Eagles on the move PDF Print E-mail
Written by Daniel   
Sunday, 05 February 2006 10:00

JASON AVEDISSIAN
03may06

[b]MANLY will investigate transferring future games from Brookvale Oval to the Sydney Cricket Ground following the club's successful return to the old ground last Sunday. [/b]

The Sea Eagles shifted their round eight home match against Parramatta to the SCG to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the clubs' 1976 grand final, won 13-10 by Manly.


A crowd of more than 19,000 attended last weekend's game.

Manly chairman Joe Cross said the Sea Eagles would now consider holding the 20-year celebration of the club's 1987 grand final victory over Canberra at the SCG next year.

Cross also said Manly could play Cronulla at the same venue in 2008 to commemorate their 1978 decider, another premiership win to the Sea Eagles.

``The Manly board will get a report from the finance side and talk to our fans and our football club members and we'll gauge their views,'' Cross said yesterday.

``We've got opportunities (to host games at the SCG). If our football club members believe it was a success we will definitely look at it.

``There is nothing on the agenda but we'll look at it for next year.''

Cross said future South Sydney-Manly games could also be played at the SCG.

Manly coach Des Hasler said he would back future games at the ground.

``When you look at the atmosphere that something like the SCG provides, I'd like to see more games of footy played there,'' he said. ``I'd like to congratulate both sides (Manly and Parramatta) on the concept to go there in the first place.''

Sea Eagles forward Mark Bryant was also beaming about playing at the historic ground and was confident Manly fans would get behind them. ``They are really passionate and will come wherever we are playing,'' he said.

``It was my first time and it was such a good atmosphere.''

Former Manly and Balmain winger Russel Gartner, the youngest member of the Sea Eagles' 1976 squad, believes the SCG should host more games.

``It's still the best ground in Australia,'' he said.