THE RAW COURAGE
OF TRUE AND WORTHY CHAMPIONS
The events leading up
to Manly's eventual win in the 1978 Grand Final
replay have been the subject of much controversy and
innuendo. It has been claimed ad nauseum
that referee Greg "Hollywood" Hartley
favoured Manly throughout Manly's long finals
campaign but there is no real evidence to suggest
that Hartley (a well known Bulldogs fan) was biased
towards Manly.
As Arko said at the time: "They
(Parramatta) winged after last year's grand final
(against St George), they winged after our first semi
and they are still at it. "In this game you have
to learn to accept your defeats with your
victories". Coach Frank Stanton said: "It
sits badly with me that our win remains qualified by
innuendo which is totally unwarranted. There was a
lot of raw courage in that premiership, and I really
resent suggestions that it was anything but a fine
win." [Smith 1991, page 133.]
Manly finished equal
second on the table with Cronulla, three points
behind Minor Premiers Wests. Cronulla beat Manly
17-12 in the preliminary final and from then on it
was sudden death. The following week Manly came from
13-3 behind to draw 13 all with Parramatta, seting up
a mid week replay. In the replay Parramatta again
led, this time 11-2 before Manly stormed home with 3
tries in 10 minutes to win 17-11. Manly had to back
up a few days later to play a fresh Wests who had
only played one game in the finals to Manly's three.
Down, but not out
'"Guts" and
"courage" were key words in Manly's
struggle with Wests. ... Stanton played a central
role in coaxing the maximum out of his exhausted
players. He was able to whip enthusiasm to such a
pitch that Manly became supermen. On the field Alan
Thompson was inspirational as the Sea Eagles strained
for that little bit extra to reach the Grand Final.
... There were times when Manly almost buckled under
the sheer weight of the odds.' [Smith 1991, pages
133-134.] But Manly triumphed 14-7 and were in the
Grand Final.
In the Grand Final
Cronulla went to a 9-4 lead in the second half before
Manly again came back to hit the front 11-9 before a
Rogers penalty squared it at 11-11. The exhausted
players would have to do it all again on Tuesday,
Manly's 6th game in 24 days.
'A hearty mid-week
crowd of 33,552 returned to the SCG but the match was
all but over at half-time after Eadie had produced a
devastating first half display which completely
routed the hapless Sharks. Cronulla had no answer to
Eadie's blind side bursts. ... Manly went to the
break holding a 15-0 lead ... with the only points in
the second half coming from a field goal by Eadie'.
[Whiticker 1994, page 158.]
True and worthy champions
'Manly's effort in
coming through six finals finals matches in 24 days
ranks as one of modern football's outstanding
achievements. Under the inspiring leadership of
captain Max Krilich and coach Frank Stanton, Manly
built an irresistable momentum that enabled them to
ignore injuries and weariness and power on to achieve
their goal. With such men as Krilich, iron man Terry
Randall, the cool and classy five eighth Alan
Thompson and fullback Graham Eadie as their kingpins
Manly were true and worthy champions.' [Heads 1992,
page 375.]
Sources:
Smith 1991
Whiticker 1994
Heads
1992
