Parra v Manly games are always special. Rugby League is a violent tribal game. When our team clashes with theirs, there is always that extra feeling in the crowd. We hate Manly.
It goes back a long way. I grew up fibro in the west in the 60s and 70s. We learnt to hate Manly then. They were the silvertails born with a silver spoon up their collective arses. Roy Masters and Tommy Raudonikas at Wests fostered the idea of fibros v silvertails, especially after the rich Manly club bought their first premiership by poaching the best players from poor working class clubs. Think Ray Branigan and John O’Neil from Souths and later John Dorahy and Les Boyd from Wests. (It didn’t matter that Manly had its share of working class people, it was a good story and Masters and Raudonikas milked it). None-the-less, that legacy lives on and we still hate them. There is not nearly so much primeval joy in smashing a team you don’t really mind. It’s the nature of war and sport is a more civilised expression of the same thing.
We also hate them because they have been so successful. Both teams joined the comp in 1947: in 70 seasons they have never won the wooden spoon (we have a cupboard full- 13 to be precise). They have been in 19 grand finals and won 8- we are 4 from 9.)
Anyway, to my confession. I was Parra since I could say the word. Mum was too. My brother went for St George- on account of the fact my father knew Reg Gasnier and Gaz got my brother a Phil Hawthorn Saints jersey, but I digress. I was just a kid when Manly won its first premiership in 1972, and where did my team finish? Stone motherless last. We lived for that day of atonement when we would smash the silvertails and win premiership glory.
Then it was 1976. Parra made its first ever grand final- and against the silvertails. We had beaten them 2 weeks before in the major semi final. Grand final fever gripped my school. Everyone but everyone went for Parra… except …me. I had a girlfriend. We stood out from the crowd. She liked to be different and she was going for Manly. She had silvertail pretensions and she was also a goddess and I was infatuated. She came to school with Manly maroon and white ribbons in her hair. What was I to do? Now it is well known that the male of the species thinks not with its brain but with its cajonas. I was no different. At the time it seemed an easy thing to say, “I am going for Manly”- and thus ensure the attention and charms of my innamorata were undiminished. As they were. It must have been how Judas felt.
Anyway Glover dropped the ball with the line wide open and Parra lost. And as the song goes, nothing stays the same forever and soon we went our separate ways. Who knows, maybe she still roots for Manly, as it were. As for me, I have been rock solid blue and gold for 45 years minus that one infamous day. On Sunday week I will be there when Parra take on the silvertails at Brookie, still wearing my battered blue and gold cap.
Parra v Manly games are always special.
I hate Manly.
Go Parra.
Replies
Ahhh - I started following Parra in 1975 as an 11 year old.......speaking of Ray Branigan playing in the centres for Manly in the semis killing the dreams of the Parra 1975 Heroes (having already played 2 mid week semi's in the same week just to get there) with a length of the field interception after being miles off-side....then 1976 when we had em beat scoring twice in the 76 GF only Glover to bumble away our chances.......then 1978 and the EPIC semi finals where a 17yo Peter Sterling debuted, Pricey sent off, John Gray sent off, 7 tackles twice and Parra lost from seemingly un-losable positions - Drawing once then losing......Manly won the GF that year....oh what could have been.
Revenge was all the sweeter in 82 & 83 after Manly had thwarted the eels so many many times........
Parra V Manly in the 70's & 80's was THE golden years of that rivalry
But for mine - & since the 90's & beyond - it's the Doggies.........I hate em even more than Mnaly
Bulldogs have always been full of grubs
Great blog Pete but this is a fekking OUTRAGE!!!
I'm sure Pet may have said he supported Manly, but his heart wouldn't have been in it.
What surprises me the most is our massive legion of fans (even back in the 70's) despite 30 years of failure and wooden spoons. The crowd looks more blue-gold than maroon-white.
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