The game has moved on from me and a lot of people from my generation

[Terry Zarsoff]

All imagery reproduced from this recent publication:

 

[Go manly]

Great stuff
Just great stuff

 

[Under the Sticks]

For those of us who remember the old days -

c.1971: Malcolm anchoring the team, then Bozo, Denis Ward and Ken Irvine:
View attachment 28963
1973: Ray Branighan. That’s Paul Sait looming up behind. Not sure who the tackler is:
View attachment 28964
1974: Ian Martin, Max and Terry, with Neil Pringle the ring in, at Harbord. ‘Bing’ lived locally. They had all just been selected for City duties:
View attachment 28965
Big Phil Lowe and Gary Stevens, 1976. John Harvey in the background:
View attachment 28966
Post-1976 GF. Arko, Biscuits, put the shirts on! Yes, that’s Doug Walters next to Arko:
View attachment 28967
The great man in his last season as a Sea Eagles’ player:
View attachment 28968
The 1977 Sea Eagles. Elwyn Walters in a Manly jumper. On his right is Robbie Parker, a Manly junior in both codes, finishing his career at Manly after several years at Wests. Behind Frank Stanton’s head is where the Ken Arthurson Stand now looms:
View attachment 28969
1978 vs NZ selection time:
View attachment 28970
Dialling it back to 1973:
View attachment 28971
Johnny Gibbs, c. 1977. Medical authorities warn that smoking is a health hazard:
View attachment 28972
1978 GF. Or is it the replay? Steve Martin feeding the scrum:
View attachment 28973
Steve ‘Tarzan’ Knight on the charge in the ‘78 decider. Thommo looms up in support:
View attachment 28974
Pheww… we won…three days later:
View attachment 28975
c.1979, Bruce ‘Goldie’ Walker and John Gray with Frank Hyde:
View attachment 28976

Wow what a rig on Igor.

 

[BOZO]

For those of us who remember the old days -

Thanks for the Historic Memories feathered friend Tezz

History Inspires Innovation from Past to Future
The Innovating Incomparable Immoral Bob Fulton
Whos Great Winning Legacy Inspires and Lives on
The Game Will Always be Better because of Great Men Like Bozo

 

[silvereagle]

The game is now just a franchise driven bunch of exhibition games for 27 rounds. All the tribalism and expectation has gone. Realistically what teams can win the 2025 premiership. Penrith or Storm. The rest are making up the numbers.

@mickqld I thought you were talking about 1969. There were really only three teams in it that year (Saints, South and Wests). However despite this the mighty Balmain Tigers won the comp that year in a boilover. Re tribalism and passion....plenty of this in my family today and we are spread across four generations!!! Not sure the "old days" were that much better than today. If anything more lopsided given no cap. Absolutely loving the game today. Only missing piece is the no premiership bit for Manly. Hate that!!!

 

[Bearfax]

Oh the memories. Almost brings tears to the eyes. Great years, great players, great games.

 

[Bearfax]

@mickqld I thought you were talking about 1969. There were really only three teams in it that year (Saints, South and Wests). However despite this the mighty Balmain Tigers won the comp that year in a boilover. Re tribalism and passion....plenty of this in my family today and we are spread across four generations!!! Not sure the "old days" were that much better than today. If anything more lopsided given no cap. Absolutely loving the game today. Only missing piece is the no premiership bit for Manly. Hate that!!!

I remember that '69 grand final. Biggest boil over I can recall. The rising brilliance of South Sydney was expected to roll the Tigers easily. Balmain played it tactically, slowing the game down, feigning a constant flow of injuries, maintaining strong defense. Put the Rabbits off their game Balmain's coach Nosworthy certainly won the game that day. Rabbits learned their lesson the next two years, though Manly, Canterbury and Easts ripped that great team apart in the next few years (Branigan, O'Neil, Moses to Manly, Cleary and Coote to Easts, later McCarthy to Canterbury) Helped Manly win their first GF

 

[BOZO]

Oh the memories. Almost brings tears to the eyes. Great years, great players, great games.

Our Historic Record Breaking 40 Nil Premiership win brought tears through out the Ground
Tears of Heart break from the All Shattered Storm people
And tears of Joy from all the Proud and Jubilant Manly people .

Who says its just a game and Winning isnt everything ?
Emotionless and passionless people without a soul

Every picture tells a story
Manly People Worked up for a Manly Win
They all want to go home Proud Winners !
When Seibold says how proud he was after a Manly loss
It makes us want to tear up his contract

 

[silvereagle]

I remember that '69 grand final. Biggest boil over I can recall. The rising brilliance of South Sydney was expected to roll the Tigers easily. Balmain played it tactically, slowing the game down, feigning a constant flow of injuries, maintaining strong defense. Put the Rabbits off their game Balmain's coach Nosworthy certainly won the game that day. Rabbits learned their lesson the next two years, though Manly, Canterbury and Easts ripped that great team apart in the next few years (Branigan, O'Neil, Moses to Manly, Cleary and Coote to Easts, later McCarthy to Canterbury) Helped Manly win their first GF

I agree @Bearfax. I was actually there that day as a young kid. Biggest boilover I have ever witnessed in sport. No-one expected the Tigers to win.... including the Tigers fans. The Souths forwards were a deadly machine that year ++ with the likes of Sattler, O'Neal, Coote, McCarthy, Sait, Walters etc. Not sure any one club could afford that distinguished group at today's prices and cap.

 

[manly al]

I agree @Bearfax. I was actually there that day as a young kid. Biggest boilover I have ever witnessed in sport. No-one expected the Tigers to win.... including the Tigers fans. The Souths forwards were a deadly machine that year ++ with the likes of Sattler, O'Neal, Coote, McCarthy, Sait, Walters etc. Not sure any one club could afford that distinguished group at today's prices and cap.

Could have been a missed premiership opportunity for Manly as well that season as were just beaten on the bell by the Tigers with a try in the qualifying final from a centre named Geoge Rubner from memory , the week before .
Taking into account that Manly were a bit unlucky the previous season and apparently being a form side that year and unlucky from some reports not taking out the Big One .
Then making the G F again in 1970 .
Anyway , just a bit more patience required before that 72 win but taking into account the club making G F "s in the 50 "s or so and being competitive for maybe a good part of the 60 "s and against the might of stacked Dragons and Souths sides at the time , would seem a pretty good effort
Think that Arther Beatson missed that Tigers G F win as well which was even more of a credit to their win that day .

 

[Woodsie]

I also have been watching and playing the game since the mid 60's ... and the game has never been better, or more successful ... it even survived GreenTurd's idiotic management.

Players have never been, bigger, faster, stronger or more skilful.

TV coverage with 20 high resolution cameras and replays never better.

The bunker howlers still generate countless arguments down the pub, just like the old Ref's howlers did ... but now also generate 500,000 posts on social media.

The game has always thrived on controversy ... and now instead of what happens in the pub, stays in the pub ... we have countless phone cameras with players being named and shamed ... all for our further entertainment.

The teams with the best structures, management and squads are still winning the comps ...

The level of media content put out by the clubs is professional, engaging and a breath of fresh air.

But I agree that the loud, annoying and intrusive crap that goes on t the grounds should be terminated with extreme prejudice.

 

[Ryan]

I also have been watching and playing the game since the mid 60's ... and the game has never been better, or more successful ... it even survived GreenTurd's idiotic management.

Players have never been, bigger, faster, stronger or more skilful.

TV coverage with 20 high resolution cameras and replays never better.

The bunker howlers still generate countless arguments down the pub, just like the old Ref's howlers did ... but now also generate 500,000 posts on social media.

The game has always thrived on controversy ... and now instead of what happens in the pub, stays in the pub ... we have countless phone cameras with players being named and shamed ... all for our further entertainment.

The teams with the best structures, management and squads are still winning the comps ...

The level of media content put out by the clubs is professional, engaging and a breath of fresh air.

But I agree that the loud, annoying and intrusive crap that goes on t the grounds should be terminated with extreme prejudice.

I just miss the "characters" mate, you know. Throwing some names out there: Merv Hughes. David Boon. Viv Richards. Dermet Brereton. Warwick Capper. Wolfman Williams. Beaver Menzies. Pat Cash. Super Brat. Kostya Tszu etc etc etc.

Just feel this generation of kids have very little flavour. There's very little connectivity like there used to be. Just find it hard to have any affinity with current players, or be connected to them (most are mercenaries now really). Don't get me wrong, I love Bullemor, Garrick, Jake & Croker. But nowhere near the likes of Snake, Choc, Gift, Killer, Ox and Wolfie.

Also, maybe I'm just an old miserable grumpy prick too (the most likely scenario here), and I need to get with the times. Hahaha

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I just miss the "characters" mate, you know. Throwing some names out there: Merv Hughes. David Boon. Viv Richards. Dermet Brereton. Warwick Capper. Wolfman Williams. Beaver Menzies. Pat Cash. Super Brat. Kostya Tszu etc etc etc.

Just feel this generation of kids have very little flavour. There's very little connectivity like there used to be. Just find it hard to have any affinity with current players, or be connected to them (most are mercenaries now really). Don't get me wrong, I love Bullemor, Garrick, Jake & Croker. But nowhere near the likes of Snake, Choc, Gift, Killer, Ox and Wolfie.

Also, maybe I'm just an old miserable grumpy prick too (the most likely scenario here), and I need to get with the times. Hahaha

You make a really interesting point. I wonder if it's not just largely a matter of perception? Killer Ox and Gift for example were hardly known as 'characters', they were all quiet and humble at least in public, same as Skivvie Matai but it was more our love of their on-field exploits that made us warm to them so much.

I think there's plenty of big personalities in current footy, but a lot of them are disliked rather than liked! Walsh, Mitchell, Munster, Cheese etc. At Manly, Toff is a big personality for sure.

As for this generation of kids having very little flavour ... google Sam Konstas!

 

[Woodsie]

I just miss the "characters" mate, you know. Throwing some names out there: Merv Hughes. David Boon. Viv Richards. Dermet Brereton. Warwick Capper. Wolfman Williams. Beaver Menzies. Pat Cash. Super Brat. Kostya Tszu etc etc etc.

You miss Warrick Capper? ... good grief ... get some counselling!

 

[Ryan]

You miss Warrick Capper? ... good grief ... get some counselling!

Mate....maaaaaaate

 

[Ryan]

You make a really interesting point. I wonder if it's not just largely a matter of perception? Killer Ox and Gift for example were hardly known as 'characters', they were all quiet and humble at least in public, same as Skivvie Matai but it was more our love of their on-field exploits that made us warm to them so much.

I think there's plenty of big personalities in current footy, but a lot of them are disliked rather than liked! Walsh, Mitchell, Munster, Cheese etc. At Manly, Toff is a big personality for sure.

As for this generation of kids having very little flavour ... google Sam Konstas!

Gift, Snake and Alberts came down and had a game of touch footy with us and a BBQ on their own time, and I found Gift to be amazing, always pulling his little brother into line haha. I get The Trbojevics commit and invest time into Mona Vale Raiders. But this was something else. NBQ talking water skiing with me. Choc taking the piss out of me over The Bears. Guess it comes down to situations maybe.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Gift, Snake and Alberts came down and had a game of touch footy with us and a BBQ on their own time, and I found Gift to be amazing, always pulling his little brother into line haha. I get The Trbojevics commit and invest time into Mona Vale Raiders. But this was something else. NBQ talking water skiing with me. Choc taking the piss out of me over The Bears. Guess it comes down to situations maybe.

That's awesome! Meeting anyone in person is bound to give you a better idea of their personality, much easier to like someone if you know them a little. I've met Snake, Gift Matai, King,robbo, Kitey and a bunch of others briefly at various fan functions, it sure makes it easier to cheer for them when you like them as people not just as figures from a distance or on a tv screen!

 

[Woodsie]

Mate....maaaaaaate

I was wrong ... you don't need counselling ... you need an intervention!

 

[maxta]

I also have been watching and playing the game since the mid 60's ... and the game has never been better, or more successful ... it even survived GreenTurd's idiotic management.

Players have never been, bigger, faster, stronger or more skilful.

TV coverage with 20 high resolution cameras and replays never better.

The bunker howlers still generate countless arguments down the pub, just like the old Ref's howlers did ... but now also generate 500,000 posts on social media.

The game has always thrived on controversy ... and now instead of what happens in the pub, stays in the pub ... we have countless phone cameras with players being named and shamed ... all for our further entertainment.

The teams with the best structures, management and squads are still winning the comps ...

The level of media content put out by the clubs is professional, engaging and a breath of fresh air.

But I agree that the loud, annoying and intrusive crap that goes on t the grounds should be terminated with extreme prejudice.

I love the game before, then and now and agree with everything regarding the abilities.....it's almost cheatcard with some of the physical abilities of the modern player.
The only part of todays game i feel lacks the yesteryear appeal is "playing what's in front of you" as there are so many structures to the modern game, that the players at rep level as kids are trained to play to a robotic system.
But the game is Super entertaining and fast and let me add, right now after Xmas and NYE festivities, I start counting the days till the 2025 kickoff....