Ridgey hits 50

[Kiwi Eagle]

a little gossip piece here for those interested, he still looks in good enough shape to go around today !!

https://spy.nzherald.co.nz/spy-news/matthew-ridge-celebrates-his-50th-in-ibiza/

 

[HappilyManly]

Ridgey sold his soul to Super League.

He was famous for going home from the ground, not even showering to be with his wife and little girl.😳

Then he gets the money and runs of with that brewer's wife 😀

Great player for Manly

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

His book is a great read, some good stories from his Manly days

One of my favourites being that Toovey wouldn't give him the time of day when he turned up because he was a rugby blow in, after training one day the team were all sitting down, and Tooves turned up with a heap of envelopes with invites to his 21st inside, stopped in front of each player, flicked through his envelopes, found the right one and moved along the line. Everyone got one, but when he got to Ridgey he looked up then just shuffled onto the next person without saying a word haha

 

[double hoops]

He changed the game.

Professionalism ahead of his time.

Tougher, and just generally a better league footballer than he gets credit for.

He's a Manly great.

PS being or not being a lad is irrelevant. What he did on the field is how this bloke should be judged. On game day, no one put their body on the line or left their heart and soul on the field any more than this bloke.

He's on equal parr with Toovs.

 

[niccipops]

He changed the game.

Professionalism ahead of his time.

Tougher, and just generally a better league footballer than he gets credit for.

He's a Manly great.

PS being or not being a lad is irrelevant. What he did on the field is how this bloke should be judged. On game day, no one put their body on the line or left their heart and soul on the field any more than this bloke.

He's on equal parr with Toovs.

I agree he's a Manly great. An absolute legend. Guaranteed 6 points every try.
Not equal parr with Tooves in my book though. Tooves was a rare breed of Manly and he never sold out to Super League.

 

[Harvies elbow]

NOW I feel old...

 

[Top End Eagle]

The best player in his position in his era. I hear Kent on triple m talk about how brad Clyde is underrated because he changed the idea of a lock forward (I kind of agree but think most people forget about bobby Lindner). Ridge made that spot his own. Better defensively than all. And good enough in attack to offset all the other fullbacks at the times claims. And the best goal kicker the game has ever seen.

 

[wombatgc]

NOW I feel old...

Mate, I'm the same age, but definitely not looking cut in a tank top (or any top for that matter!).
Seems Ridgey enjoys spreading his seed.

 

[Class of 96]

Legend of Manly that bloke. DH and TE nailed it. I’ll just add his ferocious competitiveness, will to win and his amazing organizational skills, never shutting up for a second that drove the team to that rare extra 1% that makes a difference.

 

[Lyonstomenzies]

He proved you and your teammates don’t need to get along. They just need to do there jobs.

If you didn’t do your job on the field Ridgy would give it to you.

I remember him giving multiple serves to the Iro bros back in the 90s.

 

[Midnight Rambler]

I ****ing loved Mathew Ridge. Definitely a Manly legend. A tough player, who was also an intelligent player...was there ever a better fullback, marshalling the troops from the back? Ridge wouldn’t shut up! One of the greatest goalkickers I ever saw...hands down!
Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnly

 

[wombatgc]

He proved you and your teammates don’t need to get along. They just need to do there jobs.

If you didn’t do your job on the field Ridgy would give it to you.

I remember him giving multiple serves to the Iro bros back in the 90s.

Definitely. I've repeated this one many a time. We were playing Wests at Brookie, and in front by 30 or so. Ridgeys lining up a kick for goal. I'm right behind the sticks at the northern end. While he's lining it up, Tezza is running around like a mad man, geeing all the troops up. Ridge converts....just. Comes back to the sticks and gives Tezza the serve of all serves! Everyone at the Northern end heard it.....along the lines of, " Terry, shut your farking trap, when I'm kicking, you shut you're farking mouth!"....Im telling you there was a cpl seconds of silence, then someone started chanting MANLY, and it was all forgotten. At first I thought what a C@nt, then I realized, he's a professional. Loved the Ridge after that day.

 

[manlyfan76]

Turbo could do with watching Ridgeys sprays IF we happened to let a try in.

 

[BOZO]

a little gossip piece here for those interested, he still looks in good enough shape to go around today !!

https://spy.nzherald.co.nz/spy-news/matthew-ridge-celebrates-his-50th-in-ibiza/

One of my favourite players . Mr Resilience Mathew Ridge