Adam Lucius at ANZ Stadium
Clive Churchill Medal winner Brent Kite allowed himself to clock off 10 minutes from fulltime after spearheading Manly's 40-0 grand final drubbing of Melbourne at ANZ Stadium.
Kite laid the platform for his fellow forwards to follow, ripping into the Storm defence and scoring a rare try to put the seal on the most lopsided grand final in history.
The quietly-spoken prop later revealed the Sea Eagles were so dominant – and Melbourne so listless – that he was able to relax and enjoy the moment despite the game being far from over.
"I was elated more than anything. With 10 minutes to go in a grand final and to know it's sewn up and mathematically impossible to lose was just something special," Kite told Sportal.
"I was high five-ing and letting the celebrations start early."
"It showed in the style of footy we were playing at the end; it was just real fun to be part of."
But before Manly was safely home, Kite and his front-row partners-in-grind - Josh Perry, Jason King and Mark Bryant – stood tall against what was regarded as the most ruthless pack in the NRL.
Determined not to be stood over like they had been in the 2007 decider, the Sea Eagles' big men did the intimidating 12 months on.
"That was awesome. We've got a core of front rowers on the team and we take it upon ourselves as a group to set the tone and to be solid in the middle," Kite explained.
"It comes with the territory. You've got to get your team on the front foot."
"If your team is going backwards then the buck stop with you."
"Along with Josh, we were able to get on the front foot and the other guys came on and backed that up."
Manly skipper Matt Orford paid tribute to Kite, declaring: "He's done that job ... what he did tonight, he's been doing that all year."
"So for him to lead from the front, we just jump on the back of him. He's just very inspirational for the rest of us."
"And to get that award tonight, he deserved that."
"He's had the best year ever and I'm privileged to play behind some of the boys like him and Josh Perry and Jason King."
Kite was one of the first players Manly coach Des Hasler brought to the club when he embarked on a re-building process four years ago.
The former St George Illawarra and Canberra enforcer felt it his duty to pay back the Sea Eagles mentor.
"I was seriously considering the Storm and Parramatta as well as Manly at the time," he said
"Manly was special because I felt like I was one of the first guys to go down there along with Ben Kennedy and Michael Monaghan."
"I think it's a real rewarding for Des that we've made two grand finals and now won one."