Having a famous surname has been a curse that has plagued many a young sportsman look at Don Bradmans son John as an example, he had to change his name to alleviate the pressure of being a son of a s
porting legend.
Rugby League is not immune from such curses either, you only have to look at the playing careers of John Raper and Bob McCartheys sons, as players they have fallen way short of the high achievements of their famous fathers.
The Manly Sea Eagles were blessed during the 1970s when a group of young men
around the same age turned into champions. The result was 4 premierships in 7 seasons - a golden era which may never be repeated.
These same young men retired and started families, and then their sons became Sea Eagles. The names of Krilich, Thoroughgood, Thompson, Eadie and Randall have all resurfaced with varying degrees of success.
However the sons of our greatest player, Brett and Scott arguably polarised Manly supporters like no other players in the clubs history.
Scott was an Australian Schoolboy who under his fathers and club coaches guidance made his way quickly through the grades to make his debut in 1993. He was a crafty hooker who strode the field with the same arrogant swagger as his father.
Manly fans were generally ecstatic at the prospect of a Fulton being in the Maroon and White again. I personally thought if Scott was half as good as his father he would be a fantastic addition to the side. Somehow Scott never really showed the promise or ability his father thought his son possessed.
Slotting in at hooker or playing off the bench the performances of Scott went at times from ordinary to pathetic. It was clear to everyone but the coach and father that Scott was simply not up to first grade standard. It was simple a case of nepotism at it very best.
The more times Scott kept getting picked in first grade, the worse the reaction of the Brookvale crowd became. He was roundly booed and jeered as he came onto the field, would this be enough to move Bozo into reconsidering his sons position at the club? Unfortunately not he was one of the players picked the very next week.
With Jim Serdaris missing the 1997 Grand Final against Newcastle through suspension, Scott obtained another reprieve and again he sat on the reserves bench. He only played a matter of minutes in the decider once spilling the pill which led to a Newcastle try. Even Bozo couldnt keep him on the field and because of his lack of involvement in the game Manly were running on tired legs as the clock counted down to the final minutes.
We all know the story Darren Albert crossed with a few seconds left to score a remarkable victory. I dont want to try and rewrite history but in my opinion if we had a player who would have contributed more during the game we could have secured our 7th premiership.
As time went by, with his father as coach, Scott Fulton still clung to his spot in the first grade squad. Manly supporters routinely shook their heads in disgust when they read the team each week. Why couldnt the club see what was going on?
Paul Vautin who made his way into the media, criticised Scotts continual selection in first grade he only echoed what the vast majority of supporters were thinking. This comment led to Fatty losing his previously strong friendship with Fulton and actually split the club into two factions, this was not resolved until Paul Cummings was appointed Executive Director and Ian Thomson and Fatty removed from the CEO position and the Football Club Board.
I will not go into the massive ARL contract Scott somehow managed to secure during the Super League war but once again there was a huge amount of favouritism due to the Fulton name.
With Scott still playing first grade, in 1999 Bozo resigned as coach mid season. Upon taking over new coach Peter Sharp immediately dropped Scott to reserve grade, then Reserve Grade coach Ian Thomson refused to select Scott in his side and put him on the reserves bench. A dummy spit of massive proportions occurred and he didnt play another game for Manly again. So after 49 games and 1 lousy try he was never sighted again, much to the relief of the Brookvale faithful.
He turned up in country footy a few years later and I believe he is still running around but I simply do not care where he is playing, I spent too much time worrying about him in the mid nineties.
Scott Fulton an abject failure. I will not even bother wasted anyones time with a summation of Brett Fultons career as it was worse than Scotts.
Rugby League is not immune from such curses either, you only have to look at the playing careers of John Raper and Bob McCartheys sons, as players they have fallen way short of the high achievements of their famous fathers.
The Manly Sea Eagles were blessed during the 1970s when a group of young men
around the same age turned into champions. The result was 4 premierships in 7 seasons - a golden era which may never be repeated.
These same young men retired and started families, and then their sons became Sea Eagles. The names of Krilich, Thoroughgood, Thompson, Eadie and Randall have all resurfaced with varying degrees of success.
However the sons of our greatest player, Brett and Scott arguably polarised Manly supporters like no other players in the clubs history.
Scott was an Australian Schoolboy who under his fathers and club coaches guidance made his way quickly through the grades to make his debut in 1993. He was a crafty hooker who strode the field with the same arrogant swagger as his father.
Manly fans were generally ecstatic at the prospect of a Fulton being in the Maroon and White again. I personally thought if Scott was half as good as his father he would be a fantastic addition to the side. Somehow Scott never really showed the promise or ability his father thought his son possessed.
Slotting in at hooker or playing off the bench the performances of Scott went at times from ordinary to pathetic. It was clear to everyone but the coach and father that Scott was simply not up to first grade standard. It was simple a case of nepotism at it very best.
The more times Scott kept getting picked in first grade, the worse the reaction of the Brookvale crowd became. He was roundly booed and jeered as he came onto the field, would this be enough to move Bozo into reconsidering his sons position at the club? Unfortunately not he was one of the players picked the very next week.
With Jim Serdaris missing the 1997 Grand Final against Newcastle through suspension, Scott obtained another reprieve and again he sat on the reserves bench. He only played a matter of minutes in the decider once spilling the pill which led to a Newcastle try. Even Bozo couldnt keep him on the field and because of his lack of involvement in the game Manly were running on tired legs as the clock counted down to the final minutes.
We all know the story Darren Albert crossed with a few seconds left to score a remarkable victory. I dont want to try and rewrite history but in my opinion if we had a player who would have contributed more during the game we could have secured our 7th premiership.
As time went by, with his father as coach, Scott Fulton still clung to his spot in the first grade squad. Manly supporters routinely shook their heads in disgust when they read the team each week. Why couldnt the club see what was going on?
Paul Vautin who made his way into the media, criticised Scotts continual selection in first grade he only echoed what the vast majority of supporters were thinking. This comment led to Fatty losing his previously strong friendship with Fulton and actually split the club into two factions, this was not resolved until Paul Cummings was appointed Executive Director and Ian Thomson and Fatty removed from the CEO position and the Football Club Board.
I will not go into the massive ARL contract Scott somehow managed to secure during the Super League war but once again there was a huge amount of favouritism due to the Fulton name.
With Scott still playing first grade, in 1999 Bozo resigned as coach mid season. Upon taking over new coach Peter Sharp immediately dropped Scott to reserve grade, then Reserve Grade coach Ian Thomson refused to select Scott in his side and put him on the reserves bench. A dummy spit of massive proportions occurred and he didnt play another game for Manly again. So after 49 games and 1 lousy try he was never sighted again, much to the relief of the Brookvale faithful.
He turned up in country footy a few years later and I believe he is still running around but I simply do not care where he is playing, I spent too much time worrying about him in the mid nineties.
Scott Fulton an abject failure. I will not even bother wasted anyones time with a summation of Brett Fultons career as it was worse than Scotts.
