During the 1993 season, after a previous health scare, Graham Lowe eventually succumbed to a serious health issue which forced him from his coaching role. This saw the club send out an SOS to Australian coach Bob Fulton to return to club coaching, an SOS he immediately answered. In one of the closest finishes to the top of the table, only two points separated first and fifth, with Manly finishing in fourth position. Manly's first match in the finals was against fifth-placed Brisbane and they were again outclassed by the reigning premiers and were eliminated on the first weekend of finals.