The 75 series: Daniel Gartner

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.

Daniel Gartner (#388)

Daniel is the third generation of the famous footballing Gartner family, the son of former Canterbury winger Clive Gartner and a cousin of Manly’s former Test winger Russel Gartner.

Graded as a centre with Manly in 1992, a knee injury ruined Daniel’s 1993 season but moving to the forwards, he impressed as a mobile, workmanlike backrower with the ability to make his impact in a match.

Daniel started from the bench in Manly’s 17-4 loss to Canterbury in the 1995 Grand Final but really came into his own the following year.

Chosen as lock forward in Manly’s authoritative win over St George in the following year’s premiership decider, Daniel combined with Nik Kosef and Steve Menzies to form a memorable backrow in a champion pack.

A prolific tryscorer, Daniel was chosen to make his Test debut in 1996 against Papua New Guinea.

Daniel could not force his way into the representative scene in the divided 1997 season and took his place in the second row in Manly’s last minute loss to Newcastle in the grand final.

Following the Northern Eagles merger in 2000, Daniel left for England after playing 139 games for the Sea Eagles. He played for Bradford in the World Club Challenge Cup against Newcastle in January 2002.

Daniel was later a member of the Bradford teams that won the English Challenge Cup and the Super League grand final in 2003.

Today, Daniel is a successful physiotherapist on the Northern Beaches. He has also worked as a physiotherapist for the Sea Eagles’ junior representative teams since 2016.

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