Paul Bryan debuted for the Manly Sea Eagles last weekend, taking player number 667 in the club’s history since 1947. The team deliberately skipped the infamous number 666, often linked to the Antichrist from the Book of Revelation.
Club’s Unusual Decision Amid Tough Season Start
The Sea Eagles face a winless beginning to the 2026 NRL season, with coach Anthony Seibold’s position under scrutiny. This spiritual choice hints at a search for divine favor during challenging times.
Other NRL Clubs Embrace the Number
Rival teams show no such hesitation. Shane Muspratt became player 666 at Parramatta in 2004, while Nate Myles held the number at Canterbury the following season. Myles thrived afterward, playing 234 first-grade games, representing Queensland in State of Origin, and earning nine Test caps for Australia.
Cultural Views on 666
Numerology views 666 as an ‘angel number,’ symbolizing positivity rather than evil or doom. In Chinese culture, the number signifies smooth progress and success in business or personal endeavors.
Cricket’s Own Superstition
Australian sports fans recognize 87 as the ‘devil’s number’ in cricket, falling 13 runs short of a century. The superstition stems from a childhood tale by all-rounder Keith Miller, who thought Sir Don Bradman was dismissed for 87 in a 1929 Sheffield Shield match—later corrected to 89—yet the taboo persists.
