This article has been transcribed without permission from The Daily Telegraph-Mirror (date unknown).
It has been the same story for Manly in recent times. The big names out of the big games early each season. In 1993, Manly entered the premiership without key halves Geoff Toovey and Cliff Lyons. Last year coach Bobby Fulton was left in the same quandary. No Toovey, Lyons, Matthew Ridge, Ian Roberts and Nik Kosef come round one. But this year the plot has changed. Manly's entire first grade squad is healthy - and the results are already evident. Victory in the Sevens provided the club with a financial windfall while training at Brookvale has been first-rate.
``It's the first time in two years everyone is fit and on deck,'' Fulton said last night. That is a great boost because those early matches are so important to us. The last two years we have been without key players and it has really affected us. This year we will go into the early games at full strength - and that's a real plus for the club.''
Manly were cruelly denied a top three spot last season - due to a last round loss to eventual premiers Canberra at Brookvale Oval. Despite the loss, Fulton's side performed exceptionally well all season. However, the mental pain of finishing fourth hurt the Sea Eagles, who were bundled out in the elimination semi-final the following week. But last season is now forgotten. And as he did last season, Fulton will again look to the club's outstanding crop of juniors for continued success.
``We will field real mobile, 90s-type forwards like Steve Menzies,'' he said. ``Like last year, we will again field around seven to eight local juniors, week in week out. That is at least the equal of any other Winfield Cup side. Throw in the experienced players such as Ian Roberts, David Gillespie and Mark Carroll and we should field a very strong side.''
Fulton said the club has performed an amazing turn-around since the shock resignation of coach Graham Lowe two years ago. ``We have been in a rebuilding program for the past two years,'' Fulton said. We had some turbulent times with the change of coach and management. But everything is now extremely solid. We have a healthy leagues club and strong management. Frank Stanton has done a tremendous job as chief executive. We have turned things around in a couple of years.''
Fulton refused to make any bold predictions but did promise Manly fans plenty of excitement this season. ``If we can remain injury free, we should give the competition a real shake,'' Fulton said.
Manly have enticed Englishmen Scott Gibbs and Alan Hunte to the club this season. The pair will arrive after fulfilling their commitments with St Helens. Club favourite Des Hasler has returned from Hull while Matt Guberina - a former Warringah rugby union forward - should provide an instant hit. Given an injury free run, there is little preventing Manly from winning their first title since 1987.
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