Marquee recruit Todd Carney has made a stunning return to the NRL as the Sharks thumped defending premiers Manly 38-6 in a lop-sided trial match at Toyota Stadium on Friday night.
Carney, who was cut loose by the Roosters in October last year after violating a booze ban, had to wait until the third quarter for his first taste of senior action in 180 days after Shane Flanagan and rookie Manly coach Geoff Toovey played their second-stringers in the opening half.
But the 2010 Dally M Medallist looked like he'd never been away.
He appeared comfortable and composed throughout his 33-minute cameo, scoring two brilliant solo tries before leaving the field to rapturous applause from the Sharks faithful in the 73rd minute.
Carney produced consecutive right-foot steps to score from close range in the 66th minute and backed it up with a 90m intercept try in the 72nd to cap a memorable debut at his third NRL club.
The controversial recruit received the kick-off in the second half to hearty cheers from the healthy home crowd.
He stayed in the thick of the action, delivering an inside ball for boom back-rower Tyson Frizell with his next touch before launching a towering spiral bomb moments later.
The former Kangaroo then darted across the field and fed Jayson Bukuya with an inside ball that led to a break that was eventually diffused by the Sea Eagles.
There were some signs of rust however, he lost the ball attempting to link with an inside ball runner with the Sharks deep on attack in the third quarter.
He made up for his error with a deft grubber and a strong tackle to earn a repeat set.
Sharks half-back Chad Townsend was the best player on the ground in the first half, setting up two tries and creating several other near misses as the hosts led 16-6 at the main break.
The Sharks opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Ricky Leutele after a floating ball from Chad Townsend exposed the Manly defence.
Former Dragon Jon Green barged over in the 10th minute to double the hosts' advantage, with John Williams adding the extras for 10-0.
The Sharks continued to dominate but it took until the 35th minute for the hosts to increase their lead.
Williams was the try scorer after retrieving a deft grubber kick from Townsend for 16-0.
Manly had the final say of the half when Mitch Jowett barged over adjacent to the posts on the siren to cut the half-time deficit to 16-6.
The Sharks, led by Carney, totally dominated the third quarter but had only a Nathan Gardner try in the 58th minute to show for their efforts to lead 20-6 at the last change.
Cronulla 38
Tries: Carney 2, Leutele, Green, Williams, Gardner, Mills
Goals: Williams 2, Carney, Wright 2
Manly 6
Tries: Jowett
Goals: Blanch