Pre-Game Manly V Warriors [Round 27, 2025]

[Mark from Brisbane]

Reminds of season 1979 where in the final round game at Brookie the Manly team rolled the Bulldogs (Berries?) who despite the loss somehow hung onto 5th place. All this showed just how good Manly was as the Dogs went on to reach the grand final.

After the Brookie game Tom Mooney said on tv "No one would have touched us if we'd made the finals'". And he was right.

But Manly's team through 1979 was full of injuries and worn out players after the monumental play offs run in 1978 and then the kangaroos tour.

This 2025 team from Manly though dropped so many winnable games they don't to my mind have any where near the excuses the 1979 team had for missing the finals.

Geez there were some stars in that side but yes after winning in 78, and the Kangaroo tour at the end of that year , our aging side really struggled.

How good was the game back then

 

[Pete W]

We timed our run one game short. I believe we can beat anyone at the moment. DCE and Turbo are fully firing and everyone is all pumped up.

It might seem that way, but don't be fooled. It is only when the fight is over, the pressure off, when they can no longer make finals, does this team have any form of confidence. It's just an illusion, and no doubt Seibold will be using these last couple of wins, albeit against very our-of-form opposition, to his PR-advantage

 

[TWO DOGS]

Reminds of season 1979 where in the final round game at Brookie the Manly team rolled the Bulldogs (Berries?) who despite the loss somehow hung onto 5th place. All this showed just how good Manly was as the Dogs went on to reach the grand final.

After the Brookie game Tom Mooney said on tv "No one would have touched us if we'd made the finals'". And he was right.

But Manly's team through 1979 was full of injuries and worn out players after the monumental play offs run in 1978 and then the kangaroos tour.

This 2025 team from Manly though dropped so many winnable games they don't to my mind have any where near the excuses the 1979 team had for missing the finals.

Thanks for sharing that. Great side - Russel Gartner was so fast, Eadie a great and Johnny Gibbs just fantastic. One of the great sides.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

But Manly's team through 1979 was full of injuries and worn out players after the monumental play offs run in 1978 and then the kangaroos tour.

Similar to why - surely - Penrith can't climb the mountain one more time.
Their key men have been 'up' for years, including playing heaps of rep footy.
They've done a great job regenerating the team with new players but so far none have come to the fore enough to take the pressure off those main men Cleary, Yeo, Leota, Martin, Edwards and To'o.
Hopefully they stick around in finals long enough to get rid of the likes of Chooks, Broncos or Storm, but can't see them going all the way


(on the other hand I possibly made similar predictions in some of the previous seasons too, oops!)

 

[The Who]

Thanks for sharing that. Great side - Russel Gartner was so fast, Eadie a great and Johnny Gibbs just fantastic. One of the great sides.

And to think, such a great match was officiated without The Bunker!
About the only things better in today's RL is the goal kicker (changing from the leather balls), and the quality of the surface at Brookie.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Similar to why - surely - Penrith can't climb the mountain one more time.
Their key men have been 'up' for years, including playing heaps of rep footy.
They've done a great job regenerating the team with new players but so far none have come to the fore enough to take the pressure off those main men Cleary, Yeo, Leota, Martin, Edwards and To'o.
Hopefully they stick around in finals long enough to get rid of the likes of Chooks, Broncos or Storm, but can't see them going all the way


(on the other hand I possibly made similar predictions in some of the previous seasons too, oops!)

I’m just seeing a bit of a drop off in what they are producing , maybe not To’o but Cleary , Yeo, Martin & definitely Edwards are just not as dominant as they were in previous years.

The hunger I think has escaped them.

So hard to be constantly UP for 5 years

 

[The Who]

I’m just seeing a bit of a drop off in what they are producing , maybe not To’o but Cleary , Yeo, Martin & definitely Edwards are just not as dominant as they were in previous years.

The hunger I think has escaped them.

So hard to be constantly UP for 5 years

Well, if they do win again there's nothing more certain than Canterbury will find the cash to buy some of their remaining stars.

 

[The Wheel]

Dean Ritchie saying Joey will debut on weekend

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Well, if they do win again there's nothing more certain than Canterbury will find the cash to buy some of their remaining stars.

Canterpenrith you mean ??

Yes of course , buy another 2-3 you’ll eventually get there

 

[Eagle 1]

I don’t mean meaningless in that way , but it’s not important in the scheme of things as to getting into the 8 and I’d hate to see him injured again in a fake that doesn’t really count for much.

Yeah, I know what you mean. If we lose tho, watch out for the big negative pile on,... on a meaningless game.
Just saying'..

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Yeah, I know what you mean. If we lose tho, watch out for the big negative pile on,... on a meaningless game.
Just saying'..

10th playing 6th

Ni whinges from me

 

[Sea Eagle 4 Life]

Reminds of season 1979 where in the final round game at Brookie the Manly team rolled the Bulldogs (Berries?) who despite the loss somehow hung onto 5th place. All this showed just how good Manly was as the Dogs went on to reach the grand final.

After the Brookie game Tom Mooney said on tv "No one would have touched us if we'd made the finals'". And he was right.

But Manly's team through 1979 was full of injuries and worn out players after the monumental play offs run in 1978 and then the kangaroos tour.

This 2025 team from Manly though dropped so many winnable games they don't to my mind have any where near the excuses the 1979 team had for missing the finals.

Great post.
Also, Mooney scored 4 tries that day to overtake those above him to achieve the most tries for 1979. A very underrated winger.

 

[Once Was Brissie Kid]

Geez there were some stars in that side but yes after winning in 78, and the Kangaroo tour at the end of that year , our aging side really struggled.

How good was the game back then

Hard to tell if it is rose coloured glasses etc. In a 12 minutes highlights clip, it looks great! Bring it back!

I'm firmly in the camp that the game was far better before 1993 until when they brought in the 10m rule & fulltime players. No one cared about the ruck speed etc and wrestling before then.

But to be fair someone made the point recently that we're probably biased as before the mid 1990s pay tv era we only saw one or two games a weekend on tv, it was usually hot or top teams and even then it was edited down. No one in 1979 was showing on tv Norths v Newtown, so maybe we were spared the rock bottom of footy.

It isn't Manly, but this game for mine is where the NRL (NSWRL) peaked. Rex's commentary & suburban daylight crowd. And that was 1976.

 

[The Who]

Why has Sippers been picked?

 

[ManlyTragic]

Absolute meaningless game , leave him in cottonwool.

Nah stuff that! He’s had enough time off! Time to get out there and earn a quid!

Just sayin!

 

[Once Was Brissie Kid]

Similar to why - surely - Penrith can't climb the mountain one more time.
Their key men have been 'up' for years, including playing heaps of rep footy.
They've done a great job regenerating the team with new players but so far none have come to the fore enough to take the pressure off those main men Cleary, Yeo, Leota, Martin, Edwards and To'o.
Hopefully they stick around in finals long enough to get rid of the likes of Chooks, Broncos or Storm, but can't see them going all the way


(on the other hand I possibly made similar predictions in some of the previous seasons too, oops!)

I agree. And i hope they fail.
They are well coached and almost like a musical stage choreography where every dancer from repetition knows their role. With this Cleary can just pass the ball without even looking, knowing the rehearsed team mate will be where he is supposed to be. But when they have to send in a replacement, as we saw earlier in the season, the Cleary pass finds the grass and not the hands.

 

[Bradza]

Why has Sippers been picked?

Manly are trying to have the charge downgraded which would result in a fine rather than suspension. That would allow Sips to play his final match at Brookie and also reach 100 NRL matches.

 

[The Who]

Manly are trying to have the charge downgraded which would result in a fine rather than suspension. That would allow Sips to play his final match at Brookie and also reach 100 NRL matches.

OK. I thought the downgrading would simply reduce the number of matches he'd be suspended for.
So, who would replace him if the appeal is unsuccessful?

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

OK. I thought the downgrading would simply reduce the number of matches he'd be suspended for.
So, who would replace him if the appeal is unsuccessful?

One of Manly's reserves, probably 20 or 21

 

[MissKate]

I hope we lose to give the Wahs a chance to sneak into the top 4