Pulling on a Manly jersey over the weekend brought the memories rushing back for Luke Dorn.
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Dorn, the former Super League whiz who will captain coach Maitland next year, last played for the Sea Eagles in 2003, ahead of his record-breaking 12 season stint in the English game.
The fullback understandably thought his days in a maroon and white jersey were over.
However, a phone call out of the blue from the organisers of last weekend’s Legends of League competition piqued his interest.
When Dorn’s former teammate, Manly legend Steve ‘Beaver’ Menzies, added his voice to the mix, Dorn could hardly say no.
The competition was played at Central Coast Stadium, with more than 100 former NRL stars getting together to play in the name of friendship and fundraising for the Mark Hughes Foundation.
I was pumped, there was some genuine legends of the game running around so I was really honoured to be a part of it.
- Maitland Picker and former Manly player Luke Dorn
“It was great to pull on that Manly jersey again,” Dorn said of the experience.
“It was excellent, I had one of the best days. It was completely different to anything you do as a professional.”
“To play with ‘Beaver’ again made me feel quite privileged,” he said.
Pulling on the boots next to 56-year-old Manly legend Cliff Lyons was a highlight too.
“I was super pumped to play with Cliffy, he’s still got it,” Dorn said.
“There was some genuine legends of the game running around so I was really honoured to be a part of it.”
Six teams contested the inaugural competition, with Manly beating Parramatta and losing to eventual competition winners Canterbury on their way to the semi final, where they were knocked out by the Knights.
Dorn said the whole day had “one of the best atmospheres” he’d ever experienced with football.
“It was a great event, really well run,” he said.
It won’t be Dorn’s only hit out over the off-season.
He’s due to jet off to Dubai next week to play in a fundraiser for English charity Joining Jack, which raises funds for muscular dystrophy.
“I’m really fortunate to have had the career I have and met the people I have,” he said ahead of his departure.
“It’s pretty humbling and a real privilege to be asked to participate in these things.”