Coached by Des Hasler and captained by Michael Monaghan, they competed in the National Rugby League's 2005 Telstra Premiership, finishing 8th (out of 15), just reaching the finals series.
Manly-Warringah made an unexpected bright start to the 2005 season, at one stage leading the competition outright after round seven.
However their season was marred early by the dismissal of John Hopoate who was given a 17-match ban for striking Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks forward Keith Galloway in the round two match.
Steve Matai made his first grade debut in that match, a late replacement after John Hopoate was suspended, then sacked by the club.
[1] Manly's Ben Kennedy, Steve Menzies and Anthony Watmough were selected to play in the 2005 State of Origin series for New South Wales.