In the space of 80 clinical minutes, the Daly Cherry-Evans lead Manly Sea Eagles both announced themselves as genuine NRL title contenders, as well as delivering a cold, hard reality check to the Premiers, the Sharks.
The 35-18 win saw Manly leapfrog their long time rivals into the top four, and sent a clear message to the likes of the Storm, Broncos, Roosters and the Sharks themselves that this is a team that is not too far away.
Cherry-Evans had four try involvements, while former Shark Matt Wright had an absolute field day out wide, scoring two tries, and landing five conversions.
The result left the majority of the Southern Cross Group Stadium crowd stunned and searching for answers, while allowing those travelling fans to leave with a smile.
Although they still look a step or two behind the Storm, Roosters and Broncos, the Sea Eagles now have the win to prove that they can not only hang with but comprehensively beat the big boys.
As far as scalps go, they don't come any bigger than the reigning NRL premiers, the Sharks. The rivalry between the clubs is well documented.
It wasn't so much just the win, but the way in which they went about their business that will have other clubs looking over their shoulders.
The aforementioned Cherry-Evans was in vintage form. He was in the midst of everything in attack. Don't let the one miss timed pass that saw Luke Lewis run 70 metres to score for the Sharks, Cherry-Evans was red hot in the Sunday afternoon sunshine.
DCE's heroics aside, this was far from a one-man party in the Shire.
Marty Taupau has announced himself as one of the premier front rowers in the game and outplayed perhaps THE premier front rower in rugby league in Andrew Fifita.
Blake Green joined his halves partner in DCE in outplaying the Sharks title-winning pair, including NSW pivot James Maloney.
Out wide, Matt Wright had Sharks fans asking where those sorts of performances were during his time with the club. The former Shark and Cowboy seemed to have spiders on him. No Shark wanted to tackle him.
Curtis Sironen had his most impactful game in Maroon, even perhaps his entire NRL career to date. He scored two tries and generally caused headaches for the Shark pack, before unfortunately leaving with a horror injury.
That's without evening mentioning the incredible efforts of both Trbojevic brothers, who are fast becoming two of the game's genuine superstars.
Plenty of fans, especially out Parramatta way, will roll their eyes at the thought of the Sea Eagles being referred to as title contenders, but given the roster of talent, and form of said talent, you'd be a braver man than me to say Manly can't be there or thereabouts come late September, early October.
As tough as it may sound to fans in the black, white and blue, Sunday's belting at the hands of Manly may have been the best thing to happen to the Sharks all season.
I am at a loss to explain how the Sharks have managed to sit inside the top four until Sunday's loss. Performances against the Raiders, Storm, and Panthers aside, the Sharks have been far from their best.
The Sharks have become experts at winning ugly. Combined with the belief that last year's title win provided them, they found a way to pull something out at the end to snatch victories that never seemed guaranteed.
Whether it be a ridiculous Chad Townsend chip and chase, or a last minute Daniel Mortimer grubber, the Sharks have just found a way.
Their home form has been diabolical, but incredibly they are yet to lose a game away from Southern Cross Group Stadium in 2017. That despite a horror completion rate and a mountain of penalties stemming from poor discipline.
To say the Sharks are missing Ben Barba and Michael Ennis is an understatement, even though Brailey and Holmes have filled in as well as they can.
Holmes moving to fullback has robbed the Sharks of their best attacking weapon from 2017, their lethal right side. Bird's danger has been heavily blunted as a result, while Holmes has been forced to learn a new role. Ben Barba himself laid on 18 try assists last season.
Ennis provided so many try assists himself, although his importance went way beyond the stats. The Sharks miss his leadership and his aggression.
Those two players aside, the Sharks haven't respected the footy in 2017, and have given away way too many penalties.
Maloney and Townsend haven't yet re-found their 2016 form, despite neither turning in a horror 2017 season by any stretch, at least in terms of attack.
The Sharks have probably been guilty of relying on their grit and fight to eek out wins that make your eyes hurt. As a result, who knows, perhaps they have become complacent?
One thing is for sure, following the reported dressing down they received from coach Shane Flanagan, I can't see the Sharks turning in another performance like that of the past few weeks, anytime soon.
Given they travel to the Central Coast to play the red-hot Roosters this Saturday, they sure can't afford to, or suddenly their comfortable top four position turns into a scrap to hold on very quickly.
Last Sunday's result may be an important result for both sides, for very different reasons.