Delmege $12m
I see Silvertails got a mention in the article too.
He has given $12 million in cold hard cash to Manly and now co-owner Max Delmege wants his ultimate dividend - an NRL premiership.
Having saved Manly from financial collapse in 2001, Delmege is now just 160 minutes from living his dream.
"It (a premiership) would mean so much to me. It would be unbelievable,'' Delmege told The Daily Telegraph last night. "Honestly, I dream every night about how I would feel if we won a premiership, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves - we haven't made the grand final yet.
"But I can't believe how this has affected me.''
Delmege and co-owner Scott Penn continue to fund Manly as the club strives for its first premiership since 1996.
"A premiership would be great not only for me but for the fans as well, who have stuck with us through thick and thin,'' he said.
"At the end of the day, God has given me some business acumen but I still love the fans who find the dough to go to the games every week.
"They are so loyal - they have done the hard yards. The bloke signing the cheques has the easy part. Since the 1997 grand final, the Manly fans have had to put up with a lot. They went through the Super League war and then the Northern Eagles.''
Supporters website, Silvertails.net, started amidst one of the club's darkest recent moments, a 70 point flogging from Penrith in 2004. It is this passion to the cause that is indicative of the commitment to the cause Delmege speaks of.
Told that he had saved the famous Manly club, Delmege admitted: "I've done my bit but it's a passion for me.''
Manly chief executive Grant Mayer paid tribute to Delmege's contribution. "There's no doubt Manly was just five minutes from closing its doors,'' Mayer said yesterday. "Without Max, the Manly club would be gone right now.
"We all understand how Max would feel with a premiership and he deserves it as much as the players themselves.''
Delmege said victory in the first finals game against Souths ago was a wonderful night for the northern peninsula.
"Back at the leagues club it was just awesome,'' Delmege said. "It seemed like the whole of Manly was there.''
Manly are $1.50 favourites with TAB Sportsbet and trained yesterday at their Narrabeen headquarters. Winger Chris Hicks and back-rower Glenn Stewart remain troubled by ankle injuries.
Hicks is in most doubt and would be replaced by Michael Bani if ruled out. Test selectors will closely monitor the form of rival fullbacks Matt Bowen (Cowboys) and Brett Stewart (Manly).
