Sea Eagles honour foundation player in ANZAC Round

Join us this ANZAC Round as we come together to honour and remember the brave servicemen and women who have served our nation with courage and sacrifice.

This match is more than just a game. It’s a moment to reflect, to remember, and to show our gratitude as a community. Lest we forget.

When the Sea Eagles took the field for their first premiership match in 1947, Malcolm Campbell had already faced challenges far beyond Rugby League.

Before joining the Club’s foundation team, he had spent his early twenties flying dangerous missions over wartime Europe with the Royal Australian Air Force.

Early Life and Enlistment

Campbell was born in Harbord on 10 February 1924 and grew up on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, leaving school at fifteen to work before enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force at seventeen in December 1941.

Although too young to formally sign on, he began his training in Manly. After turning 18 in 1942, he completed wireless operator and gunnery training, qualifying for overseas service by late 1943.

No. 463 Squadron RAAF

After further training in Britain, Campbell was posted to No. 463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. The squadron was based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire and flew as part of RAF Bomber Command’s No. 5 Group.

Campbell flew aboard the Avro Lancaster, a four-engine heavy bomber crewed by seven men. His role was as both a wireless operator and an air gunner. He was also trained to defend the aircraft when required, a dual responsibility that made wireless operators vital members of any crew.

A Foundation Sea Eagle

When Manly Warringah entered the NSWRL competition in 1947, Campbell was selected in the Club’s first ever side. Teammates remembered him as tough, loyal and fearless. Mackie played a total of six first grade and seven second grade games for the Sea Eagles.

Life After Football

Campbell married in 1949 and had two children. He remained active across the Northern Beaches as a member of the Freshwater Life Saving Club and worked in several roles, including sales positions with United Distillers and Aristocrat Machines. He also helped run the family’s general store, Campbell’s Emporium, in Harbord.

He later moved his young family to Mount Isa for several years to work in the mines before returning to Sydney. In his later years, he served as President of the Harbord Diggers Club for 14 years.

Malcolm passed away in 2000 aged 76 and is remembered as a colourful and larger-than-life figure who carried humour, connection and loyalty through every stage of his life.

Legacy

Mac Campbell’s story reflects the enduring spirit of the Sea Eagles... courage, commitment, and a strong sense of belonging. From flying missions over Europe to walking onto the field at Brookvale, his journey speaks to the resilience and character that have shaped this Club from the very beginning.

As the grandfather of Sea Eagles great Steve ‘Beaver’ Menzies, his legacy lives on. A local from Harbord who served his country, returned home, and played a role in building a club that continues to carry his story forward.

The Jersey

The Sea Eagles will wear the jersey in their ANZAC Round clash against the Parramatta Eels at 4 Pines Park on Sunday, April 26. 

Design features

• The maroon panel at the top of the jersey features a tonal disruptive camouflage pattern inspired by the surface textures of the Avro Lancaster. This pattern references the aircraft flown by Malcolm Campbell and symbolises the environment in which he and his crew operated.
• Sea Eagles 80th year logo in colour palette inspired by the RAF Roundel.
• The sleeve cuffs and collar use a colour palette drawn directly from the finishes and markings found on Lancaster aircraft. These tones reflect the metal panels, protective coatings and operational wear seen on WWII bombers. Including them in the jersey connects the garment directly back to the aircraft without overshadowing the club’s maroon and white heritage.
• The collar carries a direct tribute to Campbell’s wartime unit. On the inside sits his squadron number, 463, acknowledging the Lancaster crew he served with during operations over Europe. On the outside is the squadron’s motto, Press On Regardless.
• Positioned just below the collar is a heritage-inspired mark based on the enamel pin issued to members of the Manly Warringah Rugby League Football Club in 1947. This was the club’s earliest known supporter emblem and one of the first visual identities adopted in Manly’s foundation year. Including it on the jersey creates a direct link to Malcolm Campbell’s place in that inaugural team and ties the design back to the origins of the Sea Eagles. It serves as a quiet acknowledgement of the club he represented in its very first season and reinforces the connection between his wartime service and his role in establishing Manly Warringah’s football history.

Purchase our jersey

You can purchase our 2026 ANZAC Round jersey today at our official online store.