The 75 series: Ken Irvine

With the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles celebrating its 75th year in 2021, we take a look at some of the greatest players to wear the maroon and white jersey.

Ken Irvine (#202)

Ken Irvine was the fastest player of his age. He was an athletic try-scoring machine whose place in league's Hall of Fame will never be disputed.

Irvine maintained his place at the highest level of the game for a decade by sheer weight of tries.

His tally of 212 premiership tries is almost 30 more than Billy Slater - who is second on that list.

His 33 tries in 31 Test matches is another record that is likely to stand the test of time.

Ironically, it is a single goal that Irvine is remembered for more than almost any of his phenomenal tally of 356 career tries.

It came in the third Test of 1962 when he landed a goal from the sideline to give Australia a face-saving 18–17 victory over Great Britain.

It is said that Norths' official Tom Hicks saw Irvine in action in a sports carnival when he was 14 and declared, ''If ever I saw a champion on the way, it's this kid ... He has everything''.

Irvine played for 13 seasons with the North Sydney club and scored 171 tries from 176 games, a stunning achievement considering Norths were moderate performers for much of that period.

Irvine left the club in search of a premiership at neighbouring Manly late in his career and featured in back-to-back grand final wins in 1972 and 1973. He played 60 matches for Manly.

Irvine toured three times with the Kangaroos and remained one of league's most popular figures until his death in 1990.

I’ve never seen a better winger in an Australian jumper.

John Raper Immortal