How can a young skinny blonde haired kid from Pitt Rd, North Curl Curl who was more interested in the surf and baseball become a rugby
league legend?

It helps when you are blessed with inherited natural ability, combine this exceptional coaching and a stong sense of determination & commitment
and you have the makings of a NRL immortal.

Mackie Campbell was a member of Manly's original 1947 first grade team plaing for Norths immediately after WW2, a  more than capable
centre Mackie had raw natural sporting ability and his career was shortened due to his duties with the airforce in the war.  Mackie was
Steven Menzies' Grandfather and the one who coined his now famous nickname "Beaver".  Beaver's mother Carolyn was a champion
touch football player in her day, obviously there was something in the genes.

A local junior who played with the mighty Harbord United club, Beaver's mind was elsewhere during in younger playing days - more the
trouble maker and team larikin than a champion backrower.  That was until his mid teens when a new coach at Harbord provided him with focus
and the skills that would last him a lifetime.

He was quickly identied as a talented player of the future by the Sea Eagles & started playing in thier junior teams while at Narrabeen Sports
High.  His junior team mates at the time were Nik Kosef, John Hopoate & Daniel Gartner - there players would later form the core of the team
that is arguably one of the greatest to represent the peninsula club in thier 62 year history.

After brief stint in the lower grades Beaver made his debut in the Maroon & White off the bench in a match against the Brisbane Broncos at
Brookvale Oval, his home for the next 16 seasons.  While his performance that night was encouraging no one watching that game
could have predicted the magificance of the career that was about to unfold.

In 1994 Beaver was a permanent members of the Sea Eagles line up and his partnership with mercurial 5/8 Cliff Lyons was developing.
So much so by the end of the season Beaver had crossed the white stripe 16 times, most of the time Lyons had delivered the
pass which sent Beaver to the line.  This effort broke the club's season try scoring record for a forward.

Season 1995 Beaver stunned the all league followers by becoming the first forward in 50 years to top the competition try scoring tally.
Beaver amassed  an amazing 22 tries, many off his old mate Cliffy Lyons.  The Sea Eagles had a stellar season but lost the
seemingly unloseable Grand Final to the Bulldogs - mainly due to referee Eddie Ward's inability to count and see forward passes.

International honours soon followed and Beaver played tests for the Kangaroos and was a star of the successful 1995 World Cup
winning team.  Beaver was now the premier backrower in Rugby League, a game which was in the middle of its greatest
upheaval - the Super League War.

Beaver's first premiership success was against the happless St George Dragons the following season, Beaver scored a vital try
just prior to half time to give the Sea Eagles an unbeatable lead against the perrinal grand final losers.

Heartbreak occurred in divided competiton of 1997 for Beaver and all Manly supporters when the club lost in the final seconds
to Newcastle after a Darren Albert try who were fueled by steriods and a partisan SFS crowd.

Beaver's career continued to flourish over the coming years even though his mate Cliff Lyon's retired and Manly were a shadow of their previous
greatness as the club struggled to survive in the post Super League era and the debacle that was the Northern Eagles
experiment. Beaver had many chances to leave the club for more money and success but his loyality to the maroon and white
was strong and he stayed much to the relief of Eagles fans and also his family who instilled in him the love of their local
footy team

With the Northern Eagles collapse came the rebirth of the Sea Eagles and Manly starting building a new club around their
champion second row forward.  Beaver was captain in the early revival years but surrendered the captaincy to
Michael Monaghan so he concetrate on his own game.  In 2002 Beaver broke Bob Fulton's club try scoring record and in 2004
surpassed Glebe's Frank Burge pre world world two record for most tries scored by a forward in the competition.

With the arrival Ben Kennedy & Brent Kite in 2005 the Sea Eagles started to believe that more premiership success was
on the way.  Beaver could once again relive the days of the mid nineties when the Sea Eagles were the most feared team
in the premiership.

Manly fans  thought 2007 would be the year to rejoice but were comfortably beaten by the Melbourne Storm in the decider.
2008 started slowly for the team but a rolling stone gathers no moss and the team started its magnificant run towards the
2008 premiership title.  This run was interupted by the annoucement that 2008 would be Beaver's last season at Manly.
Something Manly fans thought would never happen, it did however provide the club a great incentive to go one better than
2007.

Beaver's last game at his beloved Brookie was against the St George Dragons in the 1st semi final and to the delight of a
packed home ground Beaver scored a spectacular if unconventional try off a charge down which provided the Eagles
with a great start to the match which they totally dominated.

After beating the Warriors easily in the final Manly met their 2007 grand final opponents again in the decider and this
time the Sea Eagles were prepared to the minute by coach and former team mate of Beaver, Des Hasler.

After a pulverising performance the Eagles were well in front and their 7th title was within their grasp.  Beaver came
off the beanch to replace Steve Matai with about 9 minutes to go for one last run in the NRL.  Could Beaver score
one final try to top off his career with 180 tries and a premiership ring?

After delivering a perfectably timed pass to winger Michael Robertson Beaver backed up on the inside and with Robbo
tip toeing along the sideline he threw an inside ball back to Beaver who duly planted the ball over the line for one
last time.  The 80,000 strong crowd errupted with delight but maybe also shed a tear or three as Beaver would never
be seen again in a Manly jumper.

The Grand Final was Beaver's 349th game and he equalled the record held by Terry Lamb for most games played.  He
holds too many records to mention but he is without doubt the greatest try scoring forward in the history of the game.

Beaver also played 20 Origins and 15 test matches and now continues his career in the UK with the Bradford Bulls.

Steven Menzies - surely a future immortal.