On 25 April 1951, a new attendance record at Brookvale was set at 9,447, with spectators overflowing onto the field for a match between Manly and South Sydney. The 1951 team won 11 games, finishing second at the end of the regular season, and were in their first finals campaign. After accounting for both Wests and St George in the semi-finals, Manly were to meet a South Sydney side which were the reigning Premiers and had won the minor premiership by 11 points. The result was a 42–14 loss for Manly.