RIGHT on cue, premiers Manly blasted back into form last night by destroying the Gold Coast Titans - and the finals X-factor came from star fullback Brett Stewart.
The Sea Eagles set up a grand final rematch against the Storm in Melbourne to kick-off the play-offs next Friday night.
Working in combination with captain Matt Orford, Stewart showed some class touches to help ignite the Sea Eagles' attack in his second game back from a knee injury.
"No doubt Brett being out there for a length of time, it was always going to take a little time to get his timing back,'' Manly coach Des Hasler said.
"Obviously 80 minutes last week and another complete 80 minutes this week, so it's building really well.''
After banning his players from singing the team victory song last week, the Sea Eagles belted out a rousing rendition last night.
The Sea Eagles' goal-line defence and line speed was most impressive. Gold Coast coach John Cartwright reasoned they would have hammered any opposition last night and rated them a definite chance of claiming back-to-back titles.
"They can win it,'' Cartwright said. ``We were just blown away. They had more intent than us. Desperate. It was like they were playing for a semi-final spot.''
Titans captain Scott Prince said the Sea Eagles could not have played better.
Missing stars Jamie Lyon and Jason King, the Sea Eagles bounced the Titans out of the contest from the opening whistle and led 22-0 at halftime.
Orford scored a bustling solo try after the break, spinning through five Titans to cap a brilliant return to form for the premiers.
Star backrower Anthony Watmough, who submitted an Origin-like performance, agreed the return of Stewart had come at the perfect time. But he warned Manly about the huge challenge next Friday in Melbourne.
"Snake's (Stewart's) a massive talent. You put him in any team and he's going to make a difference. I'm just glad he's playing with us and not against us,'' Watmough said,
"He does some awesome things. Last week he saved two tries in the first half and he made a few busts tonight and scored a try. He's a freak."
"But the monkey's never off your back with the Storm. Melbourne down there are massive. It's going to be bash and barge like the other week.''
Forget the Manly side that has fluctuated like the global economy for much of the season, the Sea Eagles were back in the groove against the Titans.
After beating Melbourne at Olympic Park two weeks ago, the premiers are more than capable of mounting a serious title tilt.
"We just turned up with a better attitude and did all the little ugly things we didn't do last Sunday,'' Orford said. "This competition is wide open. It's going to be a hard run. It doesn't matter who you play.''
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