Friday’s Magic Round clash will mark the 50th NRL match between two of the NRL's biggest clubs in Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the Brisbane Broncos.
The Sea Eagles played Brisbane in their historic first premiership match at Lang Park in 1988 with the Broncos winning 44-10 at the old Lang Park.
Brisbane five-eighth and captain Wally Lewis and lock Terry Matterson scored two tries each with Manly five-eighth Cliff Lyons and full-back Dale Shearer scoring for the Sea Eagles.
Wayne Bennett was the Broncos Coach with Bob Fulton in charge of Manly.
The Sea Eagles had to wait to round 17, 1989, to record their first ever win over the Broncos, a gritty 16-8 victory, that ended a three game losing streak to Brisbane. Centre David Ronson, winger Sean Townsend, and prop Hugh Waddell scored for Manly in the Friday night win at Lang Park.
Heading into this Friday night's clash at Suncorp Stadium, the record books show Manly and Brisbane have now won 24 games each. A 26-alll draw was fought out at Brookvale Oval in 1999.
The records also reveal how important home ground advantage has been oveer the years for both clubs.
At the Broncos' home ground of Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane have won 15 of the 25 games played there to Manly's 10.
At Brookvale, the Sea Eagles have won 10 of the 16 games played there. Brisbane has won five. The last time Brisbane played at Brookvale was in 2014, with Manly winning 16-4.
The Sea Eagles struck a commercial deal in 2015 with Suncorp Stadium to play home games against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium instead of Brookvale Oval, with the first Manly 'home' game played there in 2016.
Following another defeat there in 2017, the Sea Eagles recorded a win at their 'Brisbane home' in 2018, a 38-24 victory that saw Jake Trbojevic and Joel Thompson score two tries each in the double header at Suncorp Stadium as part of NRL Indigenous Round.
The introduction of NRL Magic Round in 2019 continued the tradition of the Sea Eagles taking on the Broncos in a home game at Suncorp, a deal that will see Manly run out again as the home team this Friday night.
As for Magic Round clashes between the two clubs, Brisbane have won three of the four matches, being victorious in 2019 and 2022.
Manly's last win over the Broncos in Magic Round was a stunning 50-6 victory in 2021. Magic Round was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 2023 contest is shaping up to be another enthralling contest with Brisbane and Manly keen to bounce back from last start losses.
The Sea Eagles will be out to make amends for a disappointing loss to the Gold Coast Titans that saw the team lose their first game of the season at home at 4 Pines Park.
The Broncos sit on top of the ladder with seven wins from nine matches with the Sea Eagles slipping from second to sixth following the Titans loss to be four wins from eight games, but just three points behind Brisbane.
Manly half-back and captain Daly Cherry-Evans plays his 17th game against the Broncos, the most by a current player in this fixture.
Manly vs Brisbane record
Games Played 49, Sea Eagles 24, Broncos 24, 1 draw
At Suncorp: Played 25, Broncos 15, Sea Eagles 10
At Brookvale: Played 16, Manly 10, Brisbane 5, 1 draw
At Gosford: Played 2, Manly 2, Brisbane 0
Finals Series: Played 4, Brisbane 3, Manly 1
* Stats provided by David Middleton, League Information Services
