REWIND: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles vs Parramatta Eels

Both clubs were admitted to the NSWRL competition in 1947. We take a trip down memory lane to look at some special moments against the Eels in our 80th Anniversary season.

Head-to-Head vs Parramatta

The record books show Manly have won 90 of the 153 first grade premiership matches played.

At Brookvale, the Sea Eagles have won an impressive 56 of their 72 matches at their spiritual home ground.

Historic Win

Manly’s first ever win was a 15-7 victory over Parramatta at Brookvale Oval on May 31, 1947.

The Sea Eagles scored five tries to one against their newcomers in front of a crowd of 3200.

Flying wingers Johnny Bliss and Gordon Willoughby scored two tries each and Keith Kirkwood, one.

It was a historic day for Manly and one that was cherished in a debut season that saw the club record four wins.

Still, it was enough to leave Parramatta with the wooden spoon in their debut year.

Wooden spoons…something, we don’t collect at Manly!

Grand Finals

The two clubs have met three times in a first grade Grand Final. They have also won 12 premierships between them.

This September will mark 50 years since Manly and Parramatta first met in the 1976 Grand Final at the SCG.

It was Manly's experience and class that saw the club capture their third premiership in five years.

1976: Manly 13 d Parramatta 10

1982: Parramatta 21 d Manly 8

1983: Parramatta 18 d Manly 6

Biggest winning margin

Manly set this incredible record with a 54-0 demolition of the Eels in 2018 at Brookvale.

The Sea Eagles ran in an astonishing nine tries with second-rower Curtis Sironen grabbing a double.

Manly’s most capped player, Daly Cherry-Evans, scored 22 points himself that had every fan doing the ‘Eagle Rock’ after full-time.

Most points scored in a match

The magic of Cliff Lyons and Dale Shearer saw them grab three tries each as the Sea Eagles put on 64 points against the Eels in 1988.

Parramatta fans were left fuming on their old home ground as Manly ran in 11 tries in the 64-12 win.

Centre Michael O’Connor finished with a try and 10/12 goals for a 24-point haul.

Most tries in a match

Now, this would have been a fun day out in Brookvale in 1951.

The Sea Eagles ran in 13 tries in a 57-10 romp with second-rower Jack Herbert, winger Ron Rowles, and centre Warren Simmons, crossing for two tries each. Imagine the celebrations at Manly Leagues Club afterwards!

Most goals in a match

The great Graham Eadie and Michael O’Connor share this incredible record of 10 goals each kicked in a game.

Eadie kicked 10 from 13 in a 53-8 win over the Eels at Brookvale in 1973.

O’Connor put the boot into the Eels at Parramatta Stadium with his 10 goals in the 64-12 win that saw Lyons and Shearer cross for their hat-tricks in 1988.

Most field goals scored in a match

Here is a very rare stat…three field goals kicked in three different games!

The first was in 1967 where a young five-eighth named Bob Fulton kicked two and Bob Batty one in Manly’s 27-9 win at Brookvale.

Fulton, the Manly five-eighth and captain, repeated the effort with another two field goals in Manly’s 17-15 win at Cumberland Oval in 1969. Half-back Dennis Ward kicked the other field goal for the Sea Eagles.

The third time this feat was achieved was in 1997 at Brookvale through the boot of Parramatta half-back John Simon.

Most individual points scored in a match

Current centre Reuben Garrick holds this record with a 28-point haul at the Sunshine Coast during the Covid lockdown in 2021.

Playing on the wing, Garrick crossed for a hat-trick and kicked eight goals in Manly’s 56-10 win.

Most individual tries scored in a match

Former Manly players Ray Ritchie, John McDonald and David Williams share the record for four tries each in a game.

All three players were the toast of Brookvale with Ritchie doing it in 1958, McDonald in 1970, and Williams in 2012.

You can almost picture ‘Wolfman’ Williams howling! Everyone loved ‘Wolfy’.

Longest winning streak

Manly’s longest winning streak of 13 is an incredible record that may never be broken again.

It occurred from April14, 1956 to March 6, 1962.

The biggest win came in 1961 at Brookvale Oval, a 42-7 victory under the coaching of the great Ken Arthurson.

Winger Bob Batty crossed for a hat-trick of tries with second-rower Barney McEvoy grabbing two in a fine day out for the Sea Eagles.

Famous TV commercial

'So, here we go again, Manly and Parra...Parra’s well ahead but the gap starts to narrow...Manly’s coming back, it seems like they’re built out of steel...How do you feel’

Those were the days when you could ‘thump ‘em, bump 'em, pick ‘em up and dump 'em’. 

Footy fans loved the lyrics from that iconic beer commercial in the 80's. These days of course it's with a cold and enjoyable 4 Pines in hand!