Your Comments

More comments are here.

At last, Neil and Ian have seen eye-to-eye and it looks like light has appeared at the end of the tunnel when the game looked like it was breathing its last. Thank God. Manly will get up over Parra in the grand final, and then Canterbury can buy all their players back from the Eels and go about dominating the comp again. Flame me, flame me!

Dion the Bulldog

Cruising through the 'net, I was rapt when I found a home page for what is currently the best team in the world, including all the traitors in the try-hard Super League. What's so super about a League that can't convince the defending Premiers to join their game. Manly in a slump could dish it out to the best of those Stupor League teams. I just wish I could see more of their games this year, but due to the Warriors switching to Stupid League, they are not showing any ARL games on free-to-air TV over here! Hopefully next year the codes will combine to produce the best competition so far, which, of course, Manly will reign supreme. (as though anybody thought they wouldn't!). Heres to looking forward to seeing more from our team on these pages.

cya later
Timothy Milner
Nelson, New Zealand

I am writing this before the game (Manly to win!) but as a devout Manly supporter who grew up in the early 80's I want to say welcome back Parra. Finally their is a credible arch nemesis to HATE again. As a football supporter you need teams to hate and only Parra represent that perfect symetry of despicableness that made them the natural rivals of all that is good and pure and Manly. Sure as Parra waned there were the evil Super league teams like Canberra, Brisbane and Canterbury to vanquish. But they are not worthy foes, more they represent malignant tumourous boils on the backside of the game, to be dispassionately lanced, cut away and disposed of.

Only Parra really deserve our loathing kindness because no other team has hurt Manly as they did in 82, and (I spit on your grave Ray Price) 83. Parra even won the bloody Tooheys commercial. But when Manly kicks their arse at Brookie tonight, find a Parra supporter (strange how many of them there suddenly are again) and ask how does he feel.

I believe that Manly aren't as good as last year without Ken Arthurson holding their hands. Last year they robbed the Saints in the grand final with Matthew Ridge being tackled. As a saints fan I got really upset that not only the Manly players were against them but also the ref.

Yours Sincerely,
Saints Fan.

For a Manly website this is a good and balanced site.

I have a pro-compromise and peace website on the Internet looking at all reasonasble avenues for one comp and peace for 1998 which Rugby League badly needs.

There has to be a good mix of Sydney clubs and expansion clubs in a redefined Premier League, 16 clubs is the ideal number, maybe 14. There should be no more or less clubs.

Promotion and relegation or a two-tier comp will NOT work.

Clubs that merge, relocate or a relegated are placed into a NSW/ACT Statewide League as a strong feeder. Say the clubs who merge, combine the junior leagues, play both staet clubs home games if possible on the same day as the Premier League team game, that would really be a great entertainment value for the day, heaps of footy.

Have a read of my Rugby League Homepage and express comments on the guestbook, email me, offer your views via email, ask questions about League you don't know via email.

There is also Rugby League Chat which is very good come on and talk footy.

Keep up the good work at Manly even though I support Canterbury (17-4 all remember).

Matthew O'Neill.
Rugby League Homepage: http://www.rleague.com
Rugby League Chat: http://www.rleague.com/matthew5.htm
Email: rleague@tig.com.au

GEEZ BOYS WELL DONE YOU REALLY PLAYED WELL TODAY! OOOPS THATS RIGHT U WERE THRASHED! THATS WHAT HAPPEN WHEN U JUST BUY THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD BUT DONT REALLY GIVE A DAMM ABOUT THE GAME.OH WELL GUESS YOU CANT WIN THEM ALL.OOPPS NOW YOU WILL ALL CRY. BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REALISE THAT U R NOT THE CHAMPION TEAM U THOUGHT U WERE. WELL UP THE MIGHTY TIGERS (WHO I MUST MENTION BEAT NORTHS) C YAS ALL LATER!

Look this is a very good page and i have nothing against any rugby league team. But really this IZZY fuckwit is really beginning to shit me ok. Everyday nearly he goes to the Balmain Web Page and puts shit on the team who in Rd. 11 make your team look like the pathetic losers that they are. Congrat. they have enough money to buy quality players but as far as a passion for the game they are nobodys. i cant see why they did not go to $uperLeague. They would fit in perf. So that is all Izzy you r a cock sucking moron c yas in the big one in sept.

Hi again,your page is sooooooooooo good it makes the other league pages look weak like the teams they represent.Anyway I must defend poor John Hopoate.A strong player either on the wing or perhaps to adopt a role in the forwards this man is a talented player.Sure he gets a bit angry but have you seen the way they wind him up? Fair dinkum the ref should stop the other players from getting in his way and making him angry.Ok ok,he needs to calm down a bit but he is getting better.His demolition job on STGeorge made me proud to be a sea eagle.I was waving the flag and making lots of noise as you would expect.To that kid with the STGeorge beanie who threw the soft drink can at me don't think I wont be looking for you at the next game.Go Toovey you dead set legend,cut them to pieces with your weaving runs tezza,be the fullback the young kids look up to Hancock,not forgetting Sedaris, Gartner, Carroll, Menzies, Kosef and Tierney. Carroll is going great since he got his new eyes, he can actually see where he is going now.Go Manly go you good things.Manly,the ARL says "IT'S MY GAME" but we all know it's yours.Later.

Izzy.

Every body hates Hopoate, seriously, one day someone's going to get really pissed at him and bash the crap out of him.Other than that MANLY RULE as always.

Why is everyone talking about the English teams and why are they over here. This is just a Stupid League joke surely??!! Everyone knows that England is where we put our old retired players out to pasture. I think I saw Graham Eadie playing there last year for a first grade side.

The underlying problem with mergers, Super League, pay TV etc etc etc is that they jumped the gun. We weren't ready for it. The game just isn't that big yet, and no amount of money thrown at it will change that. They should have just let it steadily get more popular but Noooo, some stupid pommie rich guy, who calls himself Australian thought he could own the game and make mega bucks, and the other Aussie rich guy thought he could stop him and alas we have two rich guys losing lots of money, the Australian public getting fed up with pay TV and Rugby League, and the mighty Sea Eagles having to play third grade teams every week. Their hearts can't be in it, as is shown almost losing to loser teams like Souths.

And PS...Hoppa, settle down mate, stop the agro, you make us look bad.

Mozzzz

I just want to talk with anyone else who is as big a fan as I am of Steve Menzies. Ok no one can deny it he is the god of football and the best second rower the world has ever had. I love watching him play and I know there are many other people as absest as I am out there. On top of being a legend on the field he is also a legend off which is more than I can say for many other top footballers. Lets just hope he can get back on top as the top tryscorer.

Oh and I should not forget to say a little something about his amazing body and great looks. He kicks Brad Pitt's ass!

I would just like to say that Steve Menzies is a champion . He is one the best player's to play second row. He is always making brakes and he has the opposition worried every time he gets the ball. I'm dissapointed however that he is not leading the try scoring this year but it doesn't really matter because there is two Manly player sitting on top of it. I thought that he had a great game against The Dragons and in The State of Origin games and I hope that he has a great game in the third game. Your the best!

Manly's problem is purely psychological. The team is unable to lift itself to play the lowly rated sides - there is no urge to win. Against the top sides the story is different - the best example being the comeback against Sydney City. I have no doubt that Manly will beat ALL top teams over the coming month - Norths, Parramatta and Sydney City..

You can buy all the players you want and have a team of champions, but you'll never have a champion team! You can't buy guts and heart!

Go the Tigers.

Manly - Go you good things go! The Sea Eagles are soaring at the top of the ARL ladder where they belong. Just like the great Terry Hill and NADS the Sea Eagles have 'champion' written all over them! How the Tigers pulled out all their tricks to cheat a victory - the Ref was asleep! Toovs you legend, keep it up! Menzies will crush all who oppose him! To the goose who said these pommy teams were good - you must be joking. Even the pathetic cowboys looked like Top drawer stuff against them. Manly Manly - an ode to Manly - let a song be sung! Forget Psuedo League - the ARL still has the Sea Eagles. I make it my business to visit other league pages and tell them how foolish they are. Their teams will just get crushed - I try to spare them the heartache of loss after loss and tell them that they should follow Manly. As for Manly to merge with the bears - who needs them? Just put them out of their misery (Anyone remember the last time the bears won the grand final? Nope - didn't think so) and extinguish them. Is it my turn to shut up? Very well but like the Tezza's NADS I will return!!! Later.

Izzy.

I just want to congratulate Geoff Toovey on captaining NSW to win the State of Origin series. Who needs Brad Fittler when you have someone as talented (and gorgeous!) as Toovey? And I wish everyone would stop calling Fittler the Australian Captain. Toovey was the last footballer to captain Australia. People should get their facts straight. Anyway, well done Geoff!!!

Carl from Collaroy, you are so right! I wouldn't feed Moore and Hopoate - neither of them are winger's bootlaces. I've been a Manly fan for many years (I can remember when Ken Irvine played on the wing for Manly _ I was only in nappies at the time!) and the pairing of Moore and Hopoate is the worst wing combination I have seen. Neither of them can tackle or take the high ball under pressure. The only decent winger in the club, Hancock, is playing out of position at fullback.

I too have vivid recollections of the woeful mistakes made by both Moore and Hopoate (whose aggressive non-sporting behaviour is a blot on the Manly team as a whole) made vs Easts in the 1996 semi-final. As for Scott Fulton - well nepotism is obviously alive and well at Manly - he's barely of Second Grade standard.

You can't win a premiership without decent defence and the opposition sides are taking advantage of Manly's inherent weakness on the flanks. Letting Elsegood go (and I blame Fulton for this) is the worst thing Manly did, while releasing Haumono wasn't far behind. (Memories of Manly releasing Vautin come flooding back). Consequently our reserve strength is paltry.

I was hoping to see some fresh coaching blood next year, but it's not to be. Whether the incumbent coach sees the error of his ways is yet to be seen. In the meantime we are seeing a team who constantly argue with the referee (that lost them the game against Balmain) and sledge the opposition. How about getting back to the basics Manly, and playing entertaining football we know you are capable of!

I want to see the old Manly (circa 1995/96).

Disappointed...

To Leigh Orgill,

No offence but you poms really suck at football. Other than that the obvious reason that Craig Innes left the Rhinos (great name) is obviously because he's too good for English footy and anyway who'd want to play for a team called the Rhino's. By the way the Rhino's got their buts whipped today, in fact all the English teams did. UP THE EAGLES and down the toilet with loser league!

I am a manly fan (born & bred) but think a few players dont deserve to be in the mighty first grade side. Hoppa & Moore make far too many mistakes; Scotty Fulton is not first grade standard either. (Remember the shocker semi against Easts in '96 when Hoppa & Moore almost cost us the game and the eventual premiership). Moreover we need ONE competition. As the saying goes, the game is not the same in 1997. Go the Sea Eagles.

from Carl of Collaroy.

It is pretty tough living life as a Sea-Eagles fan since everyone seems to hate us. But I wouldn't (and couldn't) support any other team.

Just a couple of comments:

1. The whole idea of mergers is to make stryggling teams stronger, right? Well, if the ARL (or whoever runs the comp next year) merge Norths and Manly, all they are doing is creating one very rich and successful club. That would defeat the whole purpose of trying to save clubs like Soths and Balmain. Clubs that can, should stand on their own. Just because we're neighbours geographically, doesn't mean we should merge.

2. As for poaching players, I can't believe that people complain because Manly have been able to secure the players they want. Other clubs and their supporters are just jealous because they can't do the same. People want to play for Manly because they are a good club, not just because they are being paid a decent sum of money. The most complaints that I have heard have come from Parramatta supporters - the team that spent $9 million and still not make the finals last year. At least when Manly spends money, we see the results!

3. Australians are always supporting the underdogs and there is a general hatred for anyone who is successful or shows some pride in their success (just ask the likes of Greg Norman). Just because Manly are very successful and proud of that, it doesn't make them conceited like most people assume. I wish non-Manly supporters could understand that.

Anyway, I just needed to get that off my chest! Thanx!

Jessica Tsang

P.S. Have you noticed that the Manly form slump started the same time they started taking yoga?? They started yoga the week before the Wests game and since then it's been a loss to Wests, a draw with Illawarra and Gold Coast, just scraping past Souths and then a loss to Balmain. Don't think the yoga was a good idea.

In reply to Evyator Cohen who thinks every club buys players, well your beloved Manley just steal players like Craig Innes who walked out on Leeds still under contract. As for Manley and rest of ARL, I hope you all enjoy watching Superleague teams play each other in World Club Championship, especially LEEDS RINHOS who are going to charge their way to title.

Leigh Orgill (Leeds)

What a joke who would any Manly side want to merge with? I have followed the GREAT Sea Eagles for 28 years and I can tell you I dont want to follow any other side but them. Who wants sides like "Brisbane Lions". What would we call the merged side? Manly Bears ? Come on where is our true heart THE SEA EAGLES !! and who cares about the rest of the mob.

Hi, I discovered your site whilst doing a bit of browsing around the R.L. sites. I am a big Hull Sharks (formerly Hull F.C.) supporter and have always had a keen interest in goings on in the southern hemisphere. Manly are one of my adopted Australian clubs and I have always kept an eye out for your results since the days when you sent us Noel Cleal and, more recently, Des Hasler. Both were fantastic players who were real favourites at the Boulevard, especially Dessie who had a brilliant season in the time he was with us. He is without doubt the greatest half-back to play for Hull since Peter Sterling back in the heady days of the '80s. I know he is no longer with you but he is still fondly remembered over here. 'Crusher' was also great for us although he did leave under something of a cloud when he was sacked. However, he did lead us to a brilliant win over Widnes in the 1991 Premiership Final and he will always be famous for that. I will be glad to hear from any Aussie fans out there who wish to trade thoughts on the current state of the game, and maybe trade some programmes, shirts etc.

My e-mail address is: brendon@pbsltd.karoo.co.uk

I cant help but laugh at all those whingers who complain about manly poaching other teams players.manly lost 6 players last year, 4 were intenationals.yet you dont here any one from manly whinging.the problem is that manly is the best at buying players and the most successful team in the last 27 years and these whingers are jealous there team havent got the knack at being as successful as THE GREAT MANLY.

Ted

To all the other nerds who have problems with Manly!
1. Go flush your head down the toilet!
2. Why the hell is everyone complaining about manly when there are clubs like Easts who take everybody else's players and Parramata who spent ten million bucks on a team who can't even play. The only reason people don't pick on them is because they're a "good old traditional club" and crap like that and of course because they're not winning. Every club buys players and that's how it is so bad luck. Up Craig Innes!

Evyatar Cohen

I Think Manly Suck At FOOTBALL. i don't even think they know what football is. If you want to follow a good team i mean the greatest team on earth you should watch the North Sydney Bears play a game and support them.

GO THE BEARS

I dont understand how anyone would support a side that blatantly poaches other sides of their good players. This is not in the best interest of the game.

Here is a list of the current players Manly have poached over the years:

Craig Field (South Sydney)
Mark Carrol (South Sydney, Penrith)
David Gillespie (Western Suburbs, Canterbury)
Craig Innes (Union)
Terry Hill (Western Suburbs, Eastern Suburbs, South Sydney)
Neil Teirney (St George)
Danny Moore (Union)
Jim Serdaris (Western Suburbs, South Sydney)

That represents a large proportion of the run on side for Manly.

It also indicates that Manly like to poach players from South Sydney.

With all the calls for making the competition more competitive by the ARL it is hard to see them not noticing what Manly have achieved in the last 5 years by poaching the above players.

I do not doubt that Manly are a very good side and deserve to be the favourites for the competition this year but at least give the struggling sides like Souths a chance to build up thier players without Manly stepping in a taking them.

I noticed in the paper this morning that Julian O'Neil has rejected an offer from Souths to play for Manly. This is a perfect example of how Manly take and never give in the ARL competition. What a farce.

I a curious. It is so obvious that Hopa does not have a football brain from some of the DUMB things he does. What I a curious about is what is in the coconut's head. Is it air or milk sloshing around?

Devoted Manly supporter since 1973

I've been an avid reader of the Sea Eagles home page ever since I came across it sometime last September.

I have also been a supporter of the Mighty Manly-Warringah since about 1981 (I was born sometime during 1975) and have been a member since September 1996. I have only been to one Manly match in my life and it was the Grand Final against St. George last year.

I have a few comments to make so here goes

I live in Adelaide (and have done all my life) and I do get Pay TV (Galaxy) so the only league coverage I get in the media down here is Super League. Thank god for this site and Rugby League week because all we get now is Adelaide Rams (yes, I do have a season ticket so I can see some league without staying up until midnight to see a game which Channel 9 tell you the score of 5 minutes before it is shown!). If Manly ever played in the same comp as the Rams, I would drop the Rams like a bad habit!

Super League is a good idea but how can they say that they have the best of the best when the reigning premiers are not even in their competition?

I think that Super League should be very worried about the size of the crowds they are getting to their matches. In fact, if it wasn't for Adelaide, Auckland and North Qld, SL would be down right embarrassed about their crowds. I notice that the smallest crowd Manly have played in front of this year was against the Crushers. Fans seem to be showing that they want ARL and AFL over Super League don't they!

Well, that is all for now. Keep up the good work and GO THE MIGHTY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES!!

Peter Hunter
Adelaide
e-mail - peter.hunter@roads.sa.gov.au

Craig Hazell you are so right.

You can be a long-time Manly fan and still be disappointed about the players' behaviour on the field.

The Hoppa performances are not doing anything for Manly's image. Neither is the habit of questioning every refereeing decision that doesn't go Manly's way. It's about time the coach (who should know better) and club took responsibility for the players actions on the field. After all, they are ambassadors for the ARL and the young impressionable children playing the game need better role models.

Now that I have that off my chest. Here's hoping the Eagles find some form - I hope they are just saving it for the business end of the season.

Disappointed Sea Eagles fan.

Just a quick note to tell Manly to get stuffed! After watching the Illawarra v Manly game, I would just like to say that Neil Tierney and Craig Field are two of the biggest dick heads I have ever seen. Never did like Manly and these two certainly haven't changed my mind. Keep trying to buy that trophy!

Mark
Auckland, NZ

Hey lads!
When you sit down next time to watch an ARL match...THANK YOUR BLOODY LUCKY STARS!! I'm from Belleville Il. and my cable company yanked the ARL and replaced it with that "Super" League crap! Damn Fox Sports Midwest, this crap they're passing off for football makes the NFL look great. Hey, thanks for the great site.

GO MANLY!
Ken Kadavi
kkadavi@siue.edu

Go the manly Sea eagles in 1997 and go sir clifford lyons the magician. Still producing great moves at 36 years. Hoppa should kepp doing what he's doing as it's all part of the game and if they can't hack they are sheilas. Long live Cliffy.

Go you Sea Eagles!!!!

who are these people with nothing better to do than whinge about Manly when their own, inferior, team gets wallopped by the boys in maroon? Suffer in ya jocks ya bastards.

Seriously, Manly and Nor.. I cannot type it. Sounds like the the b...rs trying to buy a Premiership to me. I grew up in Parramatta. Suffered for my support of the Sea Eagles every time Manly beat ( flogged ) the Eels - I didn't cop a hiding for the bloody B...rs.

I try not to watch stupid league but occasionally there is even worse crud on the other channels. It is all " excuse me may I tackle you? Oh? You were paid more than me by Rupert? I'd better fall off this tackle then." I watched the first st. leag. "final" between St Helens and Wigan. What happens when everyone is paid by the one bloke? The sort of rubbish football that was played that night.

I like watching Spud charge headfirst into The Chief, and vice versa ( yes, I have a bit of a soft spot for the Knights. They remind me of a another coastal team..). That is what league is about - trying to penetrate solid defence, not touch footie-like bs that the boncos ( how appropriate is that snickers ad? ) want to play. Had a bit (a lot) of trouble going through or around the Mighty Sea Eagles so they went and formed their own comp - what wusses.

Am I alone? I do not like J. Hopoate patting opposition team members on the head or C. Field mouthing off at the ref. I think it reflects poorly on them, THE team and on Our Lord Bozo ( all bow ) I keep waiting for someone like Paul Harrigan or Paul Sirronen to king hit Hopo - maybe then he'll stop.

26 yrs a Mighty Sea Eagles Fan
Craig Hazell
invsyd@invisagetech.com.au

In response to Simone from Port Macquarie, re: the possible merger between the mighty sea-eagles and the bears.

Having been a devoted Manly supporter all my life (I even plan my trips to Sydney from Brisbane around the sea-eagles home games!!), and having witnessed the turmoil in the last 2 years due to Stupid League, I can only come to the conclusion that the merging of Manly & Norths would be of benefit to the game.

Instead of having 20000 people at each ground, what a buzz it would be to be part of a 40000 strong parochial crowd at a redeveloped Brookvale. Sure, we may lose a player or two from first grade to accomodate a few from Norths, but what a great invincible team we would have. While the thought initially upset me, it is an obvious realisation that teams in Sydney must merge. And if it means that the Manly Bears would be a more viable option, then go the MIGHTY MANLY BEARS!!! It may also be the best chance for a bears supporter to say their team has won a premiership!!

Think of the depth we would have, the atmosphere of a home game, the thrill of winning many premierships in a united competition. Who could stop us??

Go Manly Go!!
Tarek
Manly, QLD

I am so happy that I found this site.I used to live at Dee Why with all the boys at the surf club but am now living in Madison,Wisconsin,USA. One thing I do miss very much are the mighty eagles.I hope the crap and garbage known as super league will go away.Bloody Ribot . I find it very hard to explain "the greatest game of all" to Americans. I have a friend of mine who works for the ARL and send me videotapes of the season in review.Last seasons was just magic. Some days I will start humming the club song.And Eagle rock as well. If anyone can give me some info on how to get my hands onto some stuff from the Leagues club i.e. jumpers,tracksuits ect please let me know. e-mail address:newstalk@wtdy.com att:Shane

UP THE MIGHTY SEA EAGLES !
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Shane Gaynon
Madison, Wisconsin

More comments are here.