Sea Eagles recruitment manager and premiership winner Noel Cleal has called time on an illustrious career in the NRL spanning 35 years across all facets of the game.
The powerhouse played 198 games for Eastern Suburbs and Manly in the NSWRL competition, winning a title in 1987 under the Immortal Bob Fulton.
‘Crusher’ Cleal also played eight Tests for Australia and represented NSW 12 times between 1984 and 1988, winning the Dally M Second Rower of the Year award twice.
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The 65-year-old will now step away from the game, after holding club management roles at both Parramatta and Manly — and Sea Eagles chief executive Tony Mestrov sung his praises.
“I know how proud and honoured Noel is to have been able to spend 20 of those seasons at Manly, having made the finals campaign on 17 occasions as a player and manager,’’ Mestrov said in a clubs statement.
“The ones that standout for him are the 1987 premiership as a player, captaining the Sea Eagles in 1986, and working closely with Des Hasler to win the 2008 and 2011 NRL premierships.
“From a personal view, a highlight for Noel was being able to play with his brother Les on the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1982.
“As for his record in representative football, he was honoured to play for City, Country, NSW and Australia.
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“His career also saw him play bush footy for five years, winning three premierships, and a stint in England as a player and then as a coach, winning a premiership in 1992 with Hull.
“Noel is now looking forward to settling on the mid North Coast and spending time with his wife, Michelle.
“Having spent endless hours watching NRL, lower grades, junior reps, schoolboy carnivals and bush footy, Noel is also going to spend time with his grandchildren, Cooper, Nash, and Sonny watching their sporting achievements.
“The Sea Eagles sincerely thank Noel for all he has done for our club and congratulate him on a wonderful career. We wish him good luck in the future.”
Cleal’s son Kane also played first grade, making his debut for the Sea Eagles in 2004 and playing 42 games across stints at Manly, South Sydney and Canterbury-Bankstown.
