The Manly Sea Eagles are looking to shatter the long-standing ‘insular peninsula’ stereotype this Sunday by encouraging fans to travel across Sydney Harbour for their pivotal Round 21 NRL match against the Canterbury Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium.
The Sea Eagles are fresh off a statement win over the Melbourne Storm and are pushing hard to secure a top eight spot in the lead-up to finals.
Currently sitting seventh on the ladder, Manly likely need three to four more wins from their final seven games to qualify for the NRL finals series.
This Sunday’s match is considered one of the most important games of the season for Manly, with the Bulldogs relocating their home fixture to Allianz Stadium in celebration of the 30-year anniversary of their 1995 Grand Final victory over the Sea Eagles.
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To help fans make the journey, the club has unveiled the Sea Eagles Express initiative.
Supporters are invited to gather at the Manly Fan Hub located at Manly Wharf from 11am, where they can enjoy face painting, giveaways, and prizes before boarding the Manly Fast Ferry to Circular Quay.
From there, the Sea Eagles army will head to Watson’s Entertainment Quarter near Moore Park from 1:30pm, where the club plans to paint the precinct maroon and white before making their way to Allianz Stadium for the 4:05pm (AEST) kick-off.
A bumper crowd is expected, with the Bulldogs averaging over 34,000 fans per game in 2024.
Given the milestone celebration, Canterbury supporters are expected to turn out in force once again.
Manly’s run home includes clashes with the Bulldogs, Roosters, Raiders, Tigers, Dolphins, Dragons and Warriors, making this weekend’s encounter a crucial stepping stone in their finals push.
The club ended its official statement with a bold message, referencing Sunday’s celebration plans by the Bulldogs with six simple words:
"Hate to spoil their party. Not."