Wynnum Manly Seagulls on track to match the club’s famous teams after undefeated start

Meet the new Wynnum Manly Seagulls golden era – could this be the team to top ‘The King’ Wally Lewis’ teams as well as the club’s first ever back-to-back premiers.

For the first time in almost a decade, the Wynnum Manly Seagulls are the premiership favourites.

A seamless undefeated start has the Seagulls sitting pretty at the top of the Intrust Super Cup ladder after seven games as they look to avenge their grand final loss to Burleigh in 2019.

The winning streak matches the club’s best starts in history, which were in 2012 and 1963.

Boasting superstars such as playmaker and skipper Sam Scarlett, centre Delouise Hoeter and front rower Aaron Rockley as well as NRL talents including Luke Bateman, Zeb Taia, Isaac Luke and Keenan Palasia – Wynnum Manly have arguably the best roster on paper and it’s showing on the field.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls captain and star playmaker Sam Scarlett. Picture: Alix Sweeney

The start, headlined by wins over the Redcliffe Dolphins and a 50-0 victory over the CQ Capras, has this Seagulls group dreaming of etching their names in the history books of one of Queensland rugby league’s most iconic clubs by bringing home Wynnum Manly’s seventh title.

But could this team be even better than the famous Seagulls teams of the 1980s or the club’s first ever back-to-back premiers in 2011 and 2012?

Gary Seaton And Rod Morris celebrating Wynnum Manly’s 1982 premiership.

The 1980s was the golden area for the Seagulls, headlined by some of the games most iconic names in ‘The King’ Wally Lewis, Gene Miles, Colin Scott and Greg Dowling, the club would go on to win three premierships in that decade.

Wynnum Manly’s 1984 team, who beat a Wayne Bennett-led Souths team which also featured a young Mal Meninga in the grand final, would go on to be recognised as one of the best teams in Queensland history.

Wally Lewis in action during the 1984 grand final.

Then came the legendary Seagulls team who would go on to a fairytale run to back-to-back premierships in 2011 and 2012.

Led by Seagulls junior, former Rothman’s Medal winner and current Queensland State of Origin coach Paul Green, the Wynnum Manly side came from sixth place to claim the 2011 premiership and then upset traditional rivals, the Redcliffe Dolphins, in 2012 to win consecutive titles for the first time in the club’s illustrious history.

Wynnum coach Paul Green after the 2012 premiership victory.

Those sides were also stacked with talent including skipper Luke Dalziel-Don, who signed with the Brisbane Broncos before the 2012 grand final, former Australian and Maroons origin backrower Dane Carlaw, future star NRL hooker Jake Granville, Broncos prop Mitchell Dodds and many more.

Despite their form and talent, the current Seagulls skipper believes it’s too early to compare this year’s team to the great Wynnum Manly sides but says it would be a dream for them to achieve what those groups did.

Former Australian Test and Queensland State of Origin forward Dane Carlaw in action for the Seagulls in 2012. Picture: Darren England.

“They achieved great things, they way we are looking at it is we have done nothing yet it’s only been seven rounds,” Scarlett said.

“Wynnum is the best club I have been involved with, so if we could achieve what some of the great teams before us have, it would be very special.”

Current Seagulls prop Aaron Rockley makes a huge tackle. (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

But Seagulls legend and fan favourite, Dalziel-Don, said this year’s group had all the tools to put their names alongside the club’s iconic teams.

“I think just like the great teams, this group has a great culture and it’s evident in the way they play,” he said.

“They have a great mix of experienced guys and some exceptional younger talent but their high standards are driven by the leaders in Sam Scarlett, Aaron Rockley, Delouise Hoeter and guys like that.

Former Wynnum captain Luke Dalziel-Don celebrating the 2012 premiership.

“It’s obviously a bit early right now, they’re only seven games in but they’re off to a great start and hopefully we’re celebrating another premiership come late September or early October.”

Scarlett said he believed this group was special.

“I think how well we’ve played just comes from how hard we have been working each week,” he said.

“Our pre-season was a really good one so I think we have just been building well since that.”

Wynnum Manly Seagulls CEO Hanan Laban said he was happy with where the team’s start.

“The team is coming together well and have had a positive to start the season,” he said.

“They are led well with Adam Brideson setting high standards and getting all of our players and staff on the same page.

“On the field, Sam Scarlett has really stepped up as captain and has grown his game as a leader as well as the other members of the leadership group in Delouise Hoeter, Aaron Rockley, Max Elliott and Matiu Love-Henry.

“They are all setting a strong example and everyone is buying in.”

The Seagulls will look to take their undefeated start to eight games when they take on Ipswich at Toowoomba on May 30.