Alan Thompson

Long-serving Manly five-eighth came up through the local juniors, filling in as a winger, centre and halfback, before winning grand finals with the Sea Eagles in 1976 and 1978. One of seven Manly players who toured England and France with the 1978 Kangaroos Alan Thompson captained Australia in several minor tour matches but did not play in a Test until the following year. Thompson took part in the Ashes whitewash of Great Britain in 1979 and played in two Tests on the tour of NZ in 1980. He represented NSW in the first State of Origin match in 1980, and while he continued to play for the Blues until 1984, he did not appear in another Test. Thompson won the 'Dally M' Captain of the Year in 1983 but after successive grand final losses to P’matta in 1982-83 he retired when offered a lower grade coaching position with the Sea Eagles. (He was the Manly record holder for most club games when he retired). Thompson won a reserve grade premiership in 1988 and was the logical successor to Bob Fulton in 1989 but, in hindsight, the move was never going to succeed. It was obvious the loyal clubman did not have the full support of his committee and he was unceremoniously dumped in favour of Graham Lowe after just one season.