Rival coaches Des Hasler and Craig Bellamy said they couldn't believe their eyes as Glenn Stewart and Adam Blair turned back the clock with an ugly sideline stoush that marred Friday night's Brookvale Oval blockbuster.
Having both been sin-binned for their part in a 25th-minute melee that was sparked by a Ryan Hinchliffe elbow, Blair and Stewart traded punches just inside the touchline as they left the field.
It signalled another brawl that involved all 26 players on the field as well as Melbourne's Sisa Waqa who left the reserves bench to help his team-mate.
Brett Stewart, who is in doubt for the remainder of the season after suffering medial ligament damage in his knee, could also come under scrutiny from the match review committee after leaping at Blair in a bid to protect his brother.
Both Glenn Stewart and Blair were sent off when the dust settled and both squads were placed on report.
The old-school punch up invoked memories of Mark Geyer and Wally Lewis' famous half-time push and shove in the 1991 Origin series as well as Greg Dowling and Kevin Tamati's sideline duel in the 1985 trans-Tasman Test between Australia and New Zealand.
While both Bellamy and Hasler played in that era, neither could believe their eyes as it all unfolded.
"It certainly wasn't a good look for our game, I'd imagine," Bellamy said.
"I didn't see all of it I must say, there was a few things going on in different places, but obviously there'll be a process that'll be gone through and we'll let them sort it out."
"I knew they got sent to the sin bin and basically your eyes are back on the game, so I certainly didn't know that was going to happen ... I don't think anyone would think that would happen."
"It's a bit out of character for both of them. They're both obviously really good footy players and they're skilful and they've played for their country ... they both play the game pretty tough but fair and it is a little bit out of character."
Hasler, who revealed Glenn Stewart was 'a bit disappointed' after the match, added: "No one expected that did they? Uncharacteristic for both players that were involved in the incident ... I'm pretty sure they'll (the NRL match review committee) deal with it competently."
Meanwhile, Hinchcliffe is adamant his elbow that collected Lussick in the face and sparked the fracas was not intentional.
"I got up to play the ball, fighting to get my elbow out to find some space to play the ball and accidentally made some contact with - I'm not even sure what the fella's name is ... he's retaliated and I can't really tell you what happened form there on, everyone came running in."
"I actually thought we were going to get the penalty because he made a play at me after that - that wasn't the way it went and got caught up in all the boys having a bit of a push and shove."
"I was talking to the referees over on the other side and looked up and all I saw was about five or six Manly boys charging for Adam."