There was some good old fashioned banter at the fourth Golden Eagles Barbecue today at Manly Warringah Sea Eagles training.
The concept of the Golden Eagles Barbecue is to invite some former players from different positions to join the current Manly players and coaching staff for lunch the day before a game as part of the Sea Eagles Legacy Group through our Eagle Hearts program.
Each former player's achievements at Manly are presented to the current Sea Eagles team along with the presentation of a Golden Eagles t-shirt.
Ahead of tomorrow's away game against arch rivals Parramatta Eels, ex-Manly back-rowers Steve Menzies, Anthony Watmough, Matt Dunford, Justin Horo, and James Hasson attended the barbecue. The club received apologies from Terry Randall, Les Boyd, John Grieve and many others who were unable to make it.
Former players to have attended previous barbecues include include Mike Eden, Shannon Nevin, Andrew King, Brett Stewart, Ian Thomson, David Gillespie, Solomon Haumono, Jason King, David Ronson, and David Liddiard to name a few.
The Sea Eagles again thank Adam Stratton and his team from Tender Gourmet Butchery at Warringah Mall for proving the players and staff with another quality lunch.
Manly Backrowers
Matt Dunford #362
A Manly junior with the Comer club, Dunford played 81 first grade games for the Sea Eagles from 1990-96, covering the positions of second-row, hooker and prop. His son, Zane - also a second-rower/prop - has come through the Sea Eagles Pathways program and plays for Manly's Jersey Flegg side.
Steve Menzies #398
A Manly junior with Harbord United, Menzies holds the record as the greatest try scoring forward in premiership history after crossing the try line 180 times in a 16-year career, comprising 349 matches.
Menzies scored 151 tries in 280 games for Manly from 1993-2008. He also crossed for a staggering 266 tries in 533 first class games. He played for Manly, Northern Eagles, Bradford Bulls, and Catalans Dragons.
A regular member of Australian and NSW teams, 'Beaver' Menzies played in five grand finals for the Sea Eagles, winning premierships in in 1996 and 2008.
A career highlight was his final try for Manly in their history making 40-0 win over the Melbourne Storm in the 2008 Grand Final..
Menzies was also named the Dally M Second-rower of the Year in 1994, 1995, and 1998, and the Dally M Lock of the Year in 2002.
He was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame in 2018.
Anthony Watmough #470
A Manly junior with the Narrabeen Sharks, Watmough made his first grade debut for the Northern Eagles in 2002. He went on to play 286 first grade games for the Sea Eagles from 2003-14, scoring 71 tries.
A Dally M Second-Rower of the Year in 2007 and 2009, 'Choc' Watmough played in the 2007, 2008, 2011, and 2013 Grand Finals for Manly.
Along with his premierships with Manly in 2008 and 2011, Watmough played in the Sea Eagles team that won the 2009 World Club Challenge.
He also represented NSW from 2005-14 and Australia from 2008-13.
Justin Horo #548
Horo played 69 first grade games for Manly from 2013-15.
A versatile forward who could cover second-row, lock and hooker, Horo scored 15 tries for the Sea Eagles.
James Hasson #555
Hasson played 39 games for Manly from 2013-15. His best season with Manly was in 2014 where he played 18 games off the bench.
His lone try for the Sea Eagles that season was in the memorable 26-25 comeback win over Penrith at Brookvale Oval in round 25.
