A local sportswriter in Manly faces an all-or-nothing community funding deadline to publish an ambitious new book documenting eight decades of brutal rugby league clashes against Parramatta.
The Ticking Clock
Will eighty years of fierce sporting rivalry disappear into the archives forever? The answer depends entirely on local wallets. Author Matt Cleary has set a strict $12,000 crowdfunding target to print his manuscript, which dives deep into the bitter turf war between the two famous clubs. The catch is absolute. If the financial goal is not met by August 28, the entire project will be scrapped.
This looming deadline has transformed a simple publishing effort into an urgent rescue mission for local sporting lore, tracing all the way back to the clubs’ very first clash at Brookvale Oval in 1947.
Crossing Enemy Lines
Loyalty in rugby league is a complicated business. Cleary plans to highlight the daring men who crossed enemy lines to play for both sides, capturing the raw tension of those controversial career moves. Star athletes including Anthony Watmough, Jamie Lyon, and Clint Gutherson are scheduled to share their personal accounts of wearing both jerseys throughout their careers.
These unique perspectives will sit alongside memories from club stalwarts like Paul Vautin and Steve Menzies. Rather than just listing dry match statistics, the author aims to record the gritty reality of life on the field and the deep divide between the two passionate fan bases.
Buying a Piece of the Action
Getting involved means securing a literal piece of the action before time runs out. Financial backers can pre-purchase the publication directly through the Kickstarter platform, guaranteeing their own name is printed in the final acknowledgements.
Top-tier contributors are even promised an exclusive dinner with former stars, alongside premium merchandise like locally designed shirts and hoodies. The publication, named after a famous 1984 Tooheys television commercial celebrating the clash, relies completely on grassroots support. Fans now have just days to ensure this rich history actually makes it onto the bookshelf.
Published Date 26-August-2026
Photo Credit: Kickstarter
