1973 Grand Final: Bozo dazzles in brutal decider

The 1973 Grand Final between Manly and Cronulla is widely regarded as the most brutal Grand Final in rugby league history.

The Sea Eagles defeated the Sharks 10-7 in front of 52,044 at the SCG on Saturday 15th September.

Manly finished the season as minor premiers, just one point ahead of second-placed Cronulla, and had beaten the Sharks a fortnight earlier in the major semi-final.

Well remembered for its fiery clashes and brutal collisions, it also featured two tries scored by future Immortal Bob Fulton, one of which has been described as one of his greatest.

The victory claimed Manly’s second premiership following the team’s grand final win over the Roosters in 1972.

The win also marked the end of Ken Irvine’s record-breaking career. The masterful Manly winger went out a winner in his 236th and final first grade game, having scored 212 tries along the way.

Manly had a fearsome forward pack that included John O’Neill and Bill Hamilton up front, Terry Randall alongside Peter Peters in the second row, with Malcolm Reilly locking the scrum.

Manly opened the scoring when captain and hooker Freddie Jones flicked a no-look pass for Fulton who beat four defenders to score untouched under the posts. Graham Eadie added the extras to give Manly a 5-0 lead at half time.

The Sea Eagles were ahead 5-2 well into the second half when Fulton added his second.

It came after a scrum win in Cronulla’s half and a wrap-around play with five-eighth Ian Martin. Graham Eadie then chimed in, stomped over a defender or two before lobbing a pass to Fulton, who surged for the corner leaving Steve Rogers and replacement fullback Rick Bourke in his wake.

Bourke scored for Cronulla with about 10 minutes remaining to put his team just one point behind, before Eadie added a penally goal to seal the 10-7 victory for Manly.

Peters, who will be among a record number of former players at Sunday's home game against Cronulla, remembers the match well.

“It was a great game and a tough game,” ‘Zorba’ recalls.

I did things in that game I wasn't proud of and I regret to this day, but you do what you've got to do to win.

Peter Peters Sea Eagle #195

“We had a great side, and I was privileged to play in it.

“It certainly helped having probably the best forward in the world and the best back in the world in Malcolm Reilly and Bob Fulton, hard to beat that.

“And what a thrill it was to be able to play with Ken Irvine in his last game. What a great player and great finisher ‘Mongo’ was.”

Players from the 1973 & 1978 premiership-winning Manly teams will be at 4 Pines Park for Sunday’s match against Cronulla, as the Club celebrates Golden Eagles Round in its 80th anniversary season.