Prophecies from the Penninsula
Written by: Benjamin Pope
Apr 27, 2011 10:26am
Is there a curse on the northern beaches of Sydney? Or more specifically, a curse on those who dare go against the maroon and white?
Another coach has fallen in the NRL, no big deal right? Well, if you're not a Manly fan there is a little something of interest you may be missing. I am referring to “the Manly curse”.
Forget about fundamental mistakes being coach killers, coaches who are hanging on by their fingernails need to grip extra tight when they travel to Brookvale because the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are the real coach killers in the National Rugby League.
From what I can gather, it may have all started back in 1998. Frank Endacott was pushed out of the Auckland Warriors organisation after the newly privatised club decided a new direction was needed, his last game was a 38-12 loss to the Sea Eagles.
Jump in the DeLorean and fast forward some time, past the Sydney Olympics, through the embarrassment of the Northern Eagles, and wiz by the Parramatta Eels 2001 choke, and arrive somewhere around the middle of 2007.
Chris Anderson is in the midst of his short stint at the Sydney Roosters, highlighted by his revolutionary, often admired but never duplicated, one marker defensive tactic. His short stay at Bondi was cruelly ended by a record breaking 56-0 thrashing at the hands of a Matt Orford led Sea Eagles.
In 2008 Graham Murray was under pressure at North Queensland after a less than impressive start to the season, it took a 38-6 loss to Manly in round 10, at the Cowboys home ground no less, to confirm his place amongst the unemployed.
In 2010 Ricky Stuart was coaching Cronulla, and he didn't want to budge, he hung on, and on, and on, until Manly Warringah came along. The Sea Eagles took the Stuart coached Sharks to school with a 48-14 thrashing, as much as he has tried Ricky hasn't found a new gig in the NRL since, hopefully he has better luck in the State of Origin arena.
Now we come the last day or so and Penrith coach Matthew Elliott, the noose has been hovering above his head for a few seasons now, he and his players looked like they had turned it all around with the Panthers having an impressive 2010, but alas, the noose finally latched on and tightened after an abysmal attacking display against the Sea Eagles at Brookvale on Friday night.
That is four coaches in five years, gone at the hands of Manly!
The curse doesn't just attach itself to coaches either, players who leave the northern beaches are renowned for losing their way, Michael Bani, Adam Cuthbertson, Terry Hill, Matthew Ridge, Anthony Colella, Sam Harris and countless others have all known the pride of being a Sea Eagle and the consequences of leaving, at the moment Trent Hodkinson at the Bulldogs appears to be bucking the trend but it is very early days still, the curse can strike at any time!
There is one thing that is certain, if you have a former Manly player in your line up, the chances of you winning the premiership become quite slim.
Only one player since the inception of the National Rugby League has left Manly Warringah and gone on to premiership success elsewhere in the NRL.
Now known for his whistle blowing, Luke Phillips has been the only fellow to complete the feat, he was at Manly in 1998, he then ventured in to the local A grade competition in 1999, before making his debut with the Roosters in 2000 and a collecting premiership a few short years later.
You have to go all the way back to 1990 and Phil Carey coming off the bench for the Raiders to find the next Manly player to taste premiership success outside the northern beaches.
They aren't good signs for any team harbouring a former Sea Eagle amongst their ranks.
The Manly curse is alive and well and it affects many people in many different ways, Manly fans have known it for a long time, it's only fair the rest of you get to hear about it too, start your trembling!
http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=20953
