Today - September 16, 2023 - marks 51 years since the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles claimed their first ever premiership title in 1972.
The Sea Eagles recorded a 19-14 victory over the Eastern Suburbs Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground under Coach Ron Willey and captain Fred Jones.
After being undefeated in the last 15 rounds of the competition to take the minor premiership, Manly beat Easts 32-8 in the major semi-final to set up a grand final appearance.
It was Manly's sixth attempt at winning a premiership following five grand final defeats in 1951, 1957, 1959, 1968 and 1970 after entering the competition in 1947.
Club Secretary Ken Arthurson,built up a ‘juggernaut' of a side for 1972 in recruiting John O’Neill and Ray Branighan from Souths, Ken Irvine (North Sydney), Graham Eadie (Woy Woy) as well as a ‘fiery, skillful young Englishman' named Malcolm Reilly from Castleford.
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
1 Graham Eadie, 2 Ken Irvine, 3 Ray Branighan, 4 Bob Fulton, 5 Max Brown, 6 Ian Martin, 7 Dennis Ward, 8 Bill Hamilton, 9 Fred Jones (c), 10 John O’Neill, 11 Allan Thomson, 12 Terry Randall, 13 Malcolm Reilly. Coach: Ron Willey
Eastern Suburbs Roosters
1 Allan McKean, 2 Jim Porter, 3 Harry Cameron, 4 Mark Harris, 5 Bill Mullins, 6 John Ballesty, 7 Kevin Junee, 8 John Armstrong, 9 Peter Moscatt, 10 Arthur Beetson, 15 Greg Bandiera, 12 John Quayle, 13 Ron Coote (c), bench 16 Laurie Freier. Coach: Don Furner
1972 Grand Final
Sea Eagles 19 (Jones, Branighan tries; Branighan 6 goals; Fulton field goal) d Roosters 14 (Ballesty, Mullins tries; McKean 4 goals), Half-time: 4-4, Sydney Cricket Ground, 16 September 1972. Referee: Keith Page. Crowd: 54,357.
1972 Season Summary
Coach: Ron Willey
Captain: Fred Jones
Biggest home crowd: 18,574 vs Canterbury
Top points scorer: Bob Fulton (73)
Top try scorer: Bob Fulton (21)
Most tries in a match: 4 Bob Fulton v Balmain, Brookvale Oval, August 6
Longest winning streak: 11 (Rd 14 - Grand Final)
