Manly’s 1996 premiership-winning team will be honoured at 4 Pines Park on Friday night when the Sea Eagles play the Dragons in the final home game in our 80th season.
The vast majority of the '96 squad will be in attendance so be sure to show these legends some true Manly love when they're introduced to the crowd just before kick-off.
In readiness for their arrival, let’s take a walk down memory lane.
The Sea Eagles claimed the Club’s sixth premiership by defeating the St George Dragons 20-8 in the 1996 Grand Final at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Under captain Geoff Toovey and Coach Bob Fulton, the Sea Eagles finished the regular season as Minor Premiers, losing just four games all season.
To get to the Grand Final, Manly defeated the Roosters 16-14 in Week 1 of the finals, and then beat the Sharks 24-0 in the Preliminary Final.
The Dragons had to take the long road to Grand Final Day after finishing the regular season in seventh place. It took three straight wins for them to book a place in the decider, with victories against the Raiders, Roosters and Bears.
Manly’s toughness and defensive control was a trademark of the grand final as it had been through the regular season, conceding just 35 tries in 22 matches.
A quick recap of how the game panned out.
Manly struck early when Craig Innes chased through a Geoff Toovey grubber to score after five minutes. Matthew Ridge added the extras and then kicked a penalty goal to establish an 8-0 lead.
The Dragons first points came from a Wayne Bartrim penalty goal in the 38th minute and then in the shadows of half time came a grand final moment that would be talked about for years to come.
Ridge regathered from a short re-start which led to a Steve Menzies try on the stroke of half time. The adjudication by referee David Manson that Ridge hadn’t been tackled, had some scratching their heads, as Manly went to the break leading 14-2.
Manly effectively sealed victory early in the second half when Danny Moore crossed after a Terry Hill break and pass, taking the score to 20–2.
St George hit back with a Nick Zisti try with about 20 minutes remaining but the Sea Eagles rock solid defence, held firm for the remainder of the match.
Geoff Toovey was awarded the prestigious Clive Churchill Medal as player of the match.
It was a third grand final loss in five years for the Dragons following defeats to the Broncos in 1992 and '93.
1996 Season Summary
Coach: Bob Fulton
Captains: Geoff Toovey (23), Matthew Ridge (2)
Biggest home crowd: 21,217 vs North Sydney, Rd 12
Top point scorer: Matthew Ridge (165)
Top try scorer: Steve Menzies (24)
Biggest win: 44-0 vs Parramatta, Brookvale Oval, Rd 15
1996 Grand Final Teams
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
1 Matthew Ridge 2 Danny Moore 3 Craig Innes 4 Terry Hill 5 John Hopoate 13 Nik Kosef 7 Geoff Toovey (c) 17 David Gillespie 9 Jim Serdaris 10 Mark Carroll 11 Steve Menzies 12 Daniel Gartner 8 Owen Cunningham, Bench: 6 Cliff Lyons 14 Neil Tierney 16 Des Hasler 19 Craig Hancock, Coach Bob Fulton.
St George Dragons
1 Dean Raper 2 Nick Zisti 3 Mark Coyne (c) 5 Adrian Brunker 4 Mark Bell 6 Anthony Mundine 7 Noel Goldthorpe 8 Troy Stone 9 Jeff Hardy 10 Luke Felsch 19 Kevin Campion 12 Scott Gourley 13 Wayne Bartrim, Bench: 11 David Barnhill 14 Lance Thompson 15 Colin Ward 16 Nathan Brown, Coach David Waite
1996 Grand Final Match Details
Sea Eagles 20 (Innes, Menzies, Moore tries; Ridge 3/3, Innes 1/1 goals) d Dragons 8 (Zisti try; Bartrim 2/2) goals). Half-time: Manly 14-2. Sydney Cricket Ground, Sunday
