2008 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season

2008 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season
2008 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season
NRL champions
NRL Rank	2nd
2008 record	Wins: 20; losses: 7
Points scored	For: 755; against: 367
Team information
Coach	Des Hasler
Captains	Matt Orford ; Jamie Lyon (vice-captain);
Stadium	Brookvale Oval
Top scorers
Tries	Brett Stewart (22)
Goals	Matt Orford (78)
Points	Matt Orford (169)

Last updated December 04, 2023

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.

Season Summary

With the departure of hooker Michael Monaghan, many^{[ who? ]} questioned whether the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles could be as competitive as in 2007 and losses in the first 2 rounds seemed to confirm this. Manly Warringah's first win came in round 3 at Brookvale with a 52–6 thrashing of the New Zealand Warriors and followed this up with a 20–2 shutout of South Sydney. In the round 5 grand final rematch against the Storm, Manly were soundly beaten 26–4 and doubt about their premiership credentials resurfaced. In Heritage Round (Rd 6) Manly Warringah had a season defining last gasp win over bitter rivals Parramatta, with Manly overcoming injuries before and during the game including one to winger Michael Bani who had to be stretchered off the ground after being knocked out.

Manly Warringah seemed to use this game as a springboard and entered a dangerous run of form, notching up numerous impressive wins over top teams such as a 30–12 win over the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, a 42–0 annihilation of the Sydney Roosters at Brookvale Oval and a 34–14 win over the Gold Coast Titans at Skilled Park in round 17. In round 18 Manly avenged their opening round loss to bitter rivals and eventual preliminary finalists Cronulla with a 34–6 hammering of them at Toyota Stadium. In round 19, Manly once again faced historical rivals Parramatta and in a repeat of round 6, Manly lost halfback Matt Orford and lock Luke Williamson before the game, and after only minutes five-eighth Jamie Lyon and prop Jason King were forced off the field with injury. Despite the setbacks and an early challenge from the Eels, Manly ran away with the game and finished 28–10 winners.

Some hiccups against the Roosters in round 20, the Storm in round 22 and the Rabbitohs in round 23 meant Manly finished the regular season tied first with Melbourne and Cronulla but second on points differential and Manly missed out on claiming their first minor premiership since 1997. In the qualifying final Manly faced 7th placed St. George at Brookvale. This game was club legend Steve Menzies' last game at Brookvale and he opened the scoring with an unusual charge down try in which after kicking ahead to himself and falling over, the ball bounced up and hit him in the head before he finally grounded it. Manly Warringah were easy 38–6 winners and departing Dragons centre Mark Gasnier was seen on the sidelines crying. After getting the week off, Manly faced the history-making New Zealand Warriors whose late season charge got them into 8th place where they became the first 8th placed team to advance past qualifying finals with a dramatic and rare defeat of the Storm at Olympic Park. Despite an early challenge, Manly Warringah crushed the Warriors 32–6 and showcased their trademark wall of defence and attacking flair. With the win, Manly Warringah qualified for their 17th grand final, where in a rematch of the 2007 decider, they would play the Melbourne Storm who had bounced back from the Warriors' loss with wins over the Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks.

The story was very different for the Sea Eagles this time around as they decimated the Storm 40–0 to win their seventh premiership in front of 80,388 at ANZ Stadium. It was Michael Monaghan's replacement, the previously unknown Matt Ballin who scored the first try of the match. The game was also notable for winger Michael Robertson's hat-trick and retiring legend Steve Menzies' try 10 minutes from full-time, which he scored after coming back onto the field to replace the injured Steve Matai. Manly prop forward Brent Kite was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal after a powerhouse display which included a classy try in the 58th minute. This is the largest winning margin in a grand final in rugby league history.^[1]

2008 NRL season v t e
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Melbourne Storm	24	17	0	7	2	584	282	+302	38
2	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (P)	24	17	0	7	2	645	355	+290	38
3	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	24	17	0	7	2	451	384	+67	38
4	Sydney Roosters	24	15	0	9	2	511	446	+65	34
5	Brisbane Broncos	24	14	1	9	2	560	452	+108	33
6	Canberra Raiders	24	13	0	11	2	640	527	+113	30
7	St George Illawarra Dragons	24	13	0	11	2	489	378	+111	30
8	New Zealand Warriors	24	13	0	11	2	502	567	-65	30
9	Newcastle Knights	24	12	0	12	2	516	486	+30	28
10	Wests Tigers	24	11	0	13	2	528	560	-32	26
11	Parramatta Eels	24	11	0	13	2	501	547	-46	26
12	Penrith Panthers	24	10	1	13	2	504	611	-107	25
13	Gold Coast Titans	24	10	0	14	2	476	586	-110	24
14	South Sydney Rabbitohs	24	8	0	16	2	453	666	-213	20
15	North Queensland Cowboys	24	5	0	19	2	474	638	-164	14
16	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	24	5	0	19	2	433	782	-349	14

Regular season

Saturday 15 March	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	10 – 16	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Michael Bani, Anthony Watmough Goals: Matt Orford (1/2)	^[2]	Tries: Bryson Goodwin, Brett Kearney Goals: Luke Covell (4/5)	Attendance: 15,424 Referee: Jarred Maxwell

Saturday 22 March	Newcastle Knights	13 – 12	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
	Tries: Richard Faʻaoso, Chris Houston Goals: Kurt Gidley (2/2) Field Goals: Scott Dureau (1)	^[3]	Tries: Michael Bani, Jamie Lyon Goals: Matt Orford (2/3)	Attendance: 18,117 Referee: Ben Cummins

Monday 31 March	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	52 – 6	New Zealand Warriors	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Michael Robertson (3), Brett Stewart (3), Anthony Watmough (2), Michael Bani, Matt Orford Goals: Matt Orford (6/8) Jamie Lyon (0/1) Luke Williamson (0/1)	^[4]	Tries: Lance Hohaia Goals: Michael Witt (1/1)	Attendance: 10,175 Referee: Sean Hampstead

Sunday 6 April	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	20 – 2	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Adam Cuthbertson, Jamie Lyon, Brett Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (4/4)	^[5]	Tries: Goals: Nathan Merritt (1/1)	Attendance: 14,426 Referee: Shayne Hayne

Friday 11 April	Melbourne Storm	26 – 4	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne
	Tries: Billy Slater (2), Ryan Hoffman, Greg Inglis, Anthony Quinn Goals: Cameron Smith (3/6)	^[6]	Tries: Michael Bani Goals: Matt Orford (0/1)	Attendance: 13,632 Referee: Tony Archer

Friday 18 April	Parramatta Eels	16 – 20	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Parramatta Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Luke Burt, Chad Robinson Goals: Luke Burt (4/4)	^[7]	Tries: Michael Bani, Heath L'Estrange, Michael Robertson, Brett Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (2/4)	Attendance: 14,025 Referee: Shayne Hayne

Saturday 26 April	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	30 – 22	Bulldogs	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Steven Bell, Adam Cuthbertson, Glen Hall, Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (5/6)	^[8]	Tries: Brent Crisp, Heka Nanai, Sonny Bill Williams, Tim Winitana Goals: Brent Crisp (3/4)	Attendance: 15,229 Referee: Tony Archer

Bye

Sunday 11 May	Brisbane Broncos	12 – 30	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
	Tries: Michael Ennis, Denan Kemp Goals: Michael Ennis (2/3)	^[9]	Tries: Steven Bell, Brent Kite, Steve Menzies, Michael Robertson, Brett Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (5/6)	Attendance: 27,469 Referee: Shayne Hayne

Saturday 17 May	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	38 – 6	North Queensland Cowboys	Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
	Tries: Adam Cuthbertson (2), Michael Robertson (2), Nick Bradley-Qalilawa, Josh Perry, David Williams Goals: Matt Orford (5/7)	^[10]	Tries: Ben Farrar Goals: John Williams (1/1)	Attendance: 9,343 Referee: Ben Cummins

Friday 23 May	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	18 – 20	St George Illawarra Dragons	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Steve Menzies, Michael Robertson, David Williams Goals: Matt Orford (3/3)	^[11]	Tries: Ben Hornby, Brett Morris, Jason Nightingale, Beau Scott Goals: Jamie Soward (2/4)	Attendance: 12,058 Referee: Jason Robinson

Friday 30 May	Canberra Raiders	18 – 31	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Canberra Stadium, Canberra
	Tries: Colin Best, Todd Carney, Trevor Thurling Goals: Todd Carney (3/3)	^[12]	Tries: Matt Ballin, Steve Matai, Steve Menzies, Michael Robertson, Anthony Watmough Goals: Matt Orford (5/6) Field Goals: Matt Orford (1)	Attendance: 13,120 Referee: Sean Hampstead

Sunday 8 June	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	42 – 0	Sydney Roosters	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Steven Bell, David Williams, Nick Bradley-Qalilawa, Jamie Lyon, Matt Orford, Anthony Watmough Goals: Matt Orford (5/8)	^[13]	Tries: Goals:	Attendance: 13,842 Referee: Shayne Hayne

Bye

Sunday 22 June	New Zealand Warriors	14 – 20	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
	Tries: Aidan Kirk, Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei Goals: Michael Witt (1/3)	^[14]	Tries: Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (2/4)	Attendance: 7,141 Referee: Tony De Las Heras

Saturday 28 June	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	28 – 12	Newcastle Knights	Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
	Tries: Steven Bell, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Anthony Watmough, David Williams Goals: Matt Orford (4/5)	^[15]	Tries: James McManus (2), Cooper Vuna Goals: Wes Naiqama (0/3)	Attendance: 13,798 Referee: Shayne Hayne

Friday 4 July	Gold Coast Titans	14 – 34	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Skilled Park, Gold Coast
	Tries: Anthony Laffranchi (2) Goals: Mat Rogers (3/3)	^[16]	Tries: Brett Stewart (2), Steven Bell, Jamie Lyon, Steve Menzies, David Williams Goals: Matt Orford (5/6)	Attendance: 21,374 Referee: Jarred Maxwell

Saturday 12 July	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	6 – 34	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Toyota Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Paul Gallen Goals: Luke Covell (1/1)	^[17]	Tries: Glenn Stewart (2), Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Michael Robertson, Brett Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (3/4) Goals: Jamie Lyon (2/2)	Attendance: 18,217 Referee: Jason Robinson

Friday 18 July	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	28 – 10	Parramatta Eels	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Steve Matai (2), David Williams, Matt Ballin, Anthony Watmough Goals: David Williams (2/6)	^[18]	Tries: Mark Riddell, Tony Williams Goals: Krisnan Inu (1/2)	Attendance: 18,970 Referee: Shayne Hayne

Sunday 27 July	Sydney Roosters	34 – 12	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Amos Roberts (2), Mitchell Aubusson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Perrett, Iosia Soliola Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (5/6)	^[19]	Tries: Michael Robertson, Brett Stewart Goals: Steve Matai (2/2)	Attendance: 22,681 Referee: Jason Robinson

Friday 1 August	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	30 – 10	Penrith Panthers	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Steven Bell, Glen Hall, Steve Menzies, Michael Robertson, Brett Stewart, David Williams Goals: Steve Matai (3/5) David Williams (0/1)	^[20]	Tries: Michael Jennings, Nathan Smith Goals: Michael Gordon (1/2)	Attendance: 7,862 Referee: Shayne Hayne

Friday 8 August	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	10 – 16	Melbourne Storm	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Glen Hall, David Williams Goals: Steve Matai (1/2)	^[21]	Tries: Cooper Cronk, Israel Folau, Matt Geyer Goals: Cameron Smith (2/3)	Attendance: 18,442 Referee: Tony Archer

Sunday 17 August	South Sydney Rabbitohs	40 – 32	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Nathan Merritt (3), Roy Asotasi, Issac Luke, Jamie Simpson, Fetuli Talanoa Goals: Issac Luke (4/6) Chris Sandow (2/2)	^[22]	Tries: Steve Menzies (2), Brett Stewart (2), Steven Bell, Josh Perry Goals: Steve Matai (2/3) Matt Orford (2/3)	Attendance: 11,000 Referee: Steve Lyons

Saturday 23 August	Wests Tigers	16 – 48	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	ANZ Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Daine Laurie (2), Beau Ryan Goals: Brett Hodgson (2/3)	^[23]	Tries: Glen Hall (2), Steve Menzies (2), Brett Stewart (2), Steven Bell, Michael Robertson, Glenn Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (5/8) Steve Matai (1/1)	Attendance: 27,564 Referee: Tony Archer

Monday 1 September	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	28 – 10	Gold Coast Titans	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Steve Matai (2), Glen Hall, Brent Kite, Brett Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (4/5)	^[24]	Tries: Jordan Atkins, Gavin Cooper Goals: Scott Prince (1/2)	Attendance: 14,755 Referee: Jason Robinson

Saturday 23 August	Penrith Panthers	16 – 34	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	CUA Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Paul Aiton, Tony Puletua, Nathan Smith Goals: Michael Gordon (2/3)	^[25]	Tries: David Williams (2), Steven Bell, Steve Menzies, Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (4/5) Jamie Lyon (1/1)	Attendance: 6,086 Referee: Jarred Maxwell

Finals

Qualifying Final

Saturday 13 September	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	38 – 6	St George Illawarra Dragons	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Heath L'Estrange, Steve Menzies, Josh Perry, Michael Robertson, Brett Stewart, Anthony Watmough, David Williams Goals: Matt Orford (5/7) Steve Menzies (0/1)	^[26]	Tries: Mark Gasnier Goals: Mark Gasnier (1/1)	Attendance: 19,227 Referee: Shayne Hayne

Preliminary Final

Saturday 27 September	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	32 – 6	New Zealand Warriors	Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Brett Stewart (2), Steve Matai, Steve Menzies, Matt Orford, Michael Robertson, Glenn Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (1/5) Steve Matai (1/2)	^[27]	Tries: Aidan Kirk Goals: Lance Hohaia (1/1)	Attendance: 32,095 Referee: Shayne Hayne

Grand Final

Sunday 5 October

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	40 – 0	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Michael Robertson (3) Matt Ballin Brent Kite David Williams Steve Menzies Steven Bell Goals: Matt Orford (0/2) Steve Matai (2/4) Jamie Lyon (2/2)	^[28]	Tries: Goals:

ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 80,388
Referee: Tony Archer
Player of the Match: Brent Kite

Manly-Warringah

Melbourne


FB	1	Brett Stewart
LW	2	Michael Robertson
RC	3	Steven Bell
LC	4	Steve Matai
RW	5	David Williams
FE	6	Jamie Lyon
HB	7	Matt Orford (c)
PR	8	Brent Kite
HK	9	Matt Ballin
PR	10	Josh Perry
SR	11	Anthony Watmough
SR	12	Glenn Hall
LK	13	Glenn Stewart
Substitutions:
IC	14	Heath L'Estrange
IC	15	Mark Bryant
IC	16	Jason King
IC	17	Steve Menzies
Coach:
Des Hasler


FB	1	Billy Slater
RW	2	Steve Turner
LC	3	Matt Geyer
RC	4	Israel Folau
LW	5	Anthony Quinn
FE	6	Greg Inglis
HB	7	Cooper Cronk (c)
PR	8	Jeff Lima
HK	9	Russ Aitken
PR	10	Brett White
SR	11	Michael Crocker
SR	12	Jeremy Smith
LK	13	Dallas Johnson
Substitutions:
IC	14	Scott Anderson
IC	15	Adam Blair
IC	16	Sika Manu
IC	17	Antonio Kaufusi
Coach:
Craig Bellamy

1st Half
The grand final's first quarter was played end to end with each side able to hold the other's attacking opportunities out. In the twenty-fourth minute the Sea Eagles' hooker Matt Ballin at close-range ran from dummy-half and crashed over the try-line. After the video referee ruled the grounding successful, Matt Orford's conversion attempt hit the upright and missed so the score remained 4 - 0 with fifteen minutes of the first half remaining. Nine minutes later, the Sea Eagles were again on the attack and from ten metres out, moved the ball through the hands to the left wing where Michael Robertson dived over in the corner. The video referee was again called upon to examine the try, which was ruled to have been successfully scored just as Robertson's feet were being dragged onto the sideline by a defender. Orford's difficult kick went wide, so the Sea Eagles' lead remained at 8-0 with under five minutes of the half remaining which were played out with no further points scored.

2nd Half
In the forty-seventh minute, The Sea Eagles were within twenty metres of the Storm's try-line when Matt Orford at first receiver put a grubber kick into the left corner which bounced up perfectly for Michael Robertson racing through on the wing to grab and dive over for his second try. Kicking duty was handed to Steve Matai who coolly converted Robertson's try from next to the sideline, bringing his side's lead to 14–0. Three minutes later, and from a similar attacking position, the Sea Eagles kept the ball alive, a pass from Brett Stewart fifteen metres out arriving at the feet of Steve Matai who, with only one defender before him, picked it up and passed to Michael Robertson to dive over again in the same corner. Matai's second sideline conversion attempt missed, so the Sea Eagles were leading 18–0. In the fifty-seventh minute the Sea Eagles were again down in the Storm's half and on the last tackle decided to run the ball, which was kept alive and passed through seven sets of hands before going to a charging Brent Kite who stretched out of the tackle and slammed the ball down under the posts.^[29] Matai kicked the easy conversion and it was sea Eagles 24, Storm 0. Ten minutes later the Sea Eagles got another try when, from within the Storm's ten-metre line, they moved the ball out to David Williams on the right wing to dive over in the corner. The conversion attempt by Matai went wide so the Sea Eagles were leading 28–0. In the seventy-second minute the Sea Eagles ran the ball down toward the left corner with Robertson passing back in to Steve Menzies, who was playing in his 349th and final NRL match to crash over for a try, his 180th. Jamie Lyon took over the goal kicking and converted Menzies' try to give Manly a 34–0 lead. However, the finale was to come at the seventy-five-minute mark when from their forty-metre line, Sea Eagles second rower Glenn Hall burst into open space, passing back inside for Brett Stewart who was running through in support. Stewart was chased down just short of the try-line by Storm halfback Cooper Cronk, but he managed to flick the ball back without looking into the arms of Steven Bell to also get a try in his last game at the club. Jamie Lyon's simple conversion put the final score at 40–0.

It was at the time the fourth-biggest loss in the Storm's history.

The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles defeated the Melbourne Storm 40–0, scoring eight tries, four of which were converted. This is the highest Rugby League Grand Final margin in Australian history, eclipsing the 1975 NSWRFL season's Grand Final where Eastern Suburbs defeated St George, 38–0 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.^[30] It is also the first time that a team has been kept scoreless in a Grand Final since the 1978 NSWRL Grand Final Replay, where Cronulla lost to Manly 16–0.^[30] Sea Eages forward Brent Kite was named man-of-the-match and received the Clive Churchill Medal.^[31]

The 2008 Grand Final was the last match for Super League-bound Steve Menzies of Manly.^[30] Playing in this match brought his career games played to 349, equalling the current record from Terry Lamb.^[30]

Player statistics

Note: Games and (sub) show total games played, e.g. 1 (1) is 2 games played.

Player	Games (sub)	Tries	Goals	FG	Points
Jack Afamasaga	1 (1)	1			4
Matt Ballin	27	5			20
Michael Bani	8	5			20
Steven Bell	24	11			44
Nick Bradley-Qalilawa	2	2			8
Mark Bryant	(25)
Adam Cuthbertson	2 (19)	4			16
Glen Hall	11 (9)	6			24
Jason King	7 (8)
Brent Kite	25 (2)	4			16
Heath L'Estrange	(24)	2			8
Jamie Lyon (vc)	20 (1)	5	5/6		30
Steve Matai	21	7	12/19		52
Vic Mauro	(1)
Steve Menzies	17 (9)	13	0/1		52
Phil Morwood	(1)
Shane Neumann	1
Matt Orford (c)	26	3	78/112	1	169
Josh Perry	25 (1)	4			16
Michael Robertson	27	18			72
Jeff Robson	2
Brett Stewart	24	22			88
Glenn Stewart	26	7			28
David Vaealiki	2
Anthony Watmough	22	8			32
David Williams	20	14	2/7		60
Luke Williamson	11 (7)		0/1
TOTAL		140	97/146	1	755

Representative Players

International

Australia – Brent Kite, Josh Perry, Brett Stewart *, Glenn Stewart, Anthony Watmough, David Williams
New Zealand – Steve Matai
Fiji – Nick Bradley-Qalilawa
Scotland – Michael Robertson

* Brett Stewart was originally selected in Australia's World Cup squad but withdrew with a shoulder injury.^[32]

State

New South Wales – Brett Stewart

City vs Country

Country Origin – Glenn Stewart

Related Research Articles

The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Sydney's Northern Beaches. They compete in Australia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL). The club debuted in the 1947 New South Wales Rugby Football League season and currently host the majority of their home games from Brookvale Oval in Brookvale, while training at the New South Wales Academy of Sport in Narrabeen and their Centre of Excellence in Brookvale. The team colours are maroon and white, and are commonly known as Manly or the Sea Eagles.

The Northern Eagles were a rugby league team that competed in the National Rugby League (NRL) between 2000 and 2002. The club was formed during the rationalisation process of the NRL by the merger of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the North Sydney Bears in 2000. The team shared home games between Brookvale Oval and Central Coast Stadium, Gosford, New South Wales.

Brookvale Oval is a sporting ground located within Brookvale Park at Brookvale, New South Wales, Australia. The ground is owned by Northern Beaches Council and is primarily used by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles rugby league team. Brookvale Oval has an approximate capacity of 20,000 people. By the end of the 2023 season, Brookvale had played host to 720 first grade premiership games.

Brett Stewart is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL). An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback, he played his entire NRL career for the Sea Eagles, with whom he won the 2008 and 2011 Premierships.

Steve Menzies, commonly referred to by his nickname "Beaver", is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer best known for his career with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. He also played for the Bradford Bulls and the Catalans Dragons in the Super League. Menzies has spent the majority of his playing career in the back row, but he also played as a centre, five-eighth and as a utility player off the bench.

Stephen Matai is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League from 2005 to 2016. A New Zealand national representative centre, he played for Australian club the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Matai helped the Sea Eagles win the 2008 and 2011 Premierships. He was also part of the New Zealand national squad that won the nation's maiden title at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Known particularly for his uncompromising defence, in 2020, Matai was voted the National Rugby League's hardest hitter over the past 30 years.

Glenn Stewart is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Leigh Centurions in the Super League. An Australia international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row, he previously played for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL, winning the 2008 and 2011 premierships as well as the Clive Churchill Medal with the former.

Michael Robertson is a former Scotland international rugby league footballer. His usual position was on the wing but he could also play as a fullback with equal ability. He played for the London Broncos in the Super League, and the Canberra Raiders and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL. He was considered a player with natural pace and try scoring ability.

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.

The 2008 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2008 NRL season. It was played between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the Melbourne Storm on Sunday, 5 October at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

The 2008 National Rugby League season consisted of 26 weekly regular season rounds, starting on 14 March, followed by four weeks of play-offs, culminating in a Grand Final on 5 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 World Club Challenge</span>

The 2009 World Club Challenge was contested by Super League XIII champions, Leeds Rhinos, competing in their second consecutive World Club Challenge, and 2008 NRL Premiers, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. For the first time since 2003, the Australian champions defeated their English counterparts.

The 2011 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the NRL's 2011 Telstra Premiership season. It was played between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the New Zealand Warriors on the afternoon of Sunday, 2 October, and it was the first time the two sides have met in a grand final. Manly won the match, 24–10, for the club's eighth premiership.

The 2011 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 62nd in the club's history. Coached by Des Hasler and co-captained by Jamie Lyon and Jason King, they competed in the National Rugby League (NRL) 2011 Telstra Premiership, and finished the regular season in second place. The Sea Eagles then qualified for the NRL grand final, in which they defeated the New Zealand Warriors, claiming the club's eighth first-grade premiership.

The Battle of Brookvale was the unofficial name given to the Round 25, 2011 National Rugby League (NRL) match between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm, played at Brookvale Oval on 26 August 2011.

The Manly–Melbourne NRL rivalry is between two National Rugby League clubs, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Melbourne Storm, who are engaged in a modern-day rivalry. They have met 42 times since 1998, with Melbourne leading the head-to-head 25–16; there has also been a drawn match between the two sides. They have finished three regular seasons as the top two placed sides on the premiership ladder, although in the cases of 2007 and 2008, Melbourne had those minor premierships stripped from them due to the discovery of salary cap breaches in April 2010.

The 2015 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season is the 66th in the club's history. Coached by Geoff Toovey and captained by Jamie Lyon, they compete in the National Rugby League's 2015 Telstra Premiership.

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.

The 1996 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 50th in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1947.

References

↑ AAP (5 October 2008). "Manly cruise to grand final win". Fox Sports . Retrieved 20 February 2014.
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.1 - Manly vs Cronulla-Sutherland
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.2 - Newcastle vs Manly
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.3 - Manly vs New Zealand
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.4 - Manly vs South Sydney
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.5 - Melbourne vs Manly
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.6 - Parramatta vs Manly
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.7 - Manly vs Bulldogs
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.9 - Brisbane vs Manly
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.10 - Manly vs North Queensland
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.11 - Manly vs St George Illawarra
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.12 - Canberra vs Manly
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.13 - Manly vs Sydney Roosters
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.15 - New Zealand vs Manly
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.16 - Manly vs Newcastle
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.17 - Gold Coast vs Manly
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.18 - Cronulla-Sutherland vs Manly
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.19 - Manly vs Parramatta
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.20 - Sydney Roosters vs Manly
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.21 - Manly vs Penrith
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.22 - Manly vs Melbourne
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.23 - South Sydney vs Manly
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.24 - Wests Tigers vs Manly
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.25 - Manly vs Gold Coast
↑ 2008 NRL Rd.26 - Penrith vs Manly
↑ 2008 NRL Qualifying Final - Manly vs St George Illawarra
↑ 2008 NRL Preliminary Final - Manly vs New Zealand
↑ 2008 NRL Grand Final - Manly-Warringah vs Melbourne
↑ Turgeon, Luke (6 October 2008). "Manly exorcise their grand final demons". goldcoast.com.au. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
1 2 3 4 "Manly thump Storm 40–0 in grand final". NRL.com. 5 October 2008. Archived from the original on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
↑ "Clive Churchill Medallist Brent Kite flies high in NRL grand final". The Courier-Mail . 5 October 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
↑ Broncos duo join Kangaroos Archived 6 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine @ NRL Official Site, 16 Oct 2008

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[1] AAP (5 October 2008). "Manly cruise to grand final win". Fox Sports . Retrieved 20 February 2014.

[2] 2008 NRL Rd.1 - Manly vs Cronulla-Sutherland

[3] 2008 NRL Rd.2 - Newcastle vs Manly

[4] 2008 NRL Rd.3 - Manly vs New Zealand

[5] 2008 NRL Rd.4 - Manly vs South Sydney

[6] 2008 NRL Rd.5 - Melbourne vs Manly

[7] 2008 NRL Rd.6 - Parramatta vs Manly

[8] 2008 NRL Rd.7 - Manly vs Bulldogs

[9] 2008 NRL Rd.9 - Brisbane vs Manly

[10] 2008 NRL Rd.10 - Manly vs North Queensland

[11] 2008 NRL Rd.11 - Manly vs St George Illawarra

[12] 2008 NRL Rd.12 - Canberra vs Manly

[13] 2008 NRL Rd.13 - Manly vs Sydney Roosters

[14] 2008 NRL Rd.15 - New Zealand vs Manly

[15] 2008 NRL Rd.16 - Manly vs Newcastle

[16] 2008 NRL Rd.17 - Gold Coast vs Manly

[17] 2008 NRL Rd.18 - Cronulla-Sutherland vs Manly

[18] 2008 NRL Rd.19 - Manly vs Parramatta

[19] 2008 NRL Rd.20 - Sydney Roosters vs Manly

[20] 2008 NRL Rd.21 - Manly vs Penrith

[21] 2008 NRL Rd.22 - Manly vs Melbourne

[22] 2008 NRL Rd.23 - South Sydney vs Manly

[23] 2008 NRL Rd.24 - Wests Tigers vs Manly

[24] 2008 NRL Rd.25 - Manly vs Gold Coast

[25] 2008 NRL Rd.26 - Penrith vs Manly

[26] 2008 NRL Qualifying Final - Manly vs St George Illawarra

[27] 2008 NRL Preliminary Final - Manly vs New Zealand

[28] 2008 NRL Grand Final - Manly-Warringah vs Melbourne

[29] Turgeon, Luke (6 October 2008). "Manly exorcise their grand final demons". goldcoast.com.au. Retrieved 27 December 2011.

[NRLNews1-30] 1 2 3 4 "Manly thump Storm 40–0 in grand final". NRL.com. 5 October 2008. Archived from the original on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.

[31] "Clive Churchill Medallist Brent Kite flies high in NRL grand final". The Courier-Mail . 5 October 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2012.

[32] Broncos duo join Kangaroos Archived 6 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine @ NRL Official Site, 16 Oct 2008

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v t e Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Est. 1947 in Sydney, New South Wales
The Club	History (Northern Eagles) Records Players Coaches
Culture	Rivalry with Melbourne Storm (Battle of Brookvale) Manly Seabirds
Home ground	Brookvale Oval
Important figures	Roy Bull Ken Arthurson Rex Mossop Frank Stanton Fred Jones Bob Fulton Ron Willey Mal Reilly Graham Eadie Max Krilich Terry Randall Paul Vautin Des Hasler Cliff Lyons Geoff Toovey Steve Menzies Stewart brothers Jamie Lyon Daly Cherry-Evans Trbojevic brothers
League	NSWRL ARL NRL
Titles	Premierships (8) 1972 1973 1976 1978 1987 1996 2008 2011 World Club Challenges (1) 2009
Seasons (70)	1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Other competitions	Current S. G. Ball Cup Harold Matthews Cup New South Wales Cup NRL Nines Past National Youth Competition Amco Cup Jersey Flegg Cup World Sevens
Affiliations	Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles Manly-Warringah/North Sydney District Rugby League