Phil Mann
Playing career
Playing career
--------------

A junior from Hills District, Mann was graded with the [Parramatta Eels](/wiki/Parramatta_Eels "Parramatta Eels") for the [1973 season](/wiki/1973_NSWRFL_season "1973 NSWRFL season"), and made his first grade debut for the Eels in the [1974 season](/wiki/1974_NSWRFL_season "1974 NSWRFL season"). At his most effective when in top stride, Mann was one of the Eels' best players during the series of sudden death play\-offs to decide the final five semi\-finalists in 1975\. At the end of the [1975 season](/wiki/1975_NSWRFL_season "1975 NSWRFL season"), Mann played in Parramatta's first ever reserve grade premiership team.'Spirited Blast'; *The Sun Herald*, 21 September 1975, p. 49 Despite being the Eels' regular fullback in 1976, Mann was dropped from the Eels' side when they made their maiden first grade Grand Final appearance in the [1976 season](/wiki/1976_NSWRFL_season "1976 NSWRFL season") against the [Manly Sea Eagles](/wiki/Manly_Sea_Eagles "Manly Sea Eagles") at the [Sydney Cricket Ground](/wiki/Sydney_Cricket_Ground "Sydney Cricket Ground"). The Sea Eagles went on to win the match 13–10\.

Despite being dropped from the Eels' 1976 Grand Final team, and despite missing most of the Eels' superb [1977 season](/wiki/1977_NSWRFL_season "1977 NSWRFL season") in which they won the minor premiership for the first time in the club's history, Mann was called into first grade again when [John Peard](/wiki/John_Peard "John Peard") withdrew due to injury, to play in the historic 1977 Grand Final against the [St. George Dragons](/wiki/St._George_Dragons "St. George Dragons") at the [Sydney Cricket Ground](/wiki/Sydney_Cricket_Ground "Sydney Cricket Ground"). The Grand Final was significant, because it was the first of two to date (the other being the 1978 Grand Final between the [Manly Sea Eagles](/wiki/Manly_Sea_Eagles "Manly Sea Eagles") and the [Cronulla Sharks](/wiki/Cronulla_Sharks "Cronulla Sharks") in which they drew 11\-all) to be forced into a replay when the scores finished 9\-all at full time.Alan Whiticker, *Grand Finals of the NSWRL* (2e), Gary Allen 1994 Mann was consequently dropped from the side when [John Peard](/wiki/John_Peard "John Peard") returned from injury to play in the Grand Final replay. The Dragons went on to win the replay 22–0\.

From 1978 onwards, poor form and injuries had begun to take their toll on Mann,Clarkson, Alan; ‘Wests Return to Square One’; *Sydney Morning Herald*, 19 July 1978, p. 44 and with the emergence of new players such as; [Mick Cronin](/wiki/Mick_Cronin_%28rugby_league%29 "Mick Cronin (rugby league)"), [Steve Ella](/wiki/Steve_Ella "Steve Ella"), [Eric Grothe Sr.](/wiki/Eric_Grothe_Sr. "Eric Grothe Sr."), [Neil Hunt](/wiki/Neil_Hunt "Neil Hunt"), [Brett Kenny](/wiki/Brett_Kenny "Brett Kenny"), [John Muggleton](/wiki/John_Muggleton "John Muggleton"), [Graham Murray](/wiki/Graham_Murray "Graham Murray"), [Steve Sharp](/wiki/Steve_Sharp_%28rugby_league%29 "Steve Sharp (rugby league)"), [Peter Sterling](/wiki/Peter_Sterling_%28rugby_league_commentator%29 "Peter Sterling (rugby league commentator)") and [Peter Wynn](/wiki/Peter_Wynn "Peter Wynn"), Mann found it very difficult to hold down a spot in first grade, although he did manage to participate in a second reserve grade premiership and the end of 1979\. He played his last first grade game for the Eels from the bench in their 26–7 victory over the [Balmain Tigers](/wiki/Balmain_Tigers "Balmain Tigers") at Cumberland Oval in round 9 of the Eels' historic [1981 season](/wiki/1981_NSWRFL_season "1981 NSWRFL season") in which they would go on to win the premiership for the first time. Mann left the Eels and the end of the [1983 season](/wiki/1983_NSWRFL_season "1983 NSWRFL season").


What happens in the 1977 Grand Final replay?