The provocative beer stubby holder that has NRL fans frothing
It's the $11.95 stubby holder that has fans from rival NRL clubs Manly and Canterbury frothing for vastly different reasons.
The Sea Eagles are selling the antagonistic beer insulators at their leagues club merchandise store and online, celebrating the club record 66-0 thrashing of the Bulldogs in round 16.
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Proudly declaring it their BIGGEST EVER WIN, every one of Manly's 11 tries is listed, along with Reuben Garrick's record-equalling individual haul of 30 points and the names of the 17-man line-up plus coach Des Hasler.
The club's standing as one of only four teams to score more than 50 points in three consecutive games is also highlighted.
What's not mentioned is the Bulldogs were missing 13 players on the day, including five players stood down after breaching Covid regulations, and fielded three debutants.
Even Manly coach Des Hasler said post-match the win "has to be put in context".
The provocative merchandise has an extra sting to it, with Hasler and Canterbury counterpart Trent Barrett having coached at both clubs.
Barrett's time at Brookvale ended acrimoniously in 2018, mirroring Hasler's exit from Belmore a year earlier.
Club merchandise usually commemorates a major success such as a premiership - not a routine regular season win against the wooden spooners - but that hasn't stopped Sea Eagles fans from dining out on the July massacre.
Stephen Lucas – creator of the 'Guess What? Manly hates you too!!!' banner – jokingly asked: "Why wouldn’t Manly celebrate their biggest win?
"I would have thought the Bulldogs were accustomed to being thrashed by big scores seeing as though they have the record for the two highest defeats in the history of league.
"Maybe in hindsight they shouldn’t have let go the coach (Hasler) that took them to their first two grand finals in over a decade!
"It's all in good fun. There's nothing wrong with some banter between supporters."
Bulldogs fans not so happy with brutal Manly dig
Canterbury fans have had to rely on a good sense of humour to get them through recent seasons, but are not really seeing the funny side of the Manly stubby holders.
Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett politely declined to comment when contacted by Yahoo Sport Australia, saying he had "no thoughts" on Manly's none-too-subtle dig.
But lifetime Dogs fanatic Anthony Davidson was only too happy to do Canterbury's bidding.
He told us: "It's only a stubby holder we're talking about but it shows a small club mentality when you celebrate a regular season win against a team coming last with 13 players missing.
"I couldn't see Canterbury doing the same if the result was reversed. I guess it just adds to the rivalry. We can’t wait to play them again."
Fans won't have to wait too long for that shot at revenge. The new-look Dogs will travel to Brookvale Oval for a round three showdown with Hasler's men.
Good old rugby league hatred will be thick in the air. And that's something we can all drink to.
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