The 1983 season saw Fulton return from Eastern Suburbs, this time as the coach, bringing with him NSW representative second row / centre Noel "Crusher" Cleal and Kangaroos test winger Kerry Boustead. Fulton guided the team to the Minor Premiership by eight points. Manly looked to be well on its way to breaking through for a fifth premiership after exacting revenge for two losses during the season to Parramatta, claiming victory against the Eels in the Major Semi final, 19–10. But, in an almost carbon-copy of the 1982 decider, Parramatta bounced back strongly in their next game before again beating Manly to claim the title, 18–6, Brett Kenny again the main destroyer scoring 2 tries (Kenny scored doubles in the 1981, 1982 and 1983 Grand Finals). During the 1983 season, teenage halfback Phil Blake scored 27 tries for Manly, breaking the record of 24 scored by Kevin Junee in 1974. As of 2017 this is still the club record for most tries in a season.