2008 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season

The 2008 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 62nd in the club's history. Coached by Des Hasler and captained by Matt Orford, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2008 Telstra Premiership.

2008 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles season
NRL champions
NRL Rank	2nd
2008 record	Wins: 20; losses: 7
Points scored	For: 755; against: 367
Team information
Coach	Des Hasler
Captains	Matt Orford Jamie Lyon (vice-captain)
Stadium	Brookvale Oval
Top scorers
Tries	Brett Stewart (22)
Goals	Matt Orford (78)
Points	Matt Orford (169)
← 2007 2009 →

Season Summary

With the departure of hooker Michael Monaghan, many questioned whether the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles could be as competitive as in 2007 and losses in the first 2 rounds seemed to confirm this. Manly Warringah's first win came in round 3 at Brookvale with a 52–6 thrashing of the New Zealand Warriors and followed this up with a 20–2 shutout of South Sydney. In the round 5 grand final rematch against the Storm, Manly were soundly beaten 26–4 and doubt about their premiership credentials resurfaced. In Heritage Round (Rd 6) Manly Warringah had a season defining last gasp win over bitter rivals Parramatta, with Manly overcoming injuries before and during the game including one to winger Michael Bani who had to be stretchered off the ground after being knocked out.

Manly Warringah seemed to use this game as a springboard and entered a dangerous run of form, notching up numerous impressive wins over top teams such as a 30–12 win over the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, a 42–0 annihilation of the Sydney Roosters at Brookvale Oval and a 34–14 win over the Gold Coast Titans at Skilled Park in round 17. In round 18 Manly avenged their opening round loss to bitter rivals and eventual preliminary finalists Cronulla with a 34–6 hammering of them at Toyota Stadium. In round 19, Manly once again faced historical rivals Parramatta and in a repeat of round 6, Manly lost halfback Matt Orford and lock Luke Williamson before the game, and after only minutes five-eighth Jamie Lyon and prop Jason King were forced off the field with injury. Despite the setbacks and an early challenge from the Eels, Manly ran away with the game and finished 28–10 winners.

Some hiccups against the Roosters in round 20, the Storm in round 22 and the Rabbitohs in round 23 meant Manly finished the regular season tied first with Melbourne and Cronulla but second on points differential and Manly missed out on claiming their first minor premiership since 1997. In the qualifying final Manly faced 7th placed St. George at Brookvale. This game was club legend Steve Menzies' last game at Brookvale and he opened the scoring with an unusual charge down try in which after kicking ahead to himself and falling over, the ball bounced up and hit him in the head before he finally grounded it. Manly Warringah were easy 38–6 winners and departing Dragons centre Mark Gasnier was seen on the sidelines crying. After getting the week off, Manly faced the history-making New Zealand Warriors whose late season charge got them into 8th place where they became the first 8th placed team to advance past qualifying finals with a dramatic and rare defeat of the Storm at Olympic Park. Despite an early challenge, Manly Warringah crushed the Warriors 32–6 and showcased their trademark wall of defence and attacking flair. With the win, Manly Warringah qualified for their 17th grand final, where in a rematch of the 2007 decider, they would play the Melbourne Storm who had bounced back from the Warriors' loss with wins over the Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks.

The story was very different for the Sea Eagles this time around as they decimated the Storm 40–0 to win their seventh premiership in front of 80,388 at ANZ Stadium. It was Michael Monaghan's replacement, the previously unknown Matt Ballin who scored the first try of the match. The game was also notable for winger Michael Robertson's hat-trick and retiring legend Steve Menzies' try 10 minutes from full-time, which he scored after coming back onto the field to replace the injured Steve Matai. Manly prop forward Brent Kite was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal after a powerhouse display which included a classy try in the 58th minute. This is the largest winning margin in a grand final in rugby league history.

2008 NRL season
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Melbourne Storm	24	17	0	7	2	584	282	+302	38
2	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (P)	24	17	0	7	2	645	355	+290	38
3	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	24	17	0	7	2	451	384	+67	38
4	Sydney Roosters	24	15	0	9	2	511	446	+65	34
5	Brisbane Broncos	24	14	1	9	2	560	452	+108	33
6	Canberra Raiders	24	13	0	11	2	640	527	+113	30
7	St George Illawarra Dragons	24	13	0	11	2	489	378	+111	30
8	New Zealand Warriors	24	13	0	11	2	502	567	-65	30
9	Newcastle Knights	24	12	0	12	2	516	486	+30	28
10	Wests Tigers	24	11	0	13	2	528	560	-32	26
11	Parramatta Eels	24	11	0	13	2	501	547	-46	26
12	Penrith Panthers	24	10	1	13	2	504	611	-107	25
13	Gold Coast Titans	24	10	0	14	2	476	586	-110	24
14	South Sydney Rabbitohs	24	8	0	16	2	453	666	-213	20
15	North Queensland Cowboys	24	5	0	19	2	474	638	-164	14
16	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	24	5	0	19	2	433	782	-349	14

Regular season

Saturday 15 March	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	10 – 16	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Michael Bani, Anthony Watmough Goals: Matt Orford (1/2)		Tries: Bryson Goodwin, Brett Kearney Goals: Luke Covell (4/5)	Attendance: 15,424 Referee: Jarred Maxwell

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Saturday 22 March	Newcastle Knights	13 – 12	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
	Tries: Richard Faʻaoso, Chris Houston Goals: Kurt Gidley (2/2) Field Goals: Scott Dureau (1)		Tries: Michael Bani, Jamie Lyon Goals: Matt Orford (2/3)	Attendance: 18,117 Referee: Ben Cummins

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Monday 31 March	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	52 – 6	New Zealand Warriors	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Michael Robertson (3), Brett Stewart (3), Anthony Watmough (2), Michael Bani, Matt Orford Goals: Matt Orford (6/8) Jamie Lyon (0/1) Luke Williamson (0/1)		Tries: Lance Hohaia Goals: Michael Witt (1/1)	Attendance: 10,175 Referee: Sean Hampstead

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Sunday 6 April	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	20 – 2	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Adam Cuthbertson, Jamie Lyon, Brett Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (4/4)		Tries: Goals: Nathan Merritt (1/1)	Attendance: 14,426 Referee: Shayne Hayne

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Friday 11 April	Melbourne Storm	26 – 4	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne
	Tries: Billy Slater (2), Ryan Hoffman, Greg Inglis, Anthony Quinn Goals: Cameron Smith (3/6)		Tries: Michael Bani Goals: Matt Orford (0/1)	Attendance: 13,632 Referee: Tony Archer

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Friday 18 April	Parramatta Eels	16 – 20	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Parramatta Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Luke Burt, Chad Robinson Goals: Luke Burt (4/4)		Tries: Michael Bani, Heath L'Estrange, Michael Robertson, Brett Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (2/4)	Attendance: 14,025 Referee: Shayne Hayne

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Saturday 26 April	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	30 – 22	Bulldogs	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Steven Bell, Adam Cuthbertson, Glen Hall, Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (5/6)		Tries: Brent Crisp, Heka Nanai, Sonny Bill Williams, Tim Winitana Goals: Brent Crisp (3/4)	Attendance: 15,229 Referee: Tony Archer

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Bye

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Sunday 11 May	Brisbane Broncos	12 – 30	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
	Tries: Michael Ennis, Denan Kemp Goals: Michael Ennis (2/3)		Tries: Steven Bell, Brent Kite, Steve Menzies, Michael Robertson, Brett Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (5/6)	Attendance: 27,469 Referee: Shayne Hayne

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Saturday 17 May	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	38 – 6	North Queensland Cowboys	Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
	Tries: Adam Cuthbertson (2), Michael Robertson (2), Nick Bradley-Qalilawa, Josh Perry, David Williams Goals: Matt Orford (5/7)		Tries: Ben Farrar Goals: John Williams (1/1)	Attendance: 9,343 Referee: Ben Cummins

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Friday 23 May	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	18 – 20	St George Illawarra Dragons	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Steve Menzies, Michael Robertson, David Williams Goals: Matt Orford (3/3)		Tries: Ben Hornby, Brett Morris, Jason Nightingale, Beau Scott Goals: Jamie Soward (2/4)	Attendance: 12,058 Referee: Jason Robinson

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Friday 30 May	Canberra Raiders	18 – 31	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Canberra Stadium, Canberra
	Tries: Colin Best, Todd Carney, Trevor Thurling Goals: Todd Carney (3/3)		Tries: Matt Ballin, Steve Matai, Steve Menzies, Michael Robertson, Anthony Watmough Goals: Matt Orford (5/6) Field Goals: Matt Orford (1)	Attendance: 13,120 Referee: Sean Hampstead

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Sunday 8 June	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	42 – 0	Sydney Roosters	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Steven Bell, David Williams, Nick Bradley-Qalilawa, Jamie Lyon, Matt Orford, Anthony Watmough Goals: Matt Orford (5/8)		Tries: Goals:	Attendance: 13,842 Referee: Shayne Hayne

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Bye

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Sunday 22 June	New Zealand Warriors	14 – 20	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
	Tries: Aidan Kirk, Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei Goals: Michael Witt (1/3)		Tries: Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (2/4)	Attendance: 7,141 Referee: Tony De Las Heras

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Saturday 28 June	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	28 – 12	Newcastle Knights	Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
	Tries: Steven Bell, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Anthony Watmough, David Williams Goals: Matt Orford (4/5)		Tries: James McManus (2), Cooper Vuna Goals: Wes Naiqama (0/3)	Attendance: 13,798 Referee: Shayne Hayne

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Friday 4 July	Gold Coast Titans	14 – 34	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Skilled Park, Gold Coast
	Tries: Anthony Laffranchi (2) Goals: Mat Rogers (3/3)		Tries: Brett Stewart (2), Steven Bell, Jamie Lyon, Steve Menzies, David Williams Goals: Matt Orford (5/6)	Attendance: 21,374 Referee: Jarred Maxwell

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Saturday 12 July	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	6 – 34	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Toyota Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Paul Gallen Goals: Luke Covell (1/1)		Tries: Glenn Stewart (2), Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Michael Robertson, Brett Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (3/4) Goals: Jamie Lyon (2/2)	Attendance: 18,217 Referee: Jason Robinson

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Friday 18 July	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	28 – 10	Parramatta Eels	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Steve Matai (2), David Williams, Matt Ballin, Anthony Watmough Goals: David Williams (2/6)		Tries: Mark Riddell, Tony Williams Goals: Krisnan Inu (1/2)	Attendance: 18,970 Referee: Shayne Hayne

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Sunday 27 July	Sydney Roosters	34 – 12	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Amos Roberts (2), Mitchell Aubusson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Perrett, Iosia Soliola Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (5/6)		Tries: Michael Robertson, Brett Stewart Goals: Steve Matai (2/2)	Attendance: 22,681 Referee: Jason Robinson

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Friday 1 August	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	30 – 10	Penrith Panthers	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Steven Bell, Glen Hall, Steve Menzies, Michael Robertson, Brett Stewart, David Williams Goals: Steve Matai (3/5) David Williams (0/1)		Tries: Michael Jennings, Nathan Smith Goals: Michael Gordon (1/2)	Attendance: 7,862 Referee: Shayne Hayne

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Friday 8 August	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	10 – 16	Melbourne Storm	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Glen Hall, David Williams Goals: Steve Matai (1/2)		Tries: Cooper Cronk, Israel Folau, Matt Geyer Goals: Cameron Smith (2/3)	Attendance: 18,442 Referee: Tony Archer

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Sunday 17 August	South Sydney Rabbitohs	40 – 32	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Nathan Merritt (3), Roy Asotasi, Issac Luke, Jamie Simpson, Fetuli Talanoa Goals: Issac Luke (4/6) Chris Sandow (2/2)		Tries: Steve Menzies (2), Brett Stewart (2), Steven Bell, Josh Perry Goals: Steve Matai (2/3) Matt Orford (2/3)	Attendance: 11,000 Referee: Steve Lyons

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Saturday 23 August	Wests Tigers	16 – 48	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	ANZ Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Daine Laurie (2), Beau Ryan Goals: Brett Hodgson (2/3)		Tries: Glen Hall (2), Steve Menzies (2), Brett Stewart (2), Steven Bell, Michael Robertson, Glenn Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (5/8) Steve Matai (1/1)	Attendance: 27,564 Referee: Tony Archer

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Monday 1 September	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	28 – 10	Gold Coast Titans	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Steve Matai (2), Glen Hall, Brent Kite, Brett Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (4/5)		Tries: Jordan Atkins, Gavin Cooper Goals: Scott Prince (1/2)	Attendance: 14,755 Referee: Jason Robinson

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Saturday 23 August	Penrith Panthers	16 – 34	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	CUA Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Paul Aiton, Tony Puletua, Nathan Smith Goals: Michael Gordon (2/3)		Tries: David Williams (2), Steven Bell, Steve Menzies, Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (4/5) Jamie Lyon (1/1)	Attendance: 6,086 Referee: Jarred Maxwell

Finals

Further information: 2008 NRL season results § Finals

Qualifying Final

Saturday 13 September	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	38 – 6	St George Illawarra Dragons	Brookvale Oval, Sydney
	Tries: Heath L'Estrange, Steve Menzies, Josh Perry, Michael Robertson, Brett Stewart, Anthony Watmough, David Williams Goals: Matt Orford (5/7) Steve Menzies (0/1)		Tries: Mark Gasnier Goals: Mark Gasnier (1/1)	Attendance: 19,227 Referee: Shayne Hayne

Preliminary Final

Saturday 27 September	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	32 – 6	New Zealand Warriors	Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
	Tries: Brett Stewart (2), Steve Matai, Steve Menzies, Matt Orford, Michael Robertson, Glenn Stewart Goals: Matt Orford (1/5) Steve Matai (1/2)		Tries: Aidan Kirk Goals: Lance Hohaia (1/1)	Attendance: 32,095 Referee: Shayne Hayne

Grand Final

Main article: 2008 NRL Grand Final

Sunday 5 October

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	40 – 0	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Michael Robertson (3) Matt Ballin Brent Kite David Williams Steve Menzies Steven Bell Goals: Matt Orford (0/2) Steve Matai (2/4) Jamie Lyon (2/2)		Tries: Goals:

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 80,388 Referee: Tony Archer Player of the Match: Brent Kite

Manly-Warringah

Melbourne

FB 1 Brett Stewart LW 2 Michael Robertson RC 3 Steven Bell LC 4 Steve Matai RW 5 David Williams FE 6 Jamie Lyon HB 7 Matt Orford (c) PR 8 Brent Kite HK 9 Matt Ballin PR 10 Josh Perry SR 11 Anthony Watmough SR 12 Glenn Hall LK 13 Glenn Stewart Substitutions: IC 14 Heath L'Estrange IC 15 Mark Bryant IC 16 Jason King IC 17 Steve Menzies Coach: Des Hasler

FB 1 Billy Slater RW 2 Steve Turner LC 3 Matt Geyer RC 4 Israel Folau LW 5 Anthony Quinn FE 6 Greg Inglis HB 7 Cooper Cronk (c) PR 8 Jeff Lima HK 9 Russ Aitken PR 10 Brett White SR 11 Michael Crocker SR 12 Jeremy Smith LK 13 Dallas Johnson Substitutions: IC 14 Scott Anderson IC 15 Adam Blair IC 16 Sika Manu IC 17 Antonio Kaufusi Coach: Craig Bellamy

1st Half
The grand final's first quarter was played end to end with each side able to hold the other's attacking opportunities out. In the twenty-fourth minute the Sea Eagles' hooker Matt Ballin at close-range ran from dummy-half and crashed over the try-line. After the video referee ruled the grounding successful, Matt Orford's conversion attempt hit the upright and missed so the score remained 4 - 0 with fifteen minutes of the first half remaining. Nine minutes later, the Sea Eagles were again on the attack and from ten metres out, moved the ball through the hands to the left wing where Michael Robertson dived over in the corner. The video referee was again called upon to examine the try, which was ruled to have been successfully scored just as Robertson's feet were being dragged onto the sideline by a defender. Orford's difficult kick went wide, so the Sea Eagles' lead remained at 8-0 with under five minutes of the half remaining which were played out with no further points scored.

2nd Half
In the forty-seventh minute, The Sea Eagles were within twenty metres of the Storm's try-line when Matt Orford at first receiver put a grubber kick into the left corner which bounced up perfectly for Michael Robertson racing through on the wing to grab and dive over for his second try. Kicking duty was handed to Steve Matai who coolly converted Robertson's try from next to the sideline, bringing his side's lead to 14–0. Three minutes later, and from a similar attacking position, the Sea Eagles kept the ball alive, a pass from Brett Stewart fifteen metres out arriving at the feet of Steve Matai who, with only one defender before him, picked it up and passed to Michael Robertson to dive over again in the same corner. Matai's second sideline conversion attempt missed, so the Sea Eagles were leading 18–0. In the fifty-seventh minute the Sea Eagles were again down in the Storm's half and on the last tackle decided to run the ball, which was kept alive and passed through seven sets of hands before going to a charging Brent Kite who stretched out of the tackle and slammed the ball down under the posts. Matai kicked the easy conversion and it was sea Eagles 24, Storm 0. Ten minutes later the Sea Eagles got another try when, from within the Storm's ten-metre line, they moved the ball out to David Williams on the right wing to dive over in the corner. The conversion attempt by Matai went wide so the Sea Eagles were leading 28–0. In the seventy-second minute the Sea Eagles ran the ball down toward the left corner with Robertson passing back in to Steve Menzies, who was playing in his 349th and final NRL match to crash over for a try, his 180th. Jamie Lyon took over the goal kicking and converted Menzies' try to give Manly a 34–0 lead. However, the finale was to come at the seventy-five-minute mark when from their forty-metre line, Sea Eagles second rower Glenn Hall burst into open space, passing back inside for Brett Stewart who was running through in support. Stewart was chased down just short of the try-line by Storm halfback Cooper Cronk, but he managed to flick the ball back without looking into the arms of Steven Bell to also get a try in his last game at the club. Jamie Lyon's simple conversion put the final score at 40–0.

It was at the time the fourth-biggest loss in the Storm's history.

The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles defeated the Melbourne Storm 40–0, scoring eight tries, four of which were converted. This is the highest Rugby League Grand Final margin in Australian history, eclipsing the 1975 NSWRFL season's Grand Final where Eastern Suburbs defeated St George, 38–0 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It is also the first time that a team has been kept scoreless in a Grand Final since the 1978 NSWRL Grand Final Replay, where Cronulla lost to Manly 16–0. Sea Eagles forward Brent Kite was named man-of-the-match and received the Clive Churchill Medal.

The 2008 Grand Final was the last match for Super League-bound Steve Menzies of Manly. Playing in this match brought his career games played to 349, equalling the current record from Terry Lamb.

Player statistics

Note: Games and (sub) show total games played, e.g. 1 (1) is 2 games played.

Player	Games (sub)	Tries	Goals	FG	Points
Jack Afamasaga	1 (1)	1			4
Matt Ballin	27	5			20
Michael Bani	8	5			20
Steven Bell	24	11			44
Nick Bradley-Qalilawa	2	2			8
Mark Bryant	(25)
Adam Cuthbertson	2 (19)	4			16
Glen Hall	11 (9)	6			24
Jason King	7 (8)
Brent Kite	25 (2)	4			16
Heath L'Estrange	(24)	2			8
Jamie Lyon (vc)	20 (1)	5	5/6		30
Steve Matai	21	7	12/19		52
Vic Mauro	(1)
Steve Menzies	17 (9)	13	0/1		52
Phil Morwood	(1)
Shane Neumann	1
Matt Orford (c)	26	3	78/112	1	169
Josh Perry	25 (1)	4			16
Michael Robertson	27	18			72
Jeff Robson	2
Brett Stewart	24	22			88
Glenn Stewart	26	7			28
David Vaealiki	2
Anthony Watmough	22	8			32
David Williams	20	14	2/7		60
Luke Williamson	11 (7)		0/1
TOTAL		140	97/146	1	755

Representative Players

International

Main article: 2008 Centenary Rugby League Test

Main article: 2008 Rugby League World Cup

• Australia – Brent Kite, Josh Perry, Brett Stewart*, Glenn Stewart, Anthony Watmough, David Williams
• New Zealand – Steve Matai
• Fiji – Nick Bradley-Qalilawa
• Scotland – Michael Robertson

* Brett Stewart was originally selected in Australia's World Cup squad but withdrew with a shoulder injury.

State

Main article: 2008 State of Origin series

• New South Wales – Brett Stewart

City vs Country

• Country Origin – Glenn Stewart