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1972 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox rugby league team season

| year = 1972

| league = NSWRFL

| league_champions = NSWRFL

| league_rank = 1st

| playoff_result =

| league_wins = 20

| league_draws = 1

| league_losses = 3

| points_for = 511

| points_against = 277

| CEO_title = Secretary

| CEO = {{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Arthurson

| coach = {{flagicon|AUS}} Ron Willey

| assistant_coach = {{flagicon|AUS}} Frank Stanton (Reserve Grade)

| captain = {{flagicon|AUS}} Fred Jones

| captain2 =

| stadium = Brookvale Oval

| avg_attendance =

| top_tries = {{flagicon|AUS}} Bob Fulton (19)

| top_goals = {{flagicon|AUS}} Max Brown (29)

| top_points = {{flagicon|AUS}} Bob Fulton (73)

| prev_season = 1971

| next_season = 1973

| list =

}}

The 1972 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 26th in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1947. After 5 previous Grand Final losses, the Sea Eagles broke through for their first premiership win.[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/manly-warringah/summary.html NSWRFL 1972 - Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles]

The 1972 Sea Eagles were coached by former Australian international and Manly fullback Ron Willey. Captaining the side was long serving hooker Fred Jones. The club competed in the New South Wales Rugby Football League's 1972 Premiership season and played its home games at the 25,000 capacity Brookvale Oval.

Ladder

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
style="width:20px;" abbr="Position×"|

!width=195 |Team

! style="width:20px;" abbr="Played"|Pld

! style="width:20px;" abbr="Won"|W

! style="width:20px;" abbr="Drawn"|D

! style="width:20px;" abbr="Lost"|L

! style="width:20px;" abbr="Points for"|PF

! style="width:20px;" abbr="Points against"|PA

! style="width:20px;" abbr="Points difference"|PD

! style="width:20px;" abbr="Points"|Pts

style="background:#cfc;"

|1

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Manly-Warringah

|22

1813460255+20537
style="background:#cfc;"

|2

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Eastern Suburbs

|22

1714514297+21735
style="background:#cfc;"

|3

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px St. George

|22

1624398221+17734
style="background:#cfc;"

|4

style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px South Sydney

|22

1408456331+12528
5style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Newtown

|22

1129402371+3124
6style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Canterbury-Bankstown

|22

12010382373+924
7style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Western Suburbs

|22

8113367398|
3117
8style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Cronulla-Sutherland

|22

8014332378|
4616
9style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px North Sydney

|22

7114320405|
8515
10style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Balmain

|22

6115333455|
12213
11style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|Old Penrith|size=16}} Penrith

|22

5116278490|
21211
12style="text-align:left;"| 16x16px Parramatta

|22

4216317585|
26810

Regular season

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Sunday 26 March

| time =

| team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

| score = 34 – 6

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-1/manly-warringah-vs-penrith/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.1 - Manly vs Penrith]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Old Penrith|16}} Penrith Panthers

| points1 = Tries:
Ken Irvine (2), Derek Moritz (2), Bob Fulton, Ian Martin
Goals:
Ray Branighan (6)
Derek Moritz (2)

| points2 = Tries:

Goals:
Len Killeen (3)

| stadium = Brookvale Oval, Sydney

| attendance = 13,437

| referee = Keith Page

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Monday 3 April

| time =

| team1 = St. George Dragons {{leagueicon|St George|16}}

| score = 18 – 0

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-2/st-george-vs-manly-warringah/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.2 - St George vs Manly]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

| points1 = Tries:
Tony Branson, Bob Clapham
Goals:
Graeme Langlands (6)

| points2 = Tries:

Goals:

| stadium = Kogarah Oval, Sydney

| attendance = 6,182

| referee = Keith Holman

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Sunday 9 April

| time =

| team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

| score = 14 – 13

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-3/manly-warringah-vs-newtown/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.3 - Manly vs Newtown]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Newtown|16}} Newtown Bluebags

| points1 = Tries:
Bob Fulton (2)
Goals:
Derek Moritz (3)
Ray Branighan (1)

| points2 = Tries:
Paul Dawson, Gary Sullivan, Lionel Williamson
Goals:
John Bonham (2)

| stadium = Brookvale Oval, Sydney

| attendance = 13,732

| referee = Barry Barnes

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Saturday 15 April

| time =

| team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

| score = 23 – 16

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-4/manly-warringah-vs-south-sydney/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.4 - Manly vs South Sydney]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Souths|16}} South Sydney Rabbitohs

| points1 = Tries:
Ray Branighan (2), Ken Irvine (2), Bob Fulton
Goals:
Ray Branighan (2)
Derek Moritz (2)

| points2 = Tries:
Bob Honan, Bob McCarthy, Denis Pittard, Elwyn Walters
Goals:
Eric Simms (2)

| stadium = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| attendance = 25,536

| referee = Keith Holman

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Saturday 22 April

| time =

| team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

| score = 18 – 14

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-5/manly-warringah-vs-western-suburbs/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.5 - Manly vs Western Suburbs]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Western Suburbs|16}} Western Suburbs Magpies

| points1 = Tries:
Les Hanigan (3), Ken Irvine
Goals:
Derek Moritz (3)

| points2 = Tries:
Stephen Knight, Olaf Prattl
Goals:
Tony Ford (3)
Stephen Satterley (1)

| stadium = Brookvale Oval, Sydney

| attendance = 14,840

| referee = Keith Holman

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Tuesday 25 April

| time =

| team1 = Parramatta Eels {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}}

| score = 7 – 9

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-6/parramatta-vs-manly-warringah/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.6 - Parramatta vs Manly]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

| points1 = Tries:
Russ Devonshire
Goals:
Graham Ernst (2)

| points2 = Tries:
Terry Randall
Goals:
Ken Irvine (3)

| stadium = Cumberland Oval, Sydney

| attendance = 8,129

| referee = Barry Barnes

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Saturday 29 April

| time =

| team1 = Eastern Suburbs Roosters {{leagueicon|Easts|16}}

| score = 24 – 17

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-7/eastern-suburbs-vs-manly-warringah/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.7 - Easts vs Manly]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

| points1 = Tries:
John Armstrong, John Brass, Mark Harris, Peter Moscatt, Allan McKean
Goals:
Allan McKean (4)
Field Goals:
John Brass (1)

| points2 = Tries:
Bill Clare, Ken Irvine, Norm Pounder
Goals:
Ken Irvine (4)

| stadium = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| attendance = 22,202

| referee = Keith Holman

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Sunday 7 May

| time =

| team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

| score = 41 – 12

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-8/manly-warringah-vs-canterbury/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.8 - Manly vs Canterbury-Bankstown]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Bulldogs|16}} Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

| points1 = Tries:
Bob Fulton (3), Derek Moritz (2), Allan Maddalena, Allan Thomson, Gary Thoroughgood, Dennis Ward
Goals:
Derek Moritz (3)
Bob Fulton (2)
Ken Irvine (2)

| points2 = Tries:
Ron Costello, Mick Trypas
Goals:
Greg Purcell (2)
Henry Tatana (1)

| stadium = Brookvale Oval, Sydney

| attendance = 18,574

| referee = Keith Holman

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Sunday 14 May

| time =

| team1 = Balmain Tigers {{leagueicon|Balmain|16}}

| score = 25 – 15

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-9/balmain-vs-manly-warringah/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.9 - Balmain vs Manly]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

| points1 = Tries:
Terry Cross, Glen Capelin, Trevor Ryan, Geoff Starling
Goals:
Dennis Preston (5)

| points2 = Tries:
Dennis Ward (2), Bob Fulton
Goals:
Bob Fulton (3)

| stadium = Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney

| attendance = 7,885

| referee = Barry Barnes

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Sunday 21 May

| time =

| team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

| score = 19 – 5

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-10/manly-warringah-vs-cronulla/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.10 - Manly vs Cronulla-Sutherland]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}} Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

| points1 = Tries:
Max Brown, Ian Martin, Norm Pounder
Goals:
Max Brown (3)
Ken Irvine (2)

| points2 = Tries:
Bob Wear
Goals:
Dave Cotter (1)

| stadium = Brookvale Oval, Sydney

| attendance = 6,382

| referee = Richie Humphreys

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Sunday 28 May

| time =

| team1 = North Sydney Bears {{leagueicon|North Sydney|16}}

| score = 6 – 18

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-11/north-sydney-vs-manly-warringah/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.11 - North Sydney vs Manly]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

| points1 = Tries:
George Ambrum (2)
Goals:

| points2 = Tries:
Bill Clare (3), Bob Fulton
Goals:
Max Brown (3)

| stadium = North Sydney Oval, Sydney

| attendance = 8,800

| referee = Barry Barnes

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Sunday 4 June

| time =

| team1 = Penrith Panthers {{leagueicon|Old Penrith|16}}

| score = 2 – 22

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-12/penrith-vs-manly-warringah/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.12 - Penrith vs Manly]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

| points1 = Tries:

Goals:
Norm Gilligan (1)

| points2 = Tries:
Bill Clare (3), Fred Jones, Gary Thoroughgood, Dennis Ward
Goals:
Max Brown (1)
Mark Willoughby (1)

| stadium = Penrith Park, Sydney

| attendance = 5,078

| referee = Keith Holman

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Monday 12 June

| time =

| team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

| score = 15 – 15

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-13/manly-warringah-vs-st-george/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.13 - Manly vs St. George]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|St George|16}} St. George Dragons

| points1 = Tries:
Bill Hamilton, Ian Martin, Derek Moritz
Goals:
Derek Moritz (2)
Max Brown (1)

| points2 = Tries:
Barry Beath, Tony Branson, Graeme Langlands
Goals:
Graeme Langlands (3)

| stadium = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| attendance = 37,343

| referee = Keith Holman

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Sunday 25 June

| time =

| team1 = Newtown Bluebags {{leagueicon|Newtown|16}}

| score = 9 – 10

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-14/newtown-vs-manly-warringah/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.14 - Newtown vs Manly]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

| points1 = Tries:
Gary Sullivan
Goals:
Ken Wilson (3)

| points2 = Tries:

Goals:
Max Brown (3)
Derek Moritz (1)
Field Goals:
Bob Fulton (1)
Dennis Ward (1)

| stadium = Henson Park, Sydney

| attendance = Keith Holman

| referee = 8,838

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Saturday 24 June

| time =

| team1 = South Sydney Rabbitohs {{leagueicon|Rabbitohs|16}}

| score = 4 – 12

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-15/south-sydney-vs-manly-warringah/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.15 - South Sydney vs Manly]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

| points1 = Tries:

Goals:
Eric Simms (2)

| points2 = Tries:
Max Brown, Allan Thomson
Goals:
Max Brown (3)

| stadium = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| attendance = 18,397

| referee = Laurie Bruyeres

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Saturday 1 July

| time =

| team1 = Western Suburbs Magpies {{leagueicon|Western Suburbs|16}}

| score = 7 – 32

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-16/western-suburbs-vs-manly-warringah/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.16 - Western Suburbs vs Manly]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

| points1 = Tries:
Jon Clark
Goals:
Tony Ford (2)

| points2 = Tries:
Mal Reilly (2), Max Brown, Fred Jones, Allan Maddalena, Terry Randall
Goals:
Max Brown (7)

| stadium = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| attendance = 10,241

| referee = Keith Holman

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Sunday 9 July

| time =

| team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

| score = 32 – 10

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-17/manly-warringah-vs-parramatta/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.17 - Manly vs Parramatta]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Parramatta Eels

| points1 = Tries:
Graham Eadie, Bill Hamilton, Terry Randall, Mal Reilly, Gary Thoroughgood, Dennis Ward
Goals:
Graham Eadie (3)
Max Brown (2)
Derek Moritz (2)

| points2 = Tries:
Dennis Mount, Gary Pethybridge
Goals:
Bland Liles (1)
Dennis Mount (1)

| stadium = Brookvale Oval, Sydney

| attendance = 11,451

| referee = Barry Barnes

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Saturday 22 July

| time =

| team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

| score = 17 – 14

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-18/manly-warringah-vs-eastern-suburbs/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.18 - Manly vs Easts]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Easts|16}} Eastern Suburbs Roosters

| points1 = Tries:
Dennis Ward (2), Graham Eadie, Ken Irvine
Goals:
Bob Fulton (1)
Field Goals:
Bob Fulton (2)
Dennis Ward (1)

| points2 = Tries:
Mark Harris (2)
Goals:
Peter Flanders (4)

| stadium = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| attendance = 30,968

| referee = Keith Holman

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Sunday 30 July

| time =

| team1 = Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs {{leagueicon|Bulldogs|16}}

| score = 16 – 30

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-19/canterbury-vs-manly-warringah/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.19 - Canterbury-Bankstown vs Manly]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

| points1 = Tries:
Johnny Greaves, Norm Thomas
Goals:
Henry Tatana (5)

| points2 = Tries:
Ken Irvine (2), Dennis Ward (2), Graham Eadie, Fred Jones
Goals:
Max Brown (3)
Graham Eadie (1)

| stadium = Belmore Oval, Sydney

| attendance = 11,579

| referee = Keith Page

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Sunday 6 August

| time =

| team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

| score = 37 – 15

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-20/manly-warringah-vs-balmain/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.20 - Manly vs Balmain]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Balmain|16}} Balmain Tigers

| points1 = Tries:
Bob Fulton (4), Ken Irvine (3), Ray Branighan, Mal Reilly
Goals:
Graham Eadie (4)
Max Brown (1)

| points2 = Tries:
Greg Fryer, Michael Ross, Bruce Warwick
Goals:
Bruce Warwick (3)

| stadium = Brookvale Oval, Sydney

| attendance = 15,297

| referee = Keith Holman

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Sunday 13 August

| time =

| team1 = Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks {{leagueicon|Cronulla|16}}

| score = 10 – 15

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-21/cronulla-vs-manly-warringah/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.21 - Cronulla-Sutherland vs Manly]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

| points1 = Tries:
Greg Allen, Ken Maddison
Goals:
Barry Andrews (2)

| points2 = Tries:
Bob Fulton (2), Bob Moses
Goals:
Ray Branighan (3)

| stadium = Endeavour Field, Sydney

| attendance = 8,145

| referee = Don MacDonald

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Sunday 20 August

| time =

| team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

| score = 30 – 7

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/round-22/manly-warringah-vs-north-sydney/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Rd.22 - Manly vs North Sydney]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|North Sydney|16}} North Sydney Bears

| points1 = Tries:
Bob Fulton (2), Allan Maddalena (2), Max Brown, Ken Irvine
Goals:
Graham Eadie (6)

| points2 = Tries:
Bruce Walker
Goals:
Barry Glasgow (2)

| stadium = Brookvale Oval, Sydney

| attendance = 15,128

| referee = Keith Holman

| manofmatch =

}}

Finals

=Major Semi-Final=

{{rugbyleaguebox collapsible

| date = Saturday 2 September

| time =

| team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

| score = 32 – 8

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/major-semi/manly-warringah-vs-eastern-suburbs/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL major semi-final – Manly vs Easts]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Easts|16}} Eastern Suburbs Roosters

| points1 = Tries:
Bob Fulton (2), Graham Eadie, Ian Martin, Allan Thomson, Dennis Ward
Goals:
Ray Branighan (6)
Graham Eadie (1)

| points2 = Tries:
Jim Morgan, John Quayle
Goals:
Allan McKean (1)

| stadium = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| attendance = 43,695

| referee = Keith Holman

| manofmatch =

}}

=Grand Final=

{{Rugbyleaguebox

|bg = #eeeeee

| date = Saturday 16 September

| time =

| team1 = Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

| score = 19 – 14

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1972/grand-final/manly-warringah-vs-eastern-suburbs/summary.html 1972 NSWRFL Grand Final – Manly-Warringah vs Eastern Suburbs]

| team2 = {{leagueicon|Easts|16}} Eastern Suburbs Roosters

| points1 = Tries:
Fred Jones
Ray Branighan
Goals:
Ray Branighan (6/8)
Field Goals:
Bob Fulton (1)

| points2 = Tries:
John Ballesty
Bill Mullins
Goals:
Allan McKean (4/6)

| stadium = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| attendance = 54,357

| referee = Keith Page

| manofmatch = Dennis Ward {{leagueicon|Manly|16}}

}}

width=92%
{{Football kit

|pattern_la =

|pattern_b = _manly

|pattern_ra =

|pattern_sh =

|pattern_so = _2whitestripes

|leftarm = 800000

|body = 800000

|rightarm = 800000

|shorts = FFFFFF

|socks = 800000

|title = Manly-Warringah

}}

|{{Football kit

|pattern_la =

|pattern_b = _easts

|pattern_ra =

|pattern_sh =

|pattern_so = _red_midband_color

|leftarm = 000080

|body = 00008B

|rightarm = 000080

|shorts = FFFFFF

|socks = 00008B

|title = Eastern Suburbs

}}

width="100%"

|valign="top" width="50%"|

{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"

width="25"|width="25"|
FB1Graham Eadie
LW2Ken Irvine
CE3Ray Branighan
CE4Bob Fulton
RW5Max Brown
FE6Ian Martin
HB7Dennis Ward
LK8Mal Reilly
SR9Terry Randall
SR10Allan Thomson
PR11John O'Neill
HK12Fred Jones (c)
PR13Bill Hamilton
colspan=3|Substitutions:
IC14
IC15
colspan=3|Coach:
colspan="4"|{{flagicon|AUS}} Ron Willey

|valign="top" width="50%"|

style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"
width="25"|width="25"|
FB1Allan McKean
LW2Jim Porter
CE3Harry Cameron
CE4Mark Harris
RW5Bill Mullins
FE6John Ballesty
HB7Kevin Junee
LK8Ron Coote (c)
SR9John Quayle
SR10Greg Bandiera
PR11Arthur Beetson
HK12Peter Moscatt
PR13John Armstrong
colspan=3|Substitutions:
IC14Laurie Freier
IC15
colspan=3|Coach:
colspan="4"|{{flagicon|AUS}} Don Furner

|}

After twenty-five years in the competition and five Grand Final losses, Manly finally broke through to win the club's first NSWRFL premiership.{{cite news

| last = Clarkson

| first = Alan

| title = Manly - deserved winners

| work = The Sun-Herald

| place = Australia

| page = 72

| date = 17 September 1972

| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DaApAAAAIBAJ&pg=5441,7161490

| access-date = 19 September 2010}}

In a controversial match, the Sea-Eagles downed the Eastern Suburbs Roosters 19 to 14, thus shedding their 'bridesmaids' tag. The Roosters were highly critical of referee Keith Page after the match, claiming both of Manly's tries shouldn't have been awarded. To add to their rage, Easts crossed for 2 tries that were disallowed.

A dour first half saw the teams go to the break at 4-all, before a try by hooker Fred Jones put Manly ahead. Jones appeared to drop the ball as he attempted to ground it, but was awarded the try nonetheless. For his part Jones contends that he did place the ball with downward pressure. Midway through the second half, controversy flared again when Manly centre Ray Branighan appeared to stop over the Eastern Suburbs try line after accepting what looked like a forward pass from prop Bill Hamilton. However, referee Page allowed it and the Manly fans began celebrating, knowing that at 19-4 their first premiership victory was assured. Although Easts fought back with two late tries to John Ballesty and Bill Mullins and brought the score to 19-14, time ran out for the Roosters and Manly had won their first ever premiership in first grade.

In the end, it was Manly's part-time goal kicker Ray Branighan who proved the difference, kicking 6 goals from 8 attempts.

{{Clear}}

Player statistics

Note: Games and (sub) show total games played, e.g. 1 (1) is 2 games played.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"

!Player !! Games (sub) !! Tries !! Goals !! FG !! Points

{{flagicon|AUS}} John Barber
{{flagicon|AUS}} Keith Blackett
{{flagicon|AUS}} Ray Branighan42460
{{flagicon|AUS}} Max Brown42970
{{flagicon|AUS}} John Bucknall
{{flagicon|AUS}} Bob Cameron
{{flagicon|AUS}} Bill Clare721
{{flagicon|AUS}} Graham Eadie41542
{{flagicon|AUS}} Bob Fulton196473
{{flagicon|AUS}} Bill Hamilton26
{{flagicon|AUS}} Les Hanigan39
{{flagicon|AUS}} Ken Irvine131161
{{flagicon|AUS}} Fred Jones (c)412
{{flagicon|AUS}} Allan Maddalena412
{{flagicon|AUS}} Ian Martin412
{{flagicon|AUS}} Derek Moritz51851
{{flagicon|AUS}} Bob Moses13
{{flagicon|AUS}} John O'Neill
{{flagicon|AUS}} Peter Peters
{{flagicon|AUS}} Norm Pounder26
{{flagicon|AUS}} Terry Randall39
{{flagicon|ENG}} Mal Reilly412
{{flagicon|AUS}} Allan Thomson39
{{flagicon|AUS}} Gary Thoroughgood39
{{flagicon|AUS}} Gary Train
{{flagicon|AUS}} Dennis Ward10232
{{flagicon|ENG}} Graham Williams
{{flagicon|AUS}} Mark Willoughby12
TOTAL991046511

Representative Players

=International=

{{main|1972 Rugby League World Cup}}

=State=

=City vs Country=

References

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

External links

  • [http://www.seaeagles.com.au/ Manly Warringah Sea Eagles official website]
  • [http://www.nrl.com/ National Rugby League official website]

{{Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles}}

Category:Manly Warringah Sea Eagles seasons

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season