Ultimate Warrior Mannering deserves fitting sendoff
Eothers. Graham, 62, is humbled by his upcoming induction into the NRL Hall of Fame that was announced this week, but instead of popping the champagne corks to his own success he is busy reflecting on the people who moulded him into a rugby league legend.
He said his induction was a proud moment personally but an honour that should be credited to everyone who had helped along the way, from his junior coaches and management to his fellow Kiwis players.
‘‘It’s not like I’m a tennis player and I just go out there and do it myself,’’ Graham said.
‘‘I came through in a pretty tough old era and learnt the tricks of the trade on the way through, and I was surrounded by not only good players but also some wonderful coaches – especially in Graham Lowe.
‘‘This is most probably a tribute to them as much as it is an honour for me. I’m just a product of what they taught me.’’
The first person Graham – who was crowned New Zealand Rugby League’s player of the century in 2007 – called when he got the news was his old Otahuhu coach Lowe.
‘‘I said to Graham Lowe that this is an award for him also.’’
Lowe described that phone call as deeply emotional and one of the nicest moments he has had
Iin rugby league.
‘‘It’s Mark Graham’s moment, nobody else’s moment, but he still took the time to ring me and said he wanted to thank me for t’s not as if the Warriors needed any more motivation to make a deep run into the finals, but Simon Mannering has provided just that.
If anyone deserves a fairytale farewell, it’s the Warriors’ greatest servant.
When Mannering plays his last game at the end of the season, he will do so as the club’s best ever player alongside champion halfback Stacey Jones.
Who you side with in that debate probably depends on how you like your footy. But what cannot be questioned is that through his 14 seasons, no one has given more to the club than the 31-year-old from Nelson. my guidance on and off the field,’’ Lowe said.
The pair first met around 1972 when Lowe was coaching the Otahuhu eighth grade side and
The stats paint an amazing picture. In a club record 293 appearances (and counting), Mannering has made more than 9300 tackles at an average of 32 per game, while carrying the ball more than 27,000m (an average of 95m per game).
The club’s Mr Reliable, he never shirked the tough stuff and never Graham was playing rugby at St Paul’s College.
The following year Lowe was in charge of the third grade side with Graham as his star player.
‘‘I’d never made a rep side in my life. It wasn’t until I went to senior football that things started to happen for me,’’ Graham said.
Lowe said fellow players always held Graham in the highest regard. ‘‘He just has that aura about him. Special doesn’t even begin to describe him.
‘‘On the field, he would push himself forward and expect the same of others.
‘‘He was so dominant. His thinking and his playing was beyond what anyone had ever seen. He was just unbelievable,’’ Lowe said.
Graham started with Otahuhu before a premiershipwinning stint under Lowe at Norths in Brisbane. He then went on to play 145 matches for the North Sydney Bears and finished his career at Wakefield Trinity in England.
He played 29 tests for the Kiwis and was captain in 18 of them.
He coached the Warriors for two NRL seasons in 1999-2000.
Graham, who is proud to be the first Kiwi to be inducted, is one of six players – alongside Cliff Lyons, Steve Menzies, Ricky Stuart, Gorden Tallis and Petero Civoniceva – who will be inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame next month.
Graham, who has been based in Gladstone, Queensland, for around 12 years, has been humbled by the response to his Hall of Fame induction.
‘‘It’s been unbelievable. I’ve been on the phone literally all day. There’s been hundreds of calls and texts.’’ gave up on a play even when everything else appeared to be collapsing around him.
Mannering’s announcement came a day after Kiwis legend Mark Graham was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame. It would be a travesty if Mannering doesn’t join him in the years to come.
The stats, of course, only tell part of the story. They don’t take into account the tremendous leadership he has provided for club and country and the selfless approach he has carried throughout his career.
Without wanting to get too far ahead of ourselves, things appear to be heading in the right direction at Mt Smart.
Cameron George and Stephen Kearney have assembled an impressive backroom staff which the team has responded to. They have made significant improvements across the board this season, which one would expect them to build on next year.
After carrying the team on his back throughout the playoff drought of the last six years, you could forgive Mannering if he wanted to hang around for another season to reap the possible rewards.
But that is not his style. The thought of not being able to commit wholeheartedly to another pre-season just didn’t sit well with a player who has built a reputation of being the ultimate professional.
The team always comes first. Asked how hungry he is for success now he can see the finish line, Mannering, wary of putting too much pressure on his team-mates, said he simply wanted to enjoy himself.
But you can bet he will be doing all he can to capture that elusive premiership.