MAKING OF THE MELBOURNE-MANLY RIVALRY
* Round 3, 2005 Manly 25 bt Melbourne 18
The first time the two sides met in a big clash. Manly were showing signs of their rebuild coming to fruition under Des Hasler, with Melbourne the first big scalp for the likes of Brett Stewart, Anthony Watmough and debutant Steve Matai. Stewart and Billy Slater both scored tries in a sign of things to come, before Michael Monaghan nailed a late field goal.
* Round 11, 2007: Manly 13 bt Melbourne 12
Still one of the best battles between the two teams after Manly surrendered an early 12-0 lead before a Matt Orford claimed the win. George Rose suffered a badly broken leg while Billy Slater also fractured in his cheekbone in a torrid affair at Brookvale Oval.
* 2007 Grand Final: Melbourne 24 bt Manly 8
Melbourne made amends for their grand final loss to Brisbane the previous season. Greg Inglis was fantastic but the match is remembered for Michael Crocker’s legal hit on Brett Stewart. It knocked the Manly fullback out just after halftime and sparked a melee. The Storm were later stripped of the premiership for salary cap breaches.
* 2008 Grand Final: Manly 40 bt Melbourne 0
Manly extracted revenge on Melbourne in the biggest grand final victory of all time. Cameron Smith missed the match through suspension but there was still controversy when Storm chief executive Brian Waldron labelled the Sydney crowd “a disgrace” for booing the hooker when he appeared on the big screen. On the field Manly were unstoppable with Steve Menzies scoring a fairytale farewell try.
* 2009 Preliminary final: Melbourne 40 bt Manly 12
Melbourne wiped the floor with Manly to end their premiership defence. Billy Slater scored four tries as the Storm threatened to outdo the scoreline they’d been on the wrong end of in the previous year’s decider. Coincidently Melbourne also won the only other finals match the two teams have played since 40-12, ending Manly’s title defence in 2012.
* Round 25, 2011: Manly 18 bt Melbourne 4
The most famous clash between the two teams in the match now dubbed the Battle of Brookvale. Ten players were charged and both clubs fined $50,000 after an on-field brawl spilled onto the sideline. After Adam Blair and Glenn Stewart were both sin-binned, the two recommenced hostilities near the bench as first Manly and then Storm players rushed in. A highly-anticipated grand final rematch was lost when the Warriors shocked Melbourne in the preliminary finals, before Manly claimed the title.
* Round 11, 2018: Manly 24 bt Melbourne 4
The struggling Sea Eagles stunned Melbourne on the scoreboard but that didn’t tell the story. After ongoing first half niggle, Melbourne centre Curtis Scott was sent off for punching Dylan Walker with a blow that broke the Manly star’s eye socket. Walker and hooker Apisai Koroisau then returned from the sin-bin early, owing to a timekeeping error that infuriated the Storm.