Northern Eagles

Sean Fagan of RL1908.com

At the end of the 1999 season, despite meeting the criteria for inclusion in the NRL's 2000 competition, Manly agreed to merge with the insolvent North Sydney Bears. Together they formed the Northern Eagles for entry into the NRL premiership.

North Sydney had nurtured a move to the Central Coast and the rebuilding of Grahame Park in Gosford. But financial difficulties during 1999 saw them on the outer for 2000 after the NRL refused to assess their criteria application. In the hands of a 'receiver' the lifeline offered by the joint venture was arguably their only hope - though many within the Bears club would disagree.

Manly's decision to enter the joint venture seems somewhat cloudier. The Sea Eagles were struggling financially, although they weren't the only NRL club in that position. Whether they saw the Bears as a likely 'junior' partner in the merger is open to debate. The Northern Eagles name, jersey design and team colours seemed to favour Manly.

The Northen Eagles joint venture endured two seasons of indifferent on-field performances and boardroom bickering before collapsing.

Manly and Norths were forced to shed many of their better players in forming the merger, due to the NRL imposed salary cap. For two clubs that had featured heavily during the 1990s decade, their 'combined' team was a major disappointment.

While Geoff Toovey, Jason Taylor, Steve Menzies and Adam Muir formed the core of the team, many other former Sea Eagles and Bears walked away, were let go or simply couldn't be afforded.

The 2000 season produced an indifferent performance overall. There were some highlights, none less than the opening night at Gosford where in front of a sell-out crowd over 20,000 the Eagles defeated Newcastle.

Off-field arguments and rumours though were always just under the surface, which must have affected the teams consistency.

Even the introduction of a 'secretly approved' predominately maroon alternate jersey in a home game against St George - Illawarra was enough to almost bring the club to its knees.

Brookvale Oval crowds lagged behind Gosford putting the Manly side of the club in a difficult position - it appeared a permanent move to the Central Coast was the more prudent action to ensure the Eagles' long term viability. It didn't happen.

To overcome the off-field dramas, the need for success became critical. The 2001 season saw the Northern Eagles administration invest all their resources and faith in the signing of Melbourne's Test half-back Brett Kimmorley.

They hoped that his on-field talents would produce the much needed success to boost the club's dwindling financial reserves and end the acrimony between the rival 'camps' at board level.

Unfortunately the expectations were far too high and Kimmorley was let down by the Eagles inconsistency and at times their woeful defence.

The expected income did not eventuate and the rivalry engendered between Manly and Norths since 1947 resurfaced and tore the joint venture apart.

The NRL licence reverted to Manly for the 2002 season although continuing under the Northern Eagles name. The Eagles lost many of their best players and by the time the 'legal-wrangle' was sorted the Northern Eagles entered the player market very late in the year.

The 2002 team produced some credible performances, particularly in front of supportive crowds at Brookvale Oval. In comparison the crowds at the Eagles "home" ground on the Central Coast were embarrassingly low and it was quickly abandoned. The fans of the Central Coast made it clear they wanted their own team - and one that wanted them.

After losing the final game of the season and as a result missing the semi-finals, it was announced that the Northern Eagles name would no longer be used and the club would revert to operating as the Manly Sea Eagles.

In 2004 the NRL rejected a proposal to allow the Central Coast Bears (involving North Sydney) to enter the premiership. A substantial grant has been offered by the NRL to encourage an existing premiership club to relocate to Gosford. However, as yet, there appear to be no interested candidates.

Copyright © 2006 - Sean Fagan. All rights reserved - the article above may not be reproduced (in full or part) in any form without written permission.