Simon Mannering to hit 300 NRL games - and an astonishing 900,00kms in travel
ON Friday night, New Zealand Warriors forward Simon Mannering will play his 300th NRL game. But what’s amazing is that over 14 seasons he has travelled 900,936 kilometres to do it.
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SIMON Mannering is the most travelled player in NRL history.
A Daily Telegraph ‘investigation’ of his footy travel diary over 14 seasons can reveal the New Zealand Warriors forward has been on 310 international flights across 900,936 kilometres to reach a remarkable 300-game milestone.
That’s not including 30,000 domestic kilometres to Wellington nine times, Christchurch three times, plus trips to Dunedin, Taupo, Rotorua, Whangarei, Hamilton and New Plymouth.
It’s all the more remarkable in that the Warriors players all travel in economy, except for the longer flights to Perth.
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Think about it. A big man of 193cm (6ft 4in) weighing well over 100kg squeezing himself into a cattle-class seat for the trip home with a battered and sore body after 80 minutes of the toughest body contact sport on the planet.
This is his ‘recovery’ session.
Door-to-door, with the airport transfers, bus trips and customs, it can be an all-day affair in transit.
They’re the good trips without flight delays.
Sydney-based NRL clubs have a huge advantage in having only three or four away trips each season to either Auckland, Melbourne, Townsville or Brisbane.
Some Sydney teams can go six weeks with the longest trip over the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Brookvale.
It makes Mannering’s 300-game feat probably the most extraordinary of them all.
“I guess the best part is we’re allowed to keep our frequent flyer points,” he says. “We’ve had some nice family holidays.”
Mannering decided earlier this season that he would retire at the end of 2018 and put away his second passport.
Friday night’s match against the Raiders at Mount Smart Stadium is his 300th.
He says all the travel is not always a negative for the Warriors.
“The up side is you get a lot of time away to bond with your teammates,” he says “We’ve had some great times together.
“But the trips coming home are the hardest. You’re adjusting to the time zone, it’s hard to sleep and you’re as stiff as a board.
“It can take a toll on your body and it can be challenging but you just get on with it.”
The 32-year-old edge forward and former team skipper is convinced he’s making the right decision to retire and go out on top.
“It’s a combination of things,” he says. “My body has definitely slowed down and the game is getting faster.
“I guess the travel and time away from my family is probably a major reason.
“My partner has been very supportive of me for a long time. We have a four-year-old and a two-year-old. It gets harder to be away from them.
“I could possibly have squeezed in one more year but NRL is something you can’t do half-hearted.
“I’ve had a really good run. We’re playing some good footy now and it’s cool to be going out when we’re doing so well.”
It’s such a pleasure to be interviewing Mannering for this story.
He’s so different to the modern player. An old-school player who doesn’t use social media.
A tough old campaigner who knocked back the club’s offer of a celebration lunch to mark the milestone.
Instead he asked for a keg of beer in the dressing sheds and a quiet drink to reflect with his teammates, family and friends. No frills, no fuss. Typical of the way he plays his football.
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