Sometimes in this crazy game of rugby league, you know when you have crossed paths with someone special.
Margaret Anthony was that person. A passionate and proud Sea Eagles Member who did more than just follow her team. She lived for them.
Sadly, on Monday, Margaret passed away peacefully surrounded by her beautiful family following a battle with cancer. She was aged 70.
It didn’t matter where the Sea Eagles played, be it at her beloved ‘Brookie’, Canberra, Melbourne, or overseas, Margaret was always there, often travelling thousands of kilometres by car or plane from her home in Emerald, Central Queensland.
Margaret would always arrive early too. To cheer on and support her Sea Eagles in all grades. At Brookvale, she had her permanent Members seat next to the players tunnel.
Along the way, Margaret formed strong friendships with many Sea Eagles supporters, players, and officials just through her bright, warm and kind nature.
You were always greeted with a big smile. And if you were fortunate enough to get a hug from those wide, open arms of hers, you knew your day was always going to be that little bit extra special, irrespective of the result.
She was that type of person.
Like all fans, Margaret had her favourite players, none more so than Anthony Watmough and current captain Daly Cherry-Evans, who became dear friends of hers. She was affectionately known as 'Mrs Choc' by many of her friends.
Margaret was also a very humble lady. In 2012, she was a very popular winner of the inaugural Sea Eagles 'Member of the Year' award, presented to her by Paul Vautin.
To a huge round of applause, she quietly accepted the award. To her, any devoted Member could have received it. That was Margaret, always thinking of others.
In recent years, Margaret bravely fought cancer. It kept her away from many games. But through her Twitter account, she was there in spirit, always active with such positivity and love for her Sea Eagles.
In 2021, Margaret flew down to Sydney and then travelled by car to Mudgee to watch the Sea Eagles play despite not being in the best of health.
And it was there at a Sea Eagles function, she was greeted with a special hug of her own from Daly. That image remains her last Twitter photo (@maa1952). It reads ‘My trip was certainly worth it @SeaEagles. Thank you Daly’.
Incredibly, and despite ailing health, Margaret showed amazing strength to drive herself from Emerald to Mudgee again in 2022 to see her Sea Eagles play one last time. Nothing was going to stop her. It was the last time many got to see her.
Today, as her family and friends mourn Margaret’s passing, we, too at the Sea Eagles share that pain with a heavy heart.
"Margaret was such an amazing lady. She will be sorely missed,'' said Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Club Chairman Scott Penn.
Rest in Peace, Margaret. You truly were ‘Manly Forever’.
