1978 NSWRFL season

Last updated
1978 New South Wales Rugby Football League
DurationMarch 25 – September 19, 1978
Teams12
Premiers Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah (4th title)
Minor premiers Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs (5th title)
Matches played140
Points scored4375
Attendance1582914
Top points scorer(s) Parramatta colours.svg Mick Cronin (282)
Player of the year Parramatta colours.svg Mick Cronin (Rothmans Medal)
Top try-scorer(s) Balmain colours.svg Larry Corowa (24)

The 1978 NSWRFL season was the 71st season of the NSWRFL Premiership, Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, and Australia's first. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Manly-Warringah and Cronulla-Sutherland clubs that was drawn and had to be re-played. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1978 Amco Cup.

Contents

Season summary

This season video citing was introduced for incidents of foul play that are not detected on the field. [1] Twenty-two regular season rounds were played from March till August, resulting in a top five of Western Suburbs, Cronulla-Sutherland, Manly-Warringah, Parramatta and Canterbury-Bankstown who battled it out in the finals.

Mick Cronin set a new record for most points scored by an individual in Australian club rugby league history with his tally of 282 points from 25 games in 1978. This record would stand for another twenty years. He also broke Arthur Oxford's 1920 record for consecutive goals with 26 in a row.

In a tragic accident during the match between Penrith and Newtown at Henson Park on 28 May, rookie Panther prop John Farragher broke his neck in a scrum and was left a quadriplegic. [2]

The 1978 Rothmans Medallist was Parramatta centre Mick Cronin. Rugby League Week gave their player of the year award to Parramatta forward Geoff Gerard.

The 1978 season was also the last in the playing career of future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee, Ron Coote.

Teams

Balmain
Balmain Jersey 1978.png

71st season
Ground: Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Ron Willey
Captain: Trevor Ryan

Canterbury-Bankstown
Canterbury-Bankstown Jersey 1978.png

44th season
Ground: Belmore Sports Ground
Coach: Ted Glossop
Captain: George Peponis

Cronulla-Sutherland
Cronulla-Sutherland Jersey 1978.png

12th season
Ground: Endeavour Field
Coach: Norm Provan
Captain: Greg Pierce

Eastern Suburbs
Eastern Suburbs Jersey 1978.png

71st season
Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
Captain-Coach: Arthur Beetson

Manly-Warringah
Manly-Warringah Jersey 1978.png

32nd season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Frank Stanton
Captain: Max Krilich

Newtown
Newtown Jersey 1978.png

71st season
Ground: Henson Park
Coach: John Raper
Captain: Col Casey

North Sydney
North Sydney Jersey 1978.png

71st season
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Captain-Coach: Bill Hamilton

Parramatta
Parramatta Jersey 1978.png

32nd season
Ground: Cumberland Oval
Coach: Terry Fearnley
Captain: Ray Price

Penrith
Penrith Jersey 1978.png

12th season
Ground: Penrith Park
Coach: Don Parish
Captain: Ken Wilson

South Sydney
South Sydney Jersey 1978.png

71st season
Ground: Redfern Oval
Coach: Jack Gibson
Captain: Paul Sait?Darrel Bampton

St. George
St George Jersey 1978.png

58th season
Ground: Kogarah Oval
Coach: Harry Bath
Captain: Steve Edge

Western Suburbs
Western Suburbs Jersey 1978.png

71st season
Ground: Lidcombe Oval
Coach: Roy Masters
Captain: Tom Raudonikis

Regular season

Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223F1F2F2RF3GFGFR
Balmain Tigers PEN
+8
NEW
+34
CBY
−9
PAR
+6
WES
+10
MAN
−16
SOU
+18
NOR
0
CRO
−2
EAS
−7
STG
−31
PEN
−6
NEW
+37
CBY
+13
PAR
−15
WES
−28
MAN
+12
XSOU
−4
NOR
−8
CRO
−15
EAS
−12
STG
+8
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs NEW
+19
PAR
−10
BAL
+9
MAN
+3
SOU
+14
WES
−4
NOR
+5
CRO
+3
EAS
+15
STG
−10
PEN
0
NEW
+7
PAR
−20
BAL
−13
MAN
+3
SOU
+3
WES
+2
XNOR
+20
CRO
−10
EAS
−6
STG
+4
PEN
0
PAR
−7
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks SOU
+18
NOR
+26
PAR
+2
EAS
+17
PEN
+26
STG
+8
NEW
+12
CBY
−3
BAL
+2
MAN
−19
WES
−18
SOU
−11
NOR
+3
PAR
+10
EAS
−13
PEN
+39
STG
+12
XNEW
+44
CBY
+10
BAL
+15
MAN
−22
WES
−1
MAN
+5
WES
+4
XXMAN
0
MAN
−16
Eastern Suburbs Roosters WES
+5
SOU
−2
NOR
+5
CRO
−17
STG
+16
PAR
+6
PEN
−2
NEW
+9
CBY
−15
BAL
+7
MAN
−3
WES
−4
SOU
−8
NOR
+10
CRO
+13
STG
−14
PAR
+5
XPEN
+29
NEW
+9
CBY
+6
BAL
+12
MAN
−10
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles STG
+14
PEN
+7
NEW
+27
CBY
−3
PAR
+12
BAL
+16
WES
−6
SOU
−25
NOR
+1
CRO
+19
EAS
+3
STG
−9
PEN
+23
NEW
+7
CBY
−3
PAR
−1
BAL
−12
XWES
+6
SOU
+4
NOR
+28
CRO
+22
EAS
+10
CRO
−5
PAR
0
PAR
+6
WES
+7
CRO
0
CRO
+16
Newtown Jets CBY
−19
BAL
−34
MAN
−27
WES
−18
NOR
−11
SOU
−1
CRO
−12
EAS
−9
STG
0
PEN
−16
PAR
−29
CBY
−7
BAL
−37
MAN
−7
WES
−19
NOR
+8
SOU
−23
XCRO
−44
EAS
−9
STG
−31
PEN
+11
PAR
−44
North Sydney Bears PAR
−33
CRO
−26
EAS
−5
STG
−9
NEW
+11
PEN
−1
CBY
−5
BAL
0
MAN
−1
WES
−10
SOU
−9
PAR
−22
CRO
−3
EAS
−10
XNEW
−8
PEN
+52
STG
+14
CBY
−20
BAL
+8
MAN
−28
WES
−1
SOU
−8
Parramatta Eels NOR
+33
CBY
+10
CRO
−2
BAL
−6
MAN
−12
EAS
−6
STG
+8
WES
−1
PEN
+9
SOU
+9
NEW
+29
NOR
+22
CBY
+20
CRO
−10
BAL
+15
MAN
+1
EAS
−5
XSTG
+17
WES
−20
PEN
+24
SOU
+40
NEW
+44
CBY
+7
MAN
0
MAN
−6
Penrith Panthers BAL
−8
MAN
−7
WES
−14
SOU
−1
CRO
−26
NOR
+1
EAS
+2
STG
−17
PAR
−9
NEW
+16
CBY
0
BAL
+6
MAN
−23
WES
−13
SOU
−8
CRO
−39
NOR
−52
XEAS
−29
STG
−1
PAR
−24
NEW
−11
CBY
0
South Sydney Rabbitohs CRO
−18
EAS
+2
STG
+8
PEN
+1
CBY
−14
NEW
+1
BAL
−18
MAN
+25
WES
0
PAR
−9
NOR
+9
CRO
+11
EAS
+8
STG
−1
PEN
+8
CBY
−3
NEW
+23
XBAL
+4
MAN
−4
WES
−3
PAR
−40
NOR
+8
St. George Dragons MAN
−14
WES
−11
SOU
−8
NOR
+9
EAS
−16
CRO
−8
PAR
−8
PEN
+17
NEW
0
CBY
+10
BAL
+31
MAN
+9
WES
+10
SOU
+1
XEAS
+14
CRO
−12
NOR
−14
PAR
−17
PEN
+1
NEW
+31
CBY
−4
BAL
−8
Western Suburbs Magpies EAS
−5
STG
+11
PEN
+14
NEW
+18
BAL
−10
CBY
+4
MAN
+6
PAR
+1
SOU
0
NOR
+10
CRO
+18
EAS
+4
STG
−10
PEN
+13
NEW
+19
BAL
+28
CBY
−2
XMAN
−6
PAR
+20
SOU
+3
NOR
+1
CRO
+1
XCRO
−4
XMAN
−7
Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223F1F2F2RF3GFGFR

Bold – Home game
X – Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin

Ladder

TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs 221615426288+13833
2 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland 221507418261+15730
3 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 221507427287+14030
4 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta 221408525306+21928
5 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown 221327307273+3428
6 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs 221309377280+5726
7 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney 221219298300-225
8 St. George colours.svg St. George 2210111367354+1321
9 Balmain colours.svg Balmain 229112337344-719
10 Penrith colours.svg Penrith 224216206463-25710
11 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney 224117325439-1149
12 Newtown colours.svg Newtown 222119199577-3785

Ladder progression

Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223
1 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies 0246681012131517191921232525252527293133
2 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 246810121414161616161820202224242628303030
3 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 24668101010121416161820202020202224262830
4 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels 2444446681012141616182020202222242628
5 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2246881012141415171717192123232525252728
6 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters 224468810101212121214161618182022242626
7 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs 024668810111113151717191921212323232325
8 St. George colours.svg St. George Dragons 00022224579111315151717171719212121
9 Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers 2446881011111111111315151517171717171719
10 Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers 000002444679999999999910
11 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney Bears 00002223333333335779999
12 Newtown colours.svg Newtown Jets 00000000111111133333355

Finals

Manly finished the regular season in the relatively strong position of equal second with Cronulla, three points behind minor premiers Wests. However after Cronulla beat Manly 17-12 in the qualifying final, every game from that point was a sudden-death fixture for the Sea Eagles.

The second week of finals saw Manly come from 3-13 behind Parramatta to draw 13-13 in the semi-final requiring a mid-week replay. Again in that match Parramatta led (11-2 this time), before Manly stormed home with three late tries in ten minutes to win 17-11. In the week following the game, Parramatta unsuccessfully attempted to have the match annulled and replayed due to Manly scoring a try on what was discovered to be a seventh tackle, a mistake by referee Greg Hartley.

Manly then had to back up a few days later to play a fresh Wests side in the preliminary final. Thus far the Magpies had only played one final to Manly's three. Wests had two tries disallowed by referee Greg Hartley. Manly coach Frank Stanton somehow coaxed a courageous effort out of his exhausted players and on field, five-eighth Alan Thompson was inspirational as they triumphed 14-7 and reached the grand final.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd
Qualifying Finals
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland 17-12 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 26 August 1978 Sydney Cricket Ground Jack Danzey 17,718
Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta 22-15 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown 27 August 1978 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley24,967
Semi-finals
Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs 10-14 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland 2 September 1978 Sydney Cricket Ground Jack Danzey 22,789
Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 13-13 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta 3 September 1978 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley30,850
Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 17-11 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta 6 September 1978 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley42,678
Preliminary final
Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs 7-14 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 9 September 1978 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley27,345
Grand final
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland 11-11 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 16 September 1978 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley51,510
Grand final re-play
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland 0-16 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 19 September 1978 Sydney Cricket Ground Greg Hartley33,552

Chart

Qualifying finalMajor semi-finalPreliminary finalGrand final
1 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs10 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland0*
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland14 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly16*
2 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland17 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs7
3 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly12Minor semi-final Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly14
Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly17*
4 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta22 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta11*
5 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury15

* - Indicates only the replay match, and not the match ending in a draw.

Grand final

Cronulla-SutherlandPositionManly-Warringah
  1. Mick Mullane
FB
  1. Graham Eadie
2. Rick Bourke WG 2. Tom Mooney
3. Steve Rogers (c) CE 3. Russel Gartner
6. Dave Chamberlin CE 4. Stephen Knight
5. Steve Edmonds WG 5. Simon Booth
8. Barry Andrews FE 6. Alan Thompson
7. Steve Hansard HB 7. Steve Martin
13. Gary Stares PR 13. Ian Thomson
12. John McMartin HK 12. Max Krilich (c)
11. Paul Khan PR 11. John Harvey
10Eric Archer SR 10. Bruce Walker
9. Steve Kneen SR 9. Terry Randall
18. John Glossop LK 8. Ian Martin
15. Rowland Beckett Reserve
Norm Provan Coach Frank Stanton

In the grand final, Cronulla went to a 9-4 lead in the second half before Manly came back to hit the front 11-9. A Steve Rogers penalty goal squared the scores at 11-11 but he then missed a desperate late field-goal attempt and at full-time the scores remained locked. Thus, for the second consecutive season, the weary grand finalists were required to play a rematch. Although, on this occasion, the NSWRFL were forced to hold the replay three days later on the Tuesday instead of the following weekend due to the imminent 1978 Kangaroo tour, with the Australian team due to leave for England that weekend. The drawn grand final also forced the Australian Rugby League to hold off on naming the touring Kangaroos squad until after the replay, with as many as twelve players from Manly and Cronulla in contention to be selected.

Manly 11 (Tries: Mooney. Goals: Eadie 4.)

Cronulla 11 (Tries: Edmonds. Goals: Rogers 4.)

Grand final Replay

Cronulla-SutherlandPositionManly-Warringah
  1. Rick Bourke
FB
  1. Graham Eadie
2. Chris Gardner WG 2. Tom Mooney
3. Steve Rogers (c) CE 3. Stephen Knight
4. Dave Chamberlin CE 4. Russel Gartner
5. Steve Edmonds WG 5. Simon Booth
6. Martin Raftery FE 6. Alan Thompson
7. Steve Hansard HB 7. Steve Martin
13. Paul Khan PR 13. Ian Thomson
12. Rowland Beckett HK 12. Max Krilich (c)
11. Peter Ryan PR 11. John Harvey
10. Steve Kneen SR 10. Bruce Walker
9. Eric Archer SR 9. Terry Randall
8. John Glossop LK 8. Ian Martin
Reserve14. Wayne Springall
Reserve16. Ray Branighan
Norm Provan Coach Frank Stanton

The Tuesday rematch in front of 33,552 was Manly's sixth game in twenty-four days. It was the second Grand final in a row to end up going into a mid-week replay with the 1977 Grand final between St George and Parramatta also needing a re-match to decide the Premiers after the original game had been a 9-9 draw.

In the first half Cronulla had no answer to Graham Eadie's blind-side bursts. His display completely routed the hapless Sharks and Manly went to the break holding a 15-0 lead thanks to a try by Eadie in the scoreboard corner, one he set up for centre Russel Gartner in the same corner, and another 65 metre effort by Gartner after a sweeping backline movement saw him run into open space and easily outpace the Sharks’ defence to score in front of the Sheridan Stand.

The only point in the second half came from a field goal by Eadie.

In the replay, as throughout their extraordinary finals campaign, Manly were inspired by the leadership of captain Max Krilich and coach Frank Stanton, their iron-man Terry Randall who had required numerous pain killing injections before every game of the finals just to be able take the field in what Frank Stanton called sheer mind over matter, their cool five eighth Alan Thompson and classy fullback and Man of the Match Graham Eadie.

As of the 2019 NRL Grand final, no player since Eadie has scored the combination of a try, a goal and a field-goal in a grand final.

The refereeing of Greg "Hollywood" Hartley in the replay and throughout the 1978 Finals series attracted criticism from coaches Roy Masters, Jack Gibson and Terry Fearnley, all of whom appealed to the NSWRFL to prohibit Hartley from refereeing their clubs' matches the following season. [3]

Manly-Warringah 16 (Tries: Gartner 2, Eadie. Goals: Eadie 3. Field Goal: Eadie.)

Cronulla-Sutherland 0

Man of the Match: Graham Eadie
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground
Attendance: 33,552
Referee: Greg Hartley

Player statistics

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22.

Related Research Articles

Rugby League Week was the highest selling Australian rugby league magazine, ahead of major competitor Big League. It was published weekly during the Australian rugby league season, which runs from March to late September. The magazine was headquartered in Sydney.

Graham "Wombat" Eadie, is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He has been named amongst Australia's finest of the 20th century. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative fullback, he played in Australia during Manly-Warringah's dominance of the NSWRFL competition during the 1970s. He won four premierships with them and his 1,917 points in first grade and 2,070 points in all grades were both records at the time of his retirement. Eadie also played in England for Halifax, winning the Challenge Cup Final of 1987 with them. He also won World Cups with Australia and collected awards such as the Rothmans Medal and Lance Todd Trophy.

Terry William "Igor" Randall is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played for the Manly-Warringah club in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. He is regularly named in all-time great teams and polls. He also represented New South Wales and Australia. He began his career in 1970 as a Centre, but soon after in 1972 was switched to the forwards by coach Ron Willey, primarily playing in the second-row. His nickname was Igor.

The 1968 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 61st season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Twelve teams, including six Sydney-based foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and the WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between South Sydney and Manly-Warringah.

The 1970 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 63rd season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six foundation clubs and another six admitted post 1908, competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield during the season which culminated in a grand final match for the WD & HO Wills Cup between the Manly-Warringah and South Sydney clubs.

The 1981 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 74th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Parramatta and Newtown clubs. NSWRFL clubs also competed in the 1981 Tooth Cup and players from NSWRFL clubs were selected to represent the New South Wales team.

The 1972 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 65th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six of 1908's foundation clubs and another six from across Sydney, competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield during the season, which culminated in a grand final match between the Manly-Warringah and Eastern Suburbs clubs.

The 1974 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 67th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six of 1908's foundation clubs and another six from across Sydney, competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield during the season, which culminated in a grand final match for the WD & HO Wills Cup between the Eastern Suburbs and Canterbury-Bankstown clubs. This season NSWRFL teams also competed for the inaugural Amco Cup.

The 1982 NSWRFL season was the 75th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and saw the New South Wales Rugby Football League’s first expansion since 1967 with the introduction of the first two clubs from outside the Sydney area in over half a century: the Canberra Raiders and the Illawarra Steelers. Thus a total of 14 clubs competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and newly-created Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Parramatta and Manly-Warringah clubs. This season, NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1982 KB Cup which was won by Manly-Warringah.

The 1983 NSWRFL season was the 76th season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Fourteen teams competed for the J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in a replay of the previous year's grand final between the Parramatta and Manly-Warringah clubs. During the season, NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1983 KB Cup.

The 1973 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the sixty-sixth season of the rugby league competition based in Sydney. Twelve district clubs from across the city, including six foundation clubs, competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between Manly-Warringah and Cronulla-Sutherland. This season also saw the introduction of an Under-23s competition to replace the former “Third Grade” as well as a five-team finals series.

The 1976 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the 69th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve teams, including six of 1908's foundation clubs and another six from around Sydney, competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Manly-Warringah and Parramatta clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1976 Amco Cup.

The 1977 NSWRFL season was the 70th season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the J. J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the St. George and Parramatta clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1977 Amco Cup.

The history of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles dates back to 1932 when the Manly-Warringah Junior Rugby Football League was founded. In 1947 the New South Wales Rugby Football League included two additional teams: Manly-Warringah DRLFC and Parramatta DRLFC. The new club adopted the nickname "Sea Eagles" and went on to compete in every season of top-level rugby league until merging with the nearby North Sydney Bears to form the Northern Eagles club at the end of 1999. After three years the joint-venture team was disbanded with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles returning as a sole entity once more to the National Rugby League.

Tom Mooney is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s. He played in Sydney's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership as a wing for the Manly-Warringah and South Sydney clubs. Mooney won the 1976 and 1978 premierships with Manly.

Russel Gartner, also known by the nickname of "Frog eyes", is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. An international representative three-quarter, He played for Manly, Balmain and Easts in the NSWRFL premiership.

The 2008 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 62nd in the club's history. Coached by Des Hasler and captained by Matt Orford, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2008 Telstra Premiership.

The 1972 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 26th in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1947. After 5 previous Grand Final losses, the Sea Eagles broke through for their first premiership win.

The 1973 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 27th in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1947. Manly went into the 1973 season as the reigning premiers having won the 1972 Grand Final defeating Eastern Suburbs 19-14.

The 1978 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 32nd in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1947.

References

  1. Middleton, David (2008). League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia (PDF). National Museum of Australia. p. 31. ISBN   978-1-876944-64-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-03-17.
  2. Lester, Gary and Pritchard, Greg; Bound for Glory: The Story of the Penrith Panthers; pp. 101-103 ISBN   9780949853486
  3. Coady, Ben (2009-09-28). "Grand final dramas". WA Today. Australia: Fairfax Digital. Archived from the original on 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2010-01-15.