Jonathan Mannah (13 September 1989 – 18 January 2013) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He played as a prop for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (2009–2011) and the Parramatta Eels (2012) in the National Rugby League (NRL).[3][4] Since 2013, the Johnny Mannah Cup, which is named in his honour, is annually competed for by both clubs he played for.[5]
 Mannah in 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jonathan Mannah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 September 1989 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 18 January 2013 (aged 23) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 107 kg (16 st 12 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Relatives | Tim Mannah (brother) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
editMannah was born in Sydney, New South Wales, to a Lebanese Australian family. He was the younger brother of former Parramatta Eels captain Tim Mannah.[6] Like his brother Tim, he also attended Christian Community High School and served as vice-captain in his last year of high school during 2007.
Professional playing career
editThe brothers both played for the Parramatta Eels through the junior ranks before Jon joined the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks just prior to the commencement of the 2009 NRL season from Parramatta. In 2011, he scored his first try in first grade for Cronulla in round 3 against the Penrith Panthers. In November 2011, after amassing 24 appearances in three seasons with the Sharks he signed with Parramatta, returning to his junior club and to play with his brother, Tim.[7]
Mannah qualified for Lebanon through heritage and was named in the Lebanon squad for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifying tournament.[citation needed]
Illness and death
editMannah was first diagnosed in 2009 with Hodgkin's lymphoma.[8] His illness may have been accelerated by purportedly performance-enhancing peptide which was administered to him by Stephen Dank.[9] Mannah died of the disease on 18 January 2013 at age 23.[10][11][12] His funeral was held at Faith Baptist Church[13] in Regents Park, Sydney, on 21 January 2013.[14]
Johnny Mannah Cup
editIn his short career, Mannah played for both the Parramatta Eels and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks clubs. The two clubs together introduced the Johnny Mannah Cup in his memory, to be competed for annually the first time those two clubs meet in a season.[5]
References
edit- ^ Rugby League Project
- ^ NRL Stats [permanent dead link]
- ^ Daily Telegraph
- ^ Sharks blogg Archived 24 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Webster, Andrew (18 March 2022). "'It's cancer — but it's all good': The enduring legacy of Johnny Mannah". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ Sharks web site Archived 4 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Proszenko, Adrian (13 November 2011). "Mannah pair link up at Eels". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ Proszenko, Adrian (22 July 2012). "Brother's gift will be Mannah from heaven". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
- ^ "Stephen Dank: 'Sports scientist' gave banned peptides to Cronulla Sharks players that may have accelerated Jon Mannah's death from cancer". Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ^ "Tributes flow for NRL tough-man Jon Mannah". World News Australia. Special Broadcasting Service. Australian Associated Press (AAP). 19 January 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- ^ Massoud, Josh (18 January 2013). "Parramatta player Jon Mannah has passed away after battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma". The Daily Telegraph. News Limited. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
- ^ "Jon Mannah's Lymphoma Journey". Lymphoma Australia. 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
- ^ F uneral at Faith Baptist Church Sydney Archived 20 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Eels rally from NRL support". 3 News NZ. 29 April 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
External links
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