Iconic Moments: The 2008 Grand Final
Sea Eagles · Manly Media · 2026-08-20T06:24:08+00:00 · nguồn gốc
The NRL is celebrating ‘Telstra Together Round’ this weekend, marking 25 years of Telstra’s naming rights partnership with the greatest game of all.
40-0 Mural in Hotel Steyne
Telstra Together Round is all about the iconic moments, memories and connections that have brought us together through footy.
A centerpiece of Telstra Together Round is the creation of 17 club murals which will be proudly installed at stadiums, clubhouses, centres of excellence and community landmarks.
Manly’s iconic moment is the 40-0 victory over the Melbourne Storm in the 2008 Grand Final.
This moment has been captured on canvas and is now on display at the Hotel Steyne in Manly, as a permanent reminder of one of the greatest Grand Final performances in premiership history.
Biggest Ever
The victory secured the Sea Eagles’ seventh premiership and remains the largest winning margin in an NRL Grand Final.
The Sea Eagles led 8-0 at half time after tries to Matt Ballin and Michael Robertson. In the second half the floodgates opened with Robertson scoring the first two of six second-half-tries to complete his hat-trick.
Fairytale Finish
How fitting it was for club legend Steve Menzies to score a try in his 349th and final game in the NRL.
Menzies scored his 180th and final career try in the 72nd minute when Manly were leading Melbourne 28–0. It was a fairytale finish to a 16-season career in the NRL for ‘Beaver’ who had returned to the field after Steve Matai was injured.
One last hurrah for Beaver
“I probably wasn’t going to go back on,” Menzies recalls.
“Almost straight after I replaced Steve (Matai) I ended up with the ball and gave it to Robbo (Michael Robertson) on my outside.
“He threw it back to me just metres out from the line and I remember thinking geez don’t drop this, and I scored. I was very lucky.”
Snake’s ‘no-looker’
Steven Bell, who was also playing his final game for Manly, scored in the 75th minute to complete the 40–0 victory.
With Manly ahead 34–0, Glenn Hall made a break from about 55 metres out and found Brett Stewart in support.
Stewart entered the 2008 Grand Final as the NRL's leading try-scorer, but with five minutes remaining and seven tries scored, he was yet to bag a four-pointer.
‘Snake’ was caught from behind just metres from the line and produced the famous no-look flick-pass to Bell, who scored the eighth and final try of the match.
Snake's no-look pass to Steven Bell
Some 18 years later, Stewart recalls that try like it was only yesterday.
Did he see Bell? No. Did he hear Bell? No. Did he know Bell would be there? Yes.
“It was intuition, I guess,” said Stewart.
“I just felt and knew he would be there.
“It was one of those games where everything we tried was working, so my gut told me that the no look pass would work too. And it did.
I was an intuitive player throughout my career, that’s how I played.
Brett Stewart 2008 Premiership Winner
“There is probably a lot more structure in the way the game is being played these days.
“But I think there’s a lot to be said for players backing themselves, being intuitive, playing what they see and feel.”