Manly may have been down seven of its first-choice players against the Roosters, but looks to have unearthed a new cult hero in Zac Fulton.
Fulton, the grandson of legendary league Immortal Bob Fulton, played the final 28 minutes of the Sea Eagles’ 20-10 loss at Brookvale, putting in a number of impressive tackles while also tussling with Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
The Manly debutant registered seven hit-ups, ran for 45 metres and laid 13 tackles in an action-packed cameo performance.
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Despite being just 20 years old, Fulton showed absolutely no fear when going toe-to-toe with Waerea-Hargreaves, earning a penalty for his side after the veteran drove an elbow into his face in a tackle attempt.
He wasn’t done either.
At the full-time whistle, cameras saw Fulton engaged in a tense conversation with Waerea-Hargreaves, presumably over the pair’s coming together, as blood streamed across his face from a separate incident in the dying seconds of the match.
His fearless nature drew praise from league legends Brad Fittler and Cameron Smith.
“He was great. They saw him there and targeted him, but he stood his ground. I’ve never seen a Fulton back down from anything,” Fittler said on Nine’s coverage.
“He made three consecutive tackles. He makes one here (against James Tedesco) and gets involved in the next two. He was busy,” Smith added.
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“I think Jared would just be reminding him, ‘Hey mate, you’re the rookie here, I’ve been doing this business for a long, long time. Just remember, this is your first game, mate, settle down’.”
Jillaroos great Ruan Sims was also impressed by the youngster, who she said lived up to his billing.
“He’s a tough young man. Just listening to what he was described as, that tough, uncompromising lock forward, you can definitely see he’s got that in him,” she said.
Fulton said he was thinking of his legendary grandfather as he strode onto the ground in the second half, describing the moment as “something special”.
“Got out on the field and I was looking up to my grandfather. Got on and made three tackles and I was already blown,” he told Nine after the match.
“It was everything I could’ve dreamed of and I was doing it for all my family up the coast and out in the city and out here watching me.
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“It’s something special, you know? My dad came and played 50-odd games, my grandfather is an Immortal, I just try and make them proud.
“I’ll tell you what, I’m used to playing (under) 21s and reserve grade. This 7:50pm game knocked me around a bit, I was sitting at home just nervous. When I got on the field I was right and I was getting excited.”
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