Tom Trbojevic's immense influence at Manly has again been laid bare with the superstar fullback pivotal in four tries as the Sea Eagles flogged Wests Tigers 40-6.
In a game that prompted calls for him to be picked as NSW No.1, Trbojevic broke the line in successive sets late in the first half to set up tries that turned the match.
It came as part of a magical five-minute run for Manly, as Daly Cherry-Evans loomed up in support play twice and Martin Taupau also bagged one.
Trbojevic then backed it up with another assist and a try of his own after the break, while Cherry-Evans finished with a 40-20 and two assists to go with his double.
The win made it three straight for the Sea Eagles, with Manly now 3-4 and their horror first month virtually made up for.
In contrast the Tigers are now off to the worst start in the joint-venture's history, having won just one of their first seven.
After Luciano Leilua gave the Tigers an early lead on Sunday, Trbojevic showed again why Manly are now 17.5 points better off per game when he is on the field over the past three years.
Cherry-Evans' first came when Josh Schuster skipped, stepped and forced his way through the line and put the halfback over with a no-look ball.
In the next set it was time for Trbojevic.
Twice he bust through the line, with Cherry-Evans the beneficiary on the first and Taupau the second after the halfback juggled a pass and cost himself a hat-trick.
After the break Trbojevic claimed his 50th try while in support play after Cherry-Evans put Haumole Olakau'atu through, before putting on a quick ball for Reuben Garrick to score.
The performance comes after Manly beat Gold Coast 36-0 in Trbojevic's return, with former NSW State of Origin hooker Michael Ennis now calling for the Sea Eagles star to trump James Tedesco as Blues fullback.
"From the moment Tom injected himself into the game, he has single-handedly blown the Wests Tigers apart," Ennis said in Fox commentary.
"His form the last two weeks takes him to the top of the list. His last two performances are as good as I've ever seen from a fullback."
Meanwhile Kieran Foran also got his first try back in Manly colours, in another sorry afternoon for a Tigers side that missed 33 tackles.
Their only try came from a kick deflection, as they lacked impetus on the line and the majority of their nine errors came in good ball.
