Manly young gun Zac Fulton is ready to forge his own path after inking a new deal to continue a proud legacy started by his late grandfather Bob ‘Bozzo’ Fulton at the Sea Eagles.
Last year, the 21-year-old made his debut for Manly just over two months after his grandad, club legend and rugby league Immortal sadly passed away in an emotional night for himself and his family.
In November Zac signed a two-year deal to be part of Manly’s top 30 and revealed he couldn’t see himself playing for anyone else as he looks to fulfil his potential in the NRL.
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“This place has got a special place in my heart,” Fulton told foxsports.com.au.
“It is where my grandfather played and where my dad played, so I wouldn’t want to play anywhere else in starting my NRL career.
“It was just a dream come true to get two years under Seibs. Hopefully I flourish and get a good go.”
The young forward knows his grandfather will never be forgotten at the club and can still feel his legacy whenever he is at Brookvale Oval.
“My grandad has got a long history with the club,” Fulton said.
“He has helped bring about five or six premierships here as a player or coach and he will be forever part of this club.
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“He is the club’s only Immortal and he will just forever be here within these walls.”
Zac’s father Scott also played for Manly and while his grandad was a tough act to follow, he still counts his old man as one of his biggest heroes in rugby league.
“My father played 50-odd games for Manly,” Fulton said.
“He wasn’t quite as good as my grandfather, but he definitely had a crack and I still look up to him every day.”
The youngest of the three Manly players in his family still pinches himself when thinking about his dream debut against the Roosters and can’t believe how quickly the game went.
“It was pretty surreal,” Fulton said.
“It all went by really quickly to be honest. I felt it when I was out there. It was 100 miles and hour.
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“But it was just unreal and I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to do it.”
Manly have a giant pack and so do the Roosters, but Fulton still recalls the speed of the game as the biggest difference between the NRL and the other levels of the game he has played in coming up through the ranks.
“Definitely the speed and the size of the blokes is pretty big,” Fulton said.
“But the speed was unreal. The wrestle, the speed and the bloody weight of the boys.
“They get around out there and I just have to keep fit to make sure I am up to it.”
Fulton played in the second row in his rookie season, but revealed he has made the switch to his preferred position in 2023.
“I played a bit of second row last year, but I’ve made the transition to lock,” Fulton said.
“I just like the middle and getting amongst it. Making tackles and running hard is just my style of play.”
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It has been a whirlwind off-season at Manly, with a new coaching staff led by Anthony Seibold replacing Des Hasler and the old firm.
Fulton admits it has been a learning curve, but is excited to see what the team can do under Seibold’s systems.
“Seibs has been good, it’s been different,” Fulton said.
“It has been eye-opening just getting a different experience. I have only had Des as a coach.
“Seibs has brought in new tactics and I think we have had a real good pre-season and I think we are due for a good year.”
One new part of pre-season Seibold brought in was an Army camp, which was aimed and strengthening the bonds between the players on and off the field.
“The camp was probably one of the toughest experiences I have ever had,” Fulton said.
“We were out in the middle of the bush just chipping away.
“At some stages I thought it was never ending, but we got there and we rallied as a group. the boys are tighter than ever and we are ready to go this year.”
Despite all the reports of a fractured playing squad after a tumultuous end to 2022 that saw them lose their last seven games, Fulton believes the team was always tight-knit and are now closer than ever.
“We are just working on being together,” Fulton said.
“There were reports that the playing group was fractured and it’s all rubbish.
“We are together and making sure we are tight and everything is sweet and we want to have a good crack for each other this year.”
Manly star Tom Trbojevic will be a key player in turning around the team’s on-field fortunes and Fulton hopes his tough run of injuries are behind him.
“From what he has told us he is going really well,” Fulton said.
“I think the hamstrings are hopefully behind him and hopefully he gets a good run because he is a top bloke and he deserves it.”
Manly have recruited smartly with Kelma Tuilagi (Tigers), Ben Condon (Cowboys) and Cooper Johns (Storm) adding more depth to their impressive squad.
Fulton revealed the trio are bringing as much spark off the field as they are on it, as the club prepares for a return to the finals in 2023.
“They have brought first grade experience,” Fulton said.
“They have all played at a high level and they are just real good blokes.
“Coops has really benefited from that great Melbourne Storm system down there. Condon is just a hard working man from North Queensland and Kelma is great to be around. He is a funny bloke.”
If everyone is fit, Manly shouldn’t have much trouble scoring points in 2023, but Fulton believes improvements in defence will be the key to climbing up the ladder.
“Every team’s success is built on defence,” Fulton said.
“We have worked on defence this pre-season and I think we have just excelled at working really hard for each other and I think this year will be a good defensive year for Manly.”
