IT would cost absolutely nothing.
It is common sense and would thrill thousands of genuine rugby league fans ... the NRL should include the 69 games and 29 tries Steve Menzies racked up between 200
0 and 2002 to his Manly Sea Eagles record.
To all in the game he is a fiercely loyal, proud one NRL club player.
But officially the legendary Beaver isn’t according to those handful of men in the game who seemingly set their own rules — the game’s statisticians and keeper of records.
They have ruled that Menzies three seasons at the defunct Northern Eagles can’t be used in his all time Manly record — despite the fact that the Manly club ruled before the Northern Eagles took the field that all games and tries would be simply a continuation of their Manly career.
The Manly Warringah District Rugby League Club has written to the game’s governing body asking that the wrong be set right. So far nothing has come of the request.
But what better time to revive it and fix the issue for all time than right now.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
THIS weekend the spotlight will be firmly on the great man at aged 40 when he again turns out in the maroon and white — the colours worn first in 1947 by his grand father Mackie Campbell in Manly’s inaugural team.
His — at this stage- one off return appearance has enabled the inaugural Nines to capture much more media attention than it would have without his appearance.
As always with Steve Menzies it is positive attention. He left with the team on Thursday with the face and the upright body of the fresh faced youngster who debuted for Manly in 1993.
Now 523 games and an incredible 238 tries later he is having yet another weekend away with the boys!
How special he is. It isn’t much to ask that his record be altered to show 349 games for Manly and 180 tries...... The most by any forward in the history of the game. Menzies never left Manly, never left the peninsula. The club he played for amalgamated in an ill fated joint venture where the rules were upfront an open from the start.
NO BRAINER
IT would mean a lot for Menzies and for Manly if the NRL stepped in and settled a dispute which has bubbled beneath the surface for over a decade now.
It is a no brainier for the administrative body of the game. It is a stroke of the pen. A media announcement of significance and there is simply no down side.
Even fans who absolutely hate Manly admit they admire and respect Steve Menzies.
What a way to start a new season for the NRL. Give Beaver the official record he has earned — it isn’t too much to ask for an ornament of the game.
Peter Peters
Manly Daily
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/zorba-nrl-must-do-justice-to-steve-menzies/story-fngr8iii-1226827434378
