The Battle of Brookvale was the unofficial name given to the Round 25, 2011National Rugby League match between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Melbourne Storm, played at Brookvale Oval on 26 August 2011. A number of incidents in the first half led to some fights breaking out all over the ground, eventually turning into a five-minute brawl involving all players on the ground. Following the brawl, Manly went on to win the match 18-4, on its way to finishing second on the premiership ladder. Several players faced charges at the NRL Judiciary with several suspensions and fines being handed out.
Background
During the noughties, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Melbourne Storm engaged in a rivalry which included several close matches, some upset victories and a Grand Final victory to each side. Since 2006, ten of fourteen Grand Finals have featured either one or both clubs, and, in the five of six seasons between 2007 and 2012, one of these teams won the premiership, though the Storm's 2007 and 2009 titles were later stripped from the club as a result of salary cap breaches exposed by the NRL in 2010. The height of this rivalry came with the two clubs' meetings in the 2007 and 2008 NRL Grand Finals. Melbourne defeated Manly 34-8 to win the 2007 title, whilst Manly reversed the result and won by a record 40-0 scoreline in 2008. They have also featured in two finals matches, with Melbourne winning both by the scoreline of 40-12 in the 2009 qualifying final and the 2012 preliminary final. This was to be the first match attended by David Gallop of either side since suspending Brett Stewart from the first four weeks of the 2009 season for a sexual assault charge for which he would later be exonerated, and since stripping the Storm of two premiership titles and three minor premiership titles for salary cap breaches; extra security was hired for his presence at the game.
During the match
Before the brawl
scored the first try of the match for the Sea Eagles early in the first half, after Billy Slater misjudged a ball which had bounced in the Sea Eagles' in-goal area. In the 22nd minute of the match, Manly winger David Williams suffered a neck injury, which resulted in play being suspended whilst he was carried off the stretcher. In stark contrast to what would come later in the game, Billy Slater who had tackled Williams, realising there was a neck injury, cradled Williams and wouldn't let him move or his Manly team mates move him until the medical staff arrived.
The brawl
Shortly after the Williams injury, Melbourne interchange forward Ryan Hinchcliffe conceded a penalty when he struck Manly's Darcy Lussick close to the Sea Eagles' line. This resulted in a brawl between the two players, following which Adam Blair and Glenn Stewart were sin-binned for joining in. On their way to the dressing rooms, a major brawl erupted between Blair and Stewart, which involved players and officials from both sides; the two subsequently had their sin-bin punishments upgraded to a send off, meaning they would take no further part in the match. Apart from the main culprits, many other players, including Brett Stewart, also joined in the brawl, with Stewart claiming that he was acting in self-defence of his older brother. Officials and trainers from both clubs also joined in the brawl.
After the brawl
Manly captain Jamie Lyon converted a penalty goal from the Hinchcliffe penalty from right in front, as the Sea Eagles' lead stretched to 8-0. The Sea Eagles would eventually win 18-4 with a late Billy Slater try preventing the Storm from being held scoreless for the first time since the 2008 NRL Grand Final.
Teams
Match details
Judiciary
No fewer than ten players and two officials from both clubs were later charged by the NRL Judiciary for their roles in the brawl, with both Glenn Stewart and Adam Blair referred straight to the judiciary. Additionally, each club was fined $50,000 from the NRL. For their parts, Glenn Stewart and Adam Blair were both banned for three and five matches respectively. The charges and outcomes were as follows:
Manly
Melbourne
Reaction
Then-NRL CEO David Gallop condemned the actions of both teams, saying: Despite the spiteful nature of the match, Melbourne's Billy Slater won universal praise for his actions after the neck injury to Manly winger David Williams.
Aftermath
In the years following this match, matches between the Sea Eagles and Storm played at Brookvale Oval continue to often be called the "Battle of Brookvale", though there have not been any particularly violent matches between the two sides at this venue since. While there is still a healthy rivalry between the two sides in recent years it has not been as strong.
