Manly Marlins and Warringah Rats, two halves of Australian club rugby’s best local derby, will add another chapter to their 51-year-old book of feuds when they play match number 100 at Manly Oval on Saturday.
The Rats have had a middling season in 2022 and sit 7th on the Shute Shield ladder. They’ve lost their last three straight in the Shute Shield and also their last three at Manly Oval, including a resounding 39-19 thumping in 2020.
While Manly lies third after being on top most of the year, history and ladder positions mean nothing, according to Warringah captain Rory O’Connor, who said that the derby is “like playing backyard footy with your little step brother”.
On the southern end of the peninsula Manly Marlins head coach Phil Blake said the contest will feature “two desperate teams with everything to play for”.
“We won’t have any problem getting up for it,” Blake said.
