Jake and Tom Trbojevic launched the next generation at Manly as the Sea Eagles surged into the NRL finals with Saturday's 28-12 demolition of Penrith.
On the same day the Sea Eagles officially farewelled Brett Stewart, Steve Matai and Matt Ballin, Manly secured a return to the finals with one of their best performances of the year.
It means they will almost certainly finish sixth - unless Newcastle shock Cronulla on Sunday by at least 21 points - and will likely host an elimination final on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium.
The battle for the last place in the finals is down to two. If St George Illawarra overcome Canterbury on Sunday, they will qualify, otherwise North Queensland will survive.
Penrith will also live to fight another day, but only after a scare, given they had trailed 28-0 with 26 minutes to play. A loss by 38 points or more would've put them into the danger zone.
Regardless, the Panthers have issues to sort out fast.
Matt Moylan (hamstring) and Dylan Edwards (knee) are both no certainties to return next week. And, Moylan is set to meet the club on Monday about his future.
They could also face a back-in-form Manly side again in an elimination final, if the Dragons are beaten on Sunday.
The Sea Eagles had been on the brink of an end-of-season capitulation after falling from third to eighth with four losses in five matches from round 20.
But the form slump - and namely the loud criticism that came with it - only spurred on the Sea Eagles on Saturday night, according to coach Trent Barrett.
"It irked everyone," Barrett said.
"That's why it's so satisfying to finish the season where we have.
"Because we have copped some through the year. But we're here. It's good."
If they do meet again, Penrith will likely spend the next week watching tapes of the Trbojevic brothers.
Fullback Tom dominated Penrith's right-edge defence. He twice took the ball to the line in the first half, before putting centre Brian Kelly through holes.
Kelly scored on the first occasion, and found captain Daly Cherry-Evans on the second for him to score between the posts.
It helped set up a 16-0 halftime lead, before Tom Trbojevic broke downfield on the resumption and crossed from the next play.
He finished with a season-high 256 metres and six tackle busts.
Jake was brutal in defence, forcing a number of errors with hard hits, while he also scored in the first half in a performance that typified Manly's forwards.
"That first half, we just got rolled," Penrith coach Anthony Griffin said.
"Everything they did for 60 minutes was better, faster, quicker and harder than what we were doing."
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