was even more incredible seeing he started the game off the bench as a reserve.
The brilliant Mike Eden, who had the rare ability to kick goals off either foot, kicked 11 goals in the win.
Four & Plenty
Former Manly player Peta Hiku and current centre Reuben Garrick share the record for most tries against Canberra with four each.
Playing on the wing, Hiku crossed for his four tries at Brookvale Oval in Manly’s superb 54-18 win in 2014.
Garrick achieved his feat in Manly’s 40-12 win at 4 Pines Park, Brookvale, in Round 3 last year. And how about this. Reuben has scored 48 points (6 tries and 12 goals) in his last four games at home against the Raiders.
This game will be Manly’s fourth Round 1 game against Canberra.
- First Round 1 matchup - March 8, 1986, at Brookvale. Manly 20-12.
- Second 1 matchup - March 11, 2006, at Brookvale. Canberra 27-14.
- Third Round 1 matchup - March 17, 2007, at Brookvale. Manly 32-6.
Home ground. Fresh start. See you at 4 Pines Park.
