Tom Trbojevic has marked his return to Lottoland with a man of the match performance, helping the Manly Sea Eagles secure a 34-14 victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons in front of 8,468 supporters on Sunday afternoon.
Set to be named in Brad Fittler's team for Origin II later this evening, the 22-year-old fullback was in dynamic form running for over 300 metres, including a mesmerising solo effort during the closing stages.
With both sides coming into the match off the back of last-start wins, the Dragons started full of confidence and were rewarded with the opening try after six minutes through halfback Ben Hunt.
Taking their lead out to 8-0 via a Corey Norman penalty goal in the 16th minute, the visitors suffered a major blow moments later with hooker Cameron McInnes ruled out with a HIA after placing his head in contact with Jorge Taufua.
Needing to be next to score to avoid succumbing to their sixth loss from seven clashes against the joint venture since 2015, the Sea Eagles sparked into action with the injection of Manase Fainu, after starting hooker Apisai Koroisau suffered an ankle ligament strain that looks set to rule him out of next week's representative round for the second straight year.
Getting on the scoreboard in the 25th minute following a terrific grounding from Reuben Garrick fielding Daly Cherry-Evans' grubber, the Sea Eagles struck again just before halftime when Dylan Walker (35th minute) produced a millimetre perfect grounding to give the home side a 10-8 lead at the change of ends.
Coming out of the sheds with a renewed sense of vigour, the Sea Eagles were rewarded with a barge-over effort from Jack Gosweiski in the 46th minute to take the score out beyond a converted try.
Securing the result with two tries in five minutes to Cade Cust (56th minute) and Fainu (61st minute) to take the scoreline out to 28-8, a scintillating effort from Tom Trobejivc (72nd minute) during the final stages rounded out a memorable afternoon for the Sea Eagles fullback.
Conceding a consolation effort through Euan Aitken (78th minute) moments before fulltime, the Sea Eagles posted their eighth win of the season with the 34-14 result to move up to sixth on the ladder, while the loss sees the Dragons fall to 13th as a result of the for-and-against damage.
Following next week's representative break, the Sea Eagles travel to the Gold Coast to take on the Titans, while the Dragons host the Cowboys in Wollongong.