If memory serves me he left and went bush for a season or two between our grand final wins.Says a lot that Ian Martin played in all of Manly's 1970s winning grand finals 1972, 1973, 1976 and 1978. The only others were Terry Randall and Graham Eadie.
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Correct. He spent 1975 as captain/coach of Sawtell before returning to Manly in 1976.If memory serves me he left and went bush for a season or two between our grand final wins.
It’s a pity also that he left after the 1978 win.Correct. He spent 1975 as captain/coach of Sawtell before returning to Manly in 1976.
Ian Martin - Playing Career - RLP
An indication of how good he was is that when he came into first grade Bozo was moved to the centres which was not his preferred option. Great defender and had a great way of bumping off defenders when running as well as being a great link to our backs which included Bozo, Wombat, Irvine and Branigan.It’s a pity also that he left after the 1978 win.
His absence from the team spine was very obvious in both 1975 and 1979.* He only turned 28 in the latter year, so he should have had a few good years left in him. He could have gone past 200 FG games.
I think his value to the team has been undervalued, because he missed out on Australian selection. Easily one of the best players of the 1970s not to have played international football.
*At least we had a ready replacement in 1979, in the shape of Paul Vautin.
Team | P | W | D | L | PD | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Raiders | 24 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 148 | 44 |
2 | Storm | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 212 | 40 |
3 | Bulldogs | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 120 | 38 |
4 | Broncos | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 172 | 36 |
5 | Sharks | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 109 | 36 |
6 | Warriors | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 21 | 34 |
7 | Panthers | 24 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 107 | 33 |
8 | Roosters | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 132 | 32 |
9 | Dolphins | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 125 | 30 |
10 | Sea Eagles | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 21 | 30 |
11 | Eels | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | -76 | 26 |
12 | Cowboys | 24 | 9 | 1 | 14 | -146 | 25 |
13 | Tigers | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | -135 | 24 |
14 | Rabbitohs | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | -181 | 24 |
15 | Dragons | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | -130 | 22 |
16 | Titans | 24 | 6 | 0 | 18 | -199 | 18 |
17 | Knights | 24 | 6 | 0 | 18 | -300 | 18 |