Best Manly Back Row

[mosto]

During a few beers with a couple of mates recently we were remembering players form the past and got around to specific combinations, ie centres, halves etc. Eventually we got around a group rarely discussed as a combination these days, the back row. What is your favourite back row combo for the Eagles? Some great options here but I'll go with Stewart/Watmough/Menzies but not by much.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Pretty sure Choice 1 didn't get to a grand final.
Reilly Randall and Allan Thomson would be up there.
I'd also add Steve 'Knocker' Norton, Randall and Lowe as another genuine contender.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I'll choose Stewart/Watmough/Menzies too, by the barest of margins. Although Menzies was often only a super-sub by the time the other two were really hitting their prime.
Similar to option 1, pretty sure Reilly's knee was bad by the time Lowe came on board.
Kosef/Menzies/Gartner would almost be my pick, but when they won the comp didn't Kosef play at 5/8?

 

[Eagle 1]

I'll choose Stewart/Watmough/Menzies too, by the barest of margins. Although Menzies was often only a super-sub by the time the other two were really hitting their prime.
Similar to option 1, pretty sure Reilly's knee was bad by the time Lowe came on board.
Kosef/Menzies/Gartner would almost be my pick, but when they won the comp didn't Kosef play at 5/8?

yep, with Gift/Whatmough/Menzies, what a combo, toughness skill and guile...

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Ive chosen 1

Reilly & Randell , OMG

 

[The '47ers]

Ben Kennedy

 

[manly al]

Ian Martin , Randell and Bruce Walker would be right up there to . Very good all round player Goldie Walker . then a bit latter Fatty Vautin , Paul Mc Cabe and Les Boyd . fatty , ron Gibbs and Crusher Cleal . just so many good ones over time

 

[manly al]

Bit before my time but Bill Bradstreet , John Morgan - Mick Vivers , Ken Day all rep players in some capacity , part of a good Manly pack back in the day

 

[manly al]

Somehow Kosef , Daniel Gartner and Beaver Menzies really stand out for me but again so many top line ones over the years

 

[Shoe1]

Not sure Lowe and Reilly were at manly at the same time. Edit: yes 1975

Underrated in the unstoppable 1983 team was Ian Schubert, fatty and McCabe. Boyd was suspended and injured most of the year. Won the minor premiership by a mile. Such a pity about the grand final.

Stewart watmough menzies the best I reckon.

 

[Disco]

I can really only talk for early 90s onwards but Kosef, Gartner, Menzies for me.

 

[Shoe1]

Kosef/Menzies/Gartner would almost be my pick, but when they won the comp didn't Kosef play at 5/8?

Josef played 5/8 for about 20 min in that game. Before cliffy came on. It was a bozo special

 

[deanm]

I went with Gifty/Beaver & Choc mainly because of the aggression in defence Choc & Gifty provided.

 

[Rocky]

I can really only talk for early 90s onwards but Kosef, Gartner, Menzies for me.

Have to agree as all 3 were at their peak as opposed to the later Beaver option.

 

[Go manly]

Maxta
Like to hear more stories of the beer sessions when this was brought up
Wasn’t at fitzy’s by any chance
We nick named that pub liars because of the tales we told in the eastern well days

Any way
How hard is it to pick the best
Gifty and choc are mates and read this forum so I have to give them a Rap but agree beaver may be in the era before

Certainly beaver must make a trio some where
Kosef Gartner maybe

But Reilly Lowe and Randal were so dominant in such a tough era

Not saying choc and Gifty would not have survived this era but in fact probably revelled in it

Just imagine Lowe and Crusher together

Sheet

Forgot BK

Add him too

 

[IQofalimabean]

stewart, watmough, and menzies good enough to flog most origin backrows too.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Surprised Ian Martin isn’t mentioned anywhere.

He locked the scrum in the 1976 decider with Norton and Lowe in front of him. Then he backed up as lock in 1978, with Randall and Walker in front of him.

But of course many correspondents ‘never saw them play’, so that automatically rules them out.😉

 

[Tragic Eagle]

I went Reilly, Lowe and Randall but a close second were Stewart, Watmough and Beaver.

 

[Bearfax]

Being an old timer ,Reilly, Lowe and Randall was my favourite, though I would love Menzies in for Lowe. Best in my opinion Reilly, Menzies, Randall. That would be a killer back row, with three of the best players I've seen wearing a Manly jersey.

 

[Bearfax]

Surprised Ian Martin isn’t mentioned anywhere.

He locked the scrum in the 1976 decider with Norton and Lowe in front of him. Then he backed up as lock in 1978, with Randall and Walker in front of him.

But of course many correspondents ‘never saw them play’, so that automatically rules them out.😉

A top tough as nails five eighth was Ian Martin. Would have made a fine lock but I see him as 5/8. He actually pushed Fulton to centre, such was his worth.