THEY are NSW's only remaining NRL side but Manly is the club Sydney fans still can't bear to see win.
It seems Sydney rugby league fans are cheering for New Zealand, Brisbane or Melbourne ahead of the disliked Sea Eagles to win this year's title.
Manly cannot seem to muster any support outside Sydney's northern beaches - and that's just how the club likes it. As they have for 64 years, Manly, the Silvertails, remain the team NRL fans love to hate.
Tweeters yesterday let their feelings be known when questioned about whether they could possibly support Manly in this year's remaining games.
They wrote: Never cheer for Manly; No way; Rather stick pins in my eyes; Over my dead body; Absolutely nooooooo; Hell no; I am a Dragons fan but will cheer for Brisbane; I'd rather no NSW win than than Manly.
An on-line Daily Telegraph poll asked which side respondents would cheer for over the next two weekends. New Zealand came first.
A crowd of 30,000 is expected for Friday night's preliminary final between Manly and Brisbane at the SFS - officials curious to see whether Sea Eagles fans travel across the Harbour.
Departing Manly official Peter Peters said his club has always been hated.
"It is in our footprint," Peters said. "In 1969 when I joined the club, (then secretary) Ken Arthurson told me it was 'us versus them' and it had always been that way. That will never change. We have learned to live with that and it feels good because we have the most loyal fans in the premiership."
Told Sydney fans would prefer to see Melbourne, New Zealand or Brisbane win the premiership, Peters said: "I don't believe that.
"In the 2008 grand final, there were 80,000 fans there and 75,000 were Manly supporters. Sydney and NSW got behind Manly that day and that will happen again.
"It may not be trendy to say you are cheering for Manly but in their hearts there is a begrudging love for us."
Manly coach Des Hasler said fans outside the peninsula had never really sided with his club.
"It's tribal. That will never change," Hasler said. "Fans always support two sides ... their own and the team playing Manly.
"But that tribalism is great for the game. We will still have a lot of support there and everyone at the club is looking forward to this game.
"It is a magnificent stage.
"It will be interesting to see who can produce the big plays that count.
"There are a multitude of players from both sides who can produce that something special. It will be a great game."
Hasler said his side was bracing themselves for a massive contest.
