....said very very few players over the past 40 years.
Plenty here have said, "players don't leave Manly and go on to have stellar careers". A little research (yes, I have too much time on my hands I know) and the statement seems to be pretty true.
So I wanted to find out how many players had actually played first grade at Manly, left, and gone on to win Grand Finals with other clubs.
Last year, JWH did exactly that. He played 6 first grade games at Manly. But as it turns out, that was a fairly neat trick.
To find the last player before that, you need to go back to Luke Phillips who after having one season at Manly playing 22 first grade games, he joined the Roosters and played in their 2002 win over the Warriors.
Although, he didn't play in the Grand Final, in fairness, I should mention Phil (whats a packa) Sigsworth. Joining Manly from Newtown in 1983, he played 34 first grade games in 2 seasons including the grand final loss to Parramatta (which I had the misfortune to see) and scored our only try. Moving to the Dogs in 1985, although they won the Grand Final, Sigsworth didn't play. He did, however, play the following year in the 4-2 loss to Parramatta, where he managed to get himself sent off for a classic coat hanger on Kenny. Close, but no cigar.
The last, was Johnny Mayes who after playing in Manly's 1973 win over Cronulla, went on to the Roosters where he won two Grand Finals in 1974 and 1975.
So there you have it boys and girls. Three. That's it. In forty years. And curiously....all with the Rorters.
So boys, take a lesson from the history books. You may leave. You may get more money. But the culture, the glory and the titles stay where they are. With MANLY.
Plenty here have said, "players don't leave Manly and go on to have stellar careers". A little research (yes, I have too much time on my hands I know) and the statement seems to be pretty true.
So I wanted to find out how many players had actually played first grade at Manly, left, and gone on to win Grand Finals with other clubs.
Last year, JWH did exactly that. He played 6 first grade games at Manly. But as it turns out, that was a fairly neat trick.
To find the last player before that, you need to go back to Luke Phillips who after having one season at Manly playing 22 first grade games, he joined the Roosters and played in their 2002 win over the Warriors.
Although, he didn't play in the Grand Final, in fairness, I should mention Phil (whats a packa) Sigsworth. Joining Manly from Newtown in 1983, he played 34 first grade games in 2 seasons including the grand final loss to Parramatta (which I had the misfortune to see) and scored our only try. Moving to the Dogs in 1985, although they won the Grand Final, Sigsworth didn't play. He did, however, play the following year in the 4-2 loss to Parramatta, where he managed to get himself sent off for a classic coat hanger on Kenny. Close, but no cigar.
The last, was Johnny Mayes who after playing in Manly's 1973 win over Cronulla, went on to the Roosters where he won two Grand Finals in 1974 and 1975.
So there you have it boys and girls. Three. That's it. In forty years. And curiously....all with the Rorters.
So boys, take a lesson from the history books. You may leave. You may get more money. But the culture, the glory and the titles stay where they are. With MANLY.
