1986 MANLY

eagle66 · Dec 22, 2020

After the disappointment of 1985, we roll into the off season with the promise of new players.
Interesting report of the first Sevens competition and Manly's game against the NOrthern Territory featuring a Bob Fulton cameo.

eagle66 · Dec 22, 2020

An interesting read about Roy Francis, ex coach of North Sydney, I wonder who the player was who had a nympho wife?

johnperi01 · Dec 22, 2020

Whatever happened to Mitchell Cox? I went overseas at the start of 86 and he was in firsts and playing well. By the end of the season he was nowhere to be seen.
I always thought he was a gun at Norths, with his quick acceleration and bootlace tackling style.

Peter C · Dec 22, 2020

eagle66 said:
An interesting read about Roy Francis, ex coach of North Sydney, I wonder who the player was who had a nympho wife?

An interesting read, Roy may have been gilding the lily regarding his advice to the player's wife, if she took Roy's advice and the player abstained from having sex the day of the game, she may have been seen to by some of his team mates , or perhaps even Roy himself, if she was a nymphomaniac.
I did a bit of checking and I would say that the player concerned, if the story is true, would in all likelihood had to have been an English or Great Britain International, as in those years Norths were very skinny on internationals, they only had a few, Ken Irvine , who was already an established international, George Ambrum, international in 1972, so a possibility, and later on there was Tim Pickup and our own Goldie Walker, however both of these two joined Norths just after Francis left, if it was an Australian, then I would let you draw your own conclusion.

eagle66 · Dec 22, 2020

Peter C said:
An interesting read, Roy may have been gilding the lily regarding his advice to the player's wife, if she took Roy's advice and the player abstained from having sex the day of the game, she may have been seen to by some of his team mates , or perhaps even Roy himself, if she was a nymphomaniac.
I did a bit of checking and I would say that the player concerned, if the story is true, would in all likelihood had to have been an English or Great Britain International, as in those years Norths were very skinny on internationals, they only had a few, Ken Irvine , who was already an established international, George Ambrum, international in 1972, so a possibility, and later on there was Tim Pickup and our own Goldie Walker, however both of these two joined Norths just after Francis left, if it was an Australian, then I would let you draw your own conclusion.

I had it at George Ambrum but didn't consider any overseas internationals.

Shoe1 · Dec 22, 2020

johnperi01 said:
Whatever happened to Mitchell Cox? I went overseas at the start of 86 and he was in firsts and playing well. By the end of the season he was nowhere to be seen.
I always thought he was a gun at Norths, with his quick acceleration and bootlace tackling style.

He did well in games I saw from memory. Cliffy started at lock, with Des and Cox in the halves. By end of the year Cliffy was 6 and Des was 7. No disrespect to Coxy but he was behind 2 legends. Manly's depth was legendary.

ps he was last seen in a picture this year with Krilich helping to bottling 4 pines at the Brookvale factory.

StuBoot · Dec 22, 2020

johnperi01 said:
Whatever happened to Mitchell Cox? I went overseas at the start of 86 and he was in firsts and playing well. By the end of the season he was nowhere to be seen.
I always thought he was a gun at Norths, with his quick acceleration and bootlace tackling style.

Wow, you've been away a while mate.

Brissie Kid · Dec 22, 2020

Bozo had Phil Blake on the wing for at least the first half of 1986. Such a waste imo, especially as Lyons was still at Leeds for a good chunk of the start of the Manly season and then he was at lock all year with Cox at #6 spot. I suppose given Arko had bought Cox as a #6 before Lyons signed they had to stick with him all season. Cox was at Manly in 87 but only on the bench for a handful of games. In 87 the halves were Hasler and M Meredith for the first month, with Cliffy on the bench. In 87 Cliffy got Manly #6 spot mid April, NSW Origin #6 spot mid July and won the Clive Churchill end of Sept.

eagle66 · Dec 23, 2020

Trial results
2 games against Parramatta

eagle66 · Dec 23, 2020

Well, it was only a trial plus the Moose

Brissie Kid · Dec 23, 2020

I do recall Bozo copping heaps of criticism for Manly signing Cliffy and Rambo Gibbs. They were both seen as players who lacked discipline and sooner or later it would all implode on Manly. Bozo showed 'em!

That Manly jersey design looks a little different too. Great posts eagle66!

eagle66 · Dec 24, 2020

Round 1 v Canberra & Mal Meninga
Victory in all 3 grades

eagle66 · Dec 26, 2020

Round 2 BYE still undefeated

Chip and Chase · Dec 27, 2020

It's tough reading those Rambo articles now given his well documented battle with the effects of multiple concussions. I wish him all the best, he played with no fear but that may be his undoing. Lovely guy too, ran into him at 2011 GF and he had time for a bit of a chat.