Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

1972 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season

1972 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season
NSWRFL champions
NSWRFL Rank1st
1972 recordWins: 20; draws: 1; losses: 3
Points scoredFor: 511; against: 277
Team information
SecretaryAustralia Ken Arthurson
CoachAustralia Ron Willey
Assistant coachAustralia Frank Stanton (Reserve Grade)
Captain
StadiumBrookvale Oval
Top scorers
TriesAustralia Bob Fulton (19)
GoalsAustralia Max Brown (29)
PointsAustralia Bob Fulton (73)
← 1971 1973 →

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.[1]

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

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Manly-Warringah 22 18 1 3 460 255 +205 37
2 Eastern Suburbs 22 17 1 4 514 297 +217 35
3 St. George 22 16 2 4 398 221 +177 34
4 South Sydney 22 14 0 8 456 331 +125 28
5 Newtown 22 11 2 9 402 371 +31 24
6 Canterbury-Bankstown 22 12 0 10 382 373 +9 24
7 Western Suburbs 22 8 1 13 367 398 -31 17
8 Cronulla-Sutherland 22 8 0 14 332 378 -46 16
9 North Sydney 22 7 1 14 320 405 -85 15
10 Balmain 22 6 1 15 333 455 -122 13
11 Penrith 22 5 1 16 278 490 -212 11
12 Parramatta 22 4 2 16 317 585 -268 10

Regular season

Sunday 26 March Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 34 – 6 Penrith Panthers Brookvale Oval, Sydney
Tries:
Ken Irvine (2), Derek Moritz (2), Bob Fulton, Ian Martin
Goals:
Ray Branighan (6)
Derek Moritz (2)
[2]
Tries:

Goals:
Len Killeen (3)

Attendance: 13,437
Referee: Keith Page

Monday 3 April St. George Dragons 18 – 0 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Kogarah Oval, Sydney
Tries:
Tony Branson, Bob Clapham
Goals:
Graeme Langlands (6)
[3]
Tries:

Goals:

Attendance: 6,182
Referee: Keith Holman

Sunday 9 April Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 14 – 13 Newtown Bluebags Brookvale Oval, Sydney
Tries:
Bob Fulton (2)
Goals:
Derek Moritz (3)
Ray Branighan (1)
[4]
Tries:
Paul Dawson, Gary Sullivan, Lionel Williamson
Goals:
John Bonham (2)

Attendance: 13,732
Referee: Barry Barnes

Saturday 15 April Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 23 – 16 South Sydney Rabbitohs Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Tries:
Ray Branighan (2), Ken Irvine (2), Bob Fulton
Goals:
Ray Branighan (2)
Derek Moritz (2)
[5]
Tries:
Bob Honan, Bob McCarthy, Denis Pittard, Elwyn Walters
Goals:
Eric Simms (2)

Attendance: 25,536
Referee: Keith Holman

Saturday 22 April Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 18 – 14 Western Suburbs Magpies Brookvale Oval, Sydney
Tries:
Les Hanigan (3), Ken Irvine
Goals:
Derek Moritz (3)
[6]
Tries:
Stephen Knight, Olaf Prattl
Goals:
Tony Ford (3)
Stephen Satterley (1)

Attendance: 14,840
Referee: Keith Holman

Tuesday 25 April Parramatta Eels 7 – 9 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Cumberland Oval, Sydney
Tries:
Russ Devonshire
Goals:
Graham Ernst (2)
[7]
Tries:
Terry Randall
Goals:
Ken Irvine (3)

Attendance: 8,129
Referee: Barry Barnes

Saturday 29 April Eastern Suburbs Roosters 24 – 17 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Tries:
John Armstrong, John Brass, Mark Harris, Peter Moscatt, Allan McKean
Goals:
Allan McKean (4)
Field Goals:
John Brass (1)
[8]
Tries:
Bill Clare, Ken Irvine, Norm Pounder
Goals:
Ken Irvine (4)

Attendance: 22,202
Referee: Keith Holman

Sunday 7 May Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 41 – 12 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Brookvale Oval, Sydney
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)
[9]
Tries:
Ron Costello, Mick Trypas
Goals:
Greg Purcell (2)
Henry Tatana (1)

Attendance: 18,574
Referee: Keith Holman

Sunday 14 May Balmain Tigers 25 – 15 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney
Tries:
Terry Cross, Glen Capelin, Trevor Ryan, Geoff Starling
Goals:
Dennis Preston (5)
[10]
Tries:
Dennis Ward (2), Bob Fulton
Goals:
Bob Fulton (3)

Attendance: 7,885
Referee: Barry Barnes

Sunday 21 May Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 19 – 5 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Brookvale Oval, Sydney
Tries:
Max Brown, Ian Martin, Norm Pounder
Goals:
Max Brown (3)
Ken Irvine (2)
[11]
Tries:
Bob Wear
Goals:
Dave Cotter (1)

Attendance: 6,382
Referee: Richie Humphreys

Sunday 28 May North Sydney Bears 6 – 18 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles North Sydney Oval, Sydney
Tries:
George Ambrum (2)
Goals:
[12]
Tries:
Bill Clare (3), Bob Fulton
Goals:
Max Brown (3)

Attendance: 8,800
Referee: Barry Barnes

Sunday 4 June Penrith Panthers 2 – 22 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Penrith Park, Sydney
Tries:

Goals:
Norm Gilligan (1)
[13]
Tries:
Bill Clare (3), Fred Jones, Gary Thoroughgood, Dennis Ward
Goals:
Max Brown (1)
Mark Willoughby (1)

Attendance: 5,078
Referee: Keith Holman

Monday 12 June Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 15 – 15 St. George Dragons Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Tries:
Bill Hamilton, Ian Martin, Derek Moritz
Goals:
Derek Moritz (2)
Max Brown (1)
[14]
Tries:
Barry Beath, Tony Branson, Graeme Langlands
Goals:
Graeme Langlands (3)

Attendance: 37,343
Referee: Keith Holman

Sunday 25 June Newtown Bluebags 9 – 10 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Henson Park, Sydney
Tries:
Gary Sullivan
Goals:
Ken Wilson (3)
[15]
Tries:

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

Attendance: Keith Holman
Referee: 8,838

Saturday 24 June South Sydney Rabbitohs 4 – 12 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Tries:

Goals:
Eric Simms (2)
[16]
Tries:
Max Brown, Allan Thomson
Goals:
Max Brown (3)

Attendance: 18,397
Referee: Laurie Bruyeres

Saturday 1 July Western Suburbs Magpies 7 – 32 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Tries:
Jon Clark
Goals:
Tony Ford (2)
[17]
Tries:
Mal Reilly (2), Max Brown, Fred Jones, Allan Maddalena, Terry Randall
Goals:
Max Brown (7)

Attendance: 10,241
Referee: Keith Holman

Sunday 9 July Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 32 – 10 Parramatta Eels Brookvale Oval, Sydney
Tries:
Graham Eadie, Bill Hamilton, Terry Randall, Mal Reilly, Gary Thoroughgood, Dennis Ward
Goals:
Graham Eadie (3)
Max Brown (2)
Derek Moritz (2)
[18]
Tries:
Dennis Mount, Gary Pethybridge
Goals:
Bland Liles (1)
Dennis Mount (1)

Attendance: 11,451
Referee: Barry Barnes

Saturday 22 July Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 17 – 14 Eastern Suburbs Roosters Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Tries:
Dennis Ward (2), Graham Eadie, Ken Irvine
Goals:
Bob Fulton (1)
Field Goals:
Bob Fulton (2)
Dennis Ward (1)
[19]
Tries:
Mark Harris (2)
Goals:
Peter Flanders (4)

Attendance: 30,968
Referee: Keith Holman

Sunday 30 July Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16 – 30 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Belmore Oval, Sydney
Tries:
Johnny Greaves, Norm Thomas
Goals:
Henry Tatana (5)
[20]
Tries:
Ken Irvine (2), Dennis Ward (2), Graham Eadie, Fred Jones
Goals:
Max Brown (3)
Graham Eadie (1)

Attendance: 11,579
Referee: Keith Page

Sunday 6 August Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 37 – 15 Balmain Tigers Brookvale Oval, Sydney
Tries:
Bob Fulton (4), Ken Irvine (3), Ray Branighan, Mal Reilly
Goals:
Graham Eadie (4)
Max Brown (1)
[21]
Tries:
Greg Fryer, Michael Ross, Bruce Warwick
Goals:
Bruce Warwick (3)

Attendance: 15,297
Referee: Keith Holman

Sunday 13 August Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 10 – 15 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Endeavour Field, Sydney
Tries:
Greg Allen, Ken Maddison
Goals:
Barry Andrews (2)
[22]
Tries:
Bob Fulton (2), Bob Moses
Goals:
Ray Branighan (3)

Attendance: 8,145
Referee: Don MacDonald

Sunday 20 August Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 30 – 7 North Sydney Bears Brookvale Oval, Sydney
Tries:
Bob Fulton (2), Allan Maddalena (2), Max Brown, Ken Irvine
Goals:
Graham Eadie (6)
[23]
Tries:
Bruce Walker
Goals:
Barry Glasgow (2)

Attendance: 15,128
Referee: Keith Holman

Finals

Major Semi-Final

Saturday 2 September Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 32 – 8 Eastern Suburbs Roosters Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Tries:
Bob Fulton (2), Graham Eadie, Ian Martin, Allan Thomson, Dennis Ward
Goals:
Ray Branighan (6)
Graham Eadie (1)
[24]
Tries:
Jim Morgan, John Quayle
Goals:
Allan McKean (1)

Attendance: 43,695
Referee: Keith Holman

Grand Final

Saturday 16 September
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 19 – 14 Eastern Suburbs Roosters
Tries:
Fred Jones
Ray Branighan
Goals:
Ray Branighan (6/8)
Field Goals:
Bob Fulton (1)
[25]
Tries:
John Ballesty
Bill Mullins
Goals:
Allan McKean (4/6)
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 54,357
Referee: Keith Page
Player of the Match: Dennis Ward
Manly-Warringah
Eastern Suburbs
FB 1 Graham Eadie
LW 2 Ken Irvine
CE 3 Ray Branighan
CE 4 Bob Fulton
RW 5 Max Brown
FE 6 Ian Martin
HB 7 Dennis Ward
LK 8 Mal Reilly
SR 9 Terry Randall
SR 10 Allan Thomson
PR 11 John O'Neill
HK 12 Fred Jones (c)
PR 13 Bill Hamilton
Substitutions:
IC 14
IC 15
Coach:
Australia Ron Willey
FB 1 Allan McKean
LW 2 Jim Porter
CE 3 Harry Cameron
CE 4 Mark Harris
RW 5 Bill Mullins
FE 6 John Ballesty
HB 7 Kevin Junee
LK 8 Ron Coote (c)
SR 9 John Quayle
SR 10 Greg Bandiera
PR 11 Arthur Beetson
HK 12 Peter Moscatt
PR 13 John Armstrong
Substitutions:
IC 14 Laurie Freier
IC 15
Coach:
Australia 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.[26]

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.

Player statistics

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

Player Games (sub) Tries Goals FG Points
Australia John Barber
Australia Keith Blackett
Australia Ray Branighan 4 24 60
Australia Max Brown 4 29 70
Australia John Bucknall
Australia Bob Cameron
Australia Bill Clare 7 21
Australia Graham Eadie 4 15 42
Australia Bob Fulton 19 6 4 73
Australia Bill Hamilton 2 6
Australia Les Hanigan 3 9
Australia Ken Irvine 13 11 61
Australia Fred Jones (c) 4 12
Australia Allan Maddalena 4 12
Australia Ian Martin 4 12
Australia Derek Moritz 5 18 51
Australia Bob Moses 1 3
Australia John O'Neill
Australia Peter Peters
Australia Norm Pounder 2 6
Australia Terry Randall 3 9
England Mal Reilly 4 12
Australia Allan Thomson 3 9
Australia Gary Thoroughgood 3 9
Australia Gary Train
Australia Dennis Ward 10 2 32
England Graham Williams
Australia Mark Willoughby 1 2
TOTAL 99 104 6 511

Representative Players

International

State

City vs Country

References