I watched this more than 30 years ago on TV and never forgot it - really enjoyed watching it a second time. As others have said, what a great documentary and revealing piece of journalism / filmmaking it was at quite a special time for league in NZ. Bumped into Lowey recently up here in Orewa and might chat to him about this next time I see him
Greahm Lowe is the man for talent spotting. He scouted DCE and Hodkinson and look at them now. Lowie deserves to be Knghted he is Mr League in NZ no one comes close.
Union to league converts could have changed the whole Kiwi backline. Ridge, Kirwan, Timu, Tuigamala, Schuster, Botica, Ellis, all made the transition comfortably.
As a life long Manly fan I can definitely say that Matthew Ridge was money well spent by the club. I wonder if Lowe asked Kirwin to switch codes while he was there? Wouldn't have been a bad idea.
Apparently Graham Lowe got Zinzan Brooks signed up but he withdraw within days of leaving NZ. Graham released him for reasons that he wouldn't force a player to stay and if his heart isn't there to play.
MY GOD this Early-90s kitch. 'John 'I'd never go to League for a million dollars...except for playing for the Warriors as my superannuation scheme!' Kirwan.
Its good seeing the John Kirwan hanging at Manly Rugby League and the All Blacks welcoming back Matthew Ridge and the respect both Rugby codes have to each over down under back then as that wasn't the case in the UK. I really wish we didn't have 2 codes of Rugby and just one that suits all.
Had two codes because Union wouldn’t pay players for missed time at work, because of injuries. As a result of this League was born to accomodate the working class. Union went on to focus on private education, business and social elite. It was a class division. Therefore Union began dying because the upper echelons of society started to not want to playing Rugby. Therefore they started to pinch league players to fill the void. League never poached Union players because of a lack in talent. It was enticing to play league because the players payment.
It’s strange that he said “82 kilos” since Ridge was still listed at that mass in 1995 - during a period when most rugby players were putting on a lot of muscle mass. (It is true Ridge may have lost a lot during his knee reconstruction in 1993). Still, in the middle 1990s Ridge was certainly the top fullback in the world, and then there is his goalkicking.
Loved watching that fitness sesh. It goes without saying that professional athletes are hard, but seeing them actually putting that work in gives a newfound respect. Ridgey's known for his off-field exploits these days, but back then he was bloody fearless.
+givingbirthiseasy Gallagher got spear tackled against St. Helens in a "welcome to rugby league" tackle. It was legal back then and he got injured, knocked his confidence. Also his defensive play in League was quite poor considering he's the last man. He moved to London Crusaders and he did ok with less pressure on his shoulders to perform.
What a wonderful documentary on Ridgey & couldn’t he play & kick goals just pure talent. His Book is a great read as well, Gee Wiz I miss the those days of watching them play in the 90s GO THE MIGHTY SEA EAGLES
I remember being at a function and Mathew Ridge was there with the kiwis,I knew one of the kiwis and his mum was with us, she said how much she disliked that guy meaning Ridge so I got closer and observed him,shit I was shocked at how he spoke to a kid asking for his autograph,a real arrogant prick
I had a round of golf with Bob Bailey, my old neighbour, he told me of a tour to England where he walked into the shed to find Ridge on his ass pissing blood, he asked what was going on and Lonergan turned around and said 'no one fuckn talks to me like that', had me in stitches, he told it better than I did!
Apparently he was such a prick on the 93 Kiwis Tour of Great Britain, the rest of the boys (who had enuff of his shit), one night went into his room chucked a blanket over him, then everyone beat the crap outta him!
Back then it was true what Lowe said, the defence in league was far superior. Now I feel Union has the better defence. I watch the NRL regularly and can't believe how many missed tackles I see. Union since it has become professional has caught up in this area and has arguably surpassed league.
Bro look at unions defense line spread across the field. Where did that come from? Never just to be like that in 96. Plus 2 extra men so not as much freedom as League, more condensed.
Give it up! Anyone who plays any sport has a great chance of making it into the bigtime. As long as you have a familial support group and love what you do and have been doing it for at least ten years from a young age 10 to 20 years of age there is a major chance of becoming professional. Thats it...fact!
hmmm, only 3 out of 10,000 High School b/ball players in the states will ever get drafted by an NBA team but even that is no guarantee that they will ever play in the NBA. O.o
Ridge was and still is over rated,over paid,over exposed and just a barely average player who can kick a ball over a post! He will always be remembered for his self centreness and extraordinary ability to really maintain a very high standard of loving himself! I would of like to be around ridge when the league world dump his dreamer ass especially when his name was missing from the kiwis,oh how disappointing he would of been and crying like the ego bitch and his head would of shrunk back to its littlest size! I don't mind arrogant players because only the real champions can talk the walk but you ridge HOT AIR!
@@riverdean7 harsh? I'm being nice...and I hope the pricks reading this so he knows there's a lot of us who see him for what he's really like...a arrogant over-rated ego maniac...Let's go...I'm out!
@@riverdean7 up yours...you talking from experience...obviously your a ridgey bum boy who has no idea and probably has less idea about rugby league so keep your homophobic comments to yourself and piss off.....k!
@@jeymcbride8623 well have u ever met matthew ridge wats yo opinions about him based on then. he wasnt the most talented league player ever but i thought he had alot of heart
nz rugby lost 3 fullback that year , halliagan, ridge, Gallagher we had to have Kieran.Crowley who was crap , didn't matter we got Cullen few years later
Crowley was a far more accomplished player/fullback than the "snail" Halligan who was an average at best union player. The one thing Halligan is remembered for is his running style, hunched forward and resembling a man running into a fierce head wind.
Kieran Crowley was a great servant to New Zealand rugby,both on and off the field, highly underrated but just went out and did his job. I recall he kicked 6 penalties in an international against the poms to win the game for the all blacks. Halligan was no fullback,in fact he wasn’t even a rugby player,my mum could sidestep him........carrying her shopping.
@@ngabushallday6642 Haligan played in the toughest competition on earth. As you just saw probably even tougher than Test Rugby. Then he became a prolific points scorer n won a Premiership for the Bulldogs. Not bad for a hunched over guinea.
@@MeanAzz_13 are you having a laugh? Toughest competition on earth you reckon? The ITM cup? That 95 Bulldog side was stacked, I could've played and won in that team, halligan wasn't a top 5 try scorer in 95, goal kicker or tackler. Yep, you're having a laugh alright...
I watched this more than 30 years ago on TV and never forgot it - really enjoyed watching it a second time. As others have said, what a great documentary and revealing piece of journalism / filmmaking it was at quite a special time for league in NZ. Bumped into Lowey recently up here in Orewa and might chat to him about this next time I see him
Greahm Lowe is the man for talent spotting. He scouted DCE and Hodkinson and look at them now. Lowie deserves to be Knghted he is Mr League in NZ no one comes close.
He has now :)
Union to league converts could have changed the whole Kiwi backline. Ridge, Kirwan, Timu, Tuigamala, Schuster, Botica, Ellis, all made the transition comfortably.
Well done Ridgey straight into first grade and away you go shows alot of heart
Awesome Doco and what a Great player Ridgey was for the Mighty Sea Eagles 🦅🦅🦅
I come and watch this documentary a couple of times a year,ridgey had a lot of heart tough bugger
The evolution of the modern rugby union and league player physique is mad. Walsh would be considered a beast in Ridgey's days.
Matty johns podcast brought me here
What has happened to NZ rugby journalism? You would never see such an insightful doco on tv anymore.
lol biden is usa president - its clown world now
Mathew Ridge..one of the greatest
As a life long Manly fan I can definitely say that Matthew Ridge was money well spent by the club. I wonder if Lowe asked Kirwin to switch codes while he was there? Wouldn't have been a bad idea.
Apparently Graham Lowe got Zinzan Brooks signed up but he withdraw within days of leaving NZ.
Graham released him for reasons that he wouldn't force a player to stay and if his heart isn't there to play.
Matthew was an awesome league player. Hard as nails. Great goal kicker. One of the greatest sledgers ever also.
O'Connor was a great player. Often forgotten when people come up with lists of converts.
100%
I was born in 81 Matty seen ya whole career brother thankyou for for your memories bro .mean as cuz
John Kirwan “I won’t go to Rugby League for a million dollars”……..John Kirwan goes to league.
But he never played for the kiwis (the nz rugby league national team)
MY GOD this Early-90s kitch.
'John 'I'd never go to League for a million dollars...except for playing for the Warriors as my superannuation scheme!' Kirwan.
I remember taping this when it came on TV. I backed Manly then, they had a solid team
Its good seeing the John Kirwan hanging at Manly Rugby League and the All Blacks welcoming back Matthew Ridge and the respect both Rugby codes have to each over down under back then as that wasn't the case in the UK.
I really wish we didn't have 2 codes of Rugby and just one that suits all.
Had two codes because Union wouldn’t pay players for missed time at work, because of injuries. As a result of this League was born to accomodate the working class. Union went on to focus on private education, business and social elite. It was a class division. Therefore Union began dying because the upper echelons of society started to not want to playing Rugby. Therefore they started to pinch league players to fill the void. League never poached Union players because of a lack in talent. It was enticing to play league because the players payment.
It’s strange that he said “82 kilos” since Ridge was still listed at that mass in 1995 - during a period when most rugby players were putting on a lot of muscle mass. (It is true Ridge may have lost a lot during his knee reconstruction in 1993).
Still, in the middle 1990s Ridge was certainly the top fullback in the world, and then there is his goalkicking.
As far as that black jersey was concerned, imagine if he stayed just a lil longer without signing to league
Your The Man Ridgey!! LEGEND!! 2 Much Bro!
that was a gem to watch. thanks for the vid mate. ridgey turned out to be a great league man. and JK...your da man
This is where goal kicking in league changed !!
What dyu mean?
The days of Maori Warringah!
Such a brilliant story so worth the watch a
The Best Manly Team of ALL TIME!!
Graeme Lowe in his prime is great to see
Great doco, bit of gold right here. He was actually a really nice bloke and kid back here lol
Excellent. Thanks for uploading!
Crack up all the un-PC type of talk in this doco.
Good times.
Loved watching that fitness sesh. It goes without saying that professional athletes are hard, but seeing them actually putting that work in gives a newfound respect. Ridgey's known for his off-field exploits these days, but back then he was bloody fearless.
Back when players were more modest and down to earth.
This is awesome 👏
Miss those days...
great vid, thanks for uploading.
Not seen this for a few years. Ridgey was great at Manly, never sure what happened to John Gallagher... Had a rough start at Leeds.
+givingbirthiseasy Gallagher got spear tackled against St. Helens in a "welcome to rugby league" tackle. It was legal back then and he got injured, knocked his confidence. Also his defensive play in League was quite poor considering he's the last man.
He moved to London Crusaders and he did ok with less pressure on his shoulders to perform.
What a wonderful documentary on Ridgey & couldn’t he play & kick goals just pure talent.
His Book is a great read as well, Gee Wiz I miss the those days of watching them play in the 90s GO THE MIGHTY SEA EAGLES
Scored quite a few tries for Leeds from my recollection
man he is soo skinny compared to the players of today
35:25 Justin Horo from Levels Network podcast, his legend dad.
Cliff Lyons just coked to the eyeballs lmfao
Wish could time travel
interesting era pre pro rugby
this is gold.
Ken Arthurson never go into a Manly changing rooms? LOL yeah righto
Wish someone uploaded his first game.
Here in 2024
that was brilliant
JK is awesome too. I’m sure this had something to do with his code switch
Hes a spartan warrior😊
LOL...!!! Matthew
25:31 Left of screen in blue, is that Kelvin Skerrett? Never knew he played for Manly
That guy to the right of Ridgey at 1:49 looks blind pissed lol
My older brother use to like Bradley clide, matt, toovy, manly
Such a good doco, what about Kirwan wouldn't go to league for a million dollars...
I remember being at a function and Mathew Ridge was there with the kiwis,I knew one of the kiwis and his mum was with us, she said how much she disliked that guy meaning Ridge so I got closer and observed him,shit I was shocked at how he spoke to a kid asking for his autograph,a real arrogant prick
I had a round of golf with Bob Bailey, my old neighbour, he told me of a tour to England where he walked into the shed to find Ridge on his ass pissing blood, he asked what was going on and Lonergan turned around and said 'no one fuckn talks to me like that', had me in stitches, he told it better than I did!
Tamati Taua yes he's a mongrel...Stephen Fleming is worse
his dad is John Nahabedian
JK would never go to league for a million? How ironic haha
Apparently he was such a prick on the 93 Kiwis Tour of Great Britain, the rest of the boys (who had enuff of his shit), one night went into his room chucked a blanket over him, then everyone beat the crap outta him!
Back then it was true what Lowe said, the defence in league was far superior. Now I feel Union has the better defence. I watch the NRL regularly and can't believe how many missed tackles I see. Union since it has become professional has caught up in this area and has arguably surpassed league.
Bro look at unions defense line spread across the field. Where did that come from? Never just to be like that in 96.
Plus 2 extra men so not as much freedom as League, more condensed.
@@MeanAzz_13 lol, you idiot.
How did an All Black defensive line look in 96 then?
Can't wait for your answer, ya old fart.
Nostalgia
Christian Cullen would've been a better league player
oh that's right the rules have changed since then
Give it up! Anyone who plays any sport has a great chance of making it into the bigtime. As long as you have a familial support group and love what you do and have been doing it for at least ten years from a young age 10 to 20 years of age there is a major chance of becoming professional. Thats it...fact!
hmmm, only 3 out of 10,000 High School b/ball players in the states will ever get drafted by an NBA team but even that is no guarantee that they will ever play in the NBA. O.o
Just wondering a what is Mathew Ridge doing now a ?????
drinking at long room in Ponsonby
He runs a car wash company out east (panmure)
CLIFFY !!!!!!!!!
Bwahahahaha andd then KIRWIN joined the WARRIORS … lol 😂
That little blonde chick is pretty cute...
...oh wait, it's Geoff Toovey.
Pitty he turned out to be such a wanker
Ridge was and still is over rated,over paid,over exposed and just a barely average player who can kick a ball over a post!
He will always be remembered for his self centreness and extraordinary ability to really maintain a very high standard of loving himself!
I would of like to be around ridge when the league world dump his dreamer ass especially when his name was missing from the kiwis,oh how disappointing he would of been and crying like the ego bitch and his head would of shrunk back to its littlest size!
I don't mind arrogant players because only the real champions can talk the walk but you ridge HOT AIR!
sheesh thats harsh isnt it
@@riverdean7 harsh? I'm being nice...and I hope the pricks reading this so he knows there's a lot of us who see him for what he's really like...a arrogant over-rated ego maniac...Let's go...I'm out!
@@jeymcbride8623 ok wats yo history with matthew ridge? did u guys meet in a hot shower after a game or something
@@riverdean7 up yours...you talking from experience...obviously your a ridgey bum boy who has no idea and probably has less idea about rugby league so keep your homophobic comments to yourself and piss off.....k!
@@jeymcbride8623 well have u ever met matthew ridge wats yo opinions about him based on then. he wasnt the most talented league player ever but i thought he had alot of heart
VIRGIL hahahahahahaha
his daughter jamie looks nothing like him.
take his head off lol
Back when he had some real teeth.
just like kurwin he ended up on the cocain
nz rugby lost 3 fullback that year , halliagan, ridge, Gallagher we had to have Kieran.Crowley who was crap , didn't matter we got Cullen few years later
Crowley was a far more accomplished player/fullback than the "snail" Halligan who was an average at best union player.
The one thing Halligan is remembered for is his running style, hunched forward and resembling a man running into a fierce head wind.
Yes Cullen!
Kieran Crowley was a great servant to New Zealand rugby,both on and off the field, highly underrated but just went out and did his job. I recall he kicked 6 penalties in an international against the poms to win the game for the all blacks.
Halligan was no fullback,in fact he wasn’t even a rugby player,my mum could sidestep him........carrying her shopping.
@@ngabushallday6642 Haligan played in the toughest competition on earth. As you just saw probably even tougher than Test Rugby. Then he became a prolific points scorer n won a Premiership for the Bulldogs. Not bad for a hunched over guinea.
@@MeanAzz_13 are you having a laugh?
Toughest competition on earth you reckon? The ITM cup?
That 95 Bulldog side was stacked, I could've played and won in that team, halligan wasn't a top 5 try scorer in 95, goal kicker or tackler.
Yep, you're having a laugh alright...
23:40 ..What Bullshit training...what if he broke a few ribs lol.....get a boxing coach in there and do things the right way......
Ridge was one of the biggest grubs ever to play Rugby League.