Luke Brooks says the abuse of the old Leichhardt faithful has inadvertently set him up for the NRL finals, believing one last punching-bag experience has offered the perfect preparation.
Brooks's long 229-game, 11-year wait will finally end next week with the Sea Eagles locked in to an elimination final spot.
A win over Cronulla on Sunday will also ensure it is at home, where Manly hold an 8-1 record this season.
But wherever Manly play, Brooks is confident he will be ready.
And he has the abuse of his old fans to thank for it after long being a punching bag at Wests Tigers.
The five-eighth copped a torrent of abuse and boos at Leichhardt in round 25, after opting not to re-sign with the joint venture last year in the pursuit of a fresh start.
Brooks is the first to admit he was unhappy with how he handled the match, as Manly collapsed from 16-0 up to a 34-26 loss.
But in the fortnight since, the 29-year-old has felt the weight lift off his shoulders with the Sea Eagles guaranteed a finals finish.
"It came at the right time for me, with some big games coming up," Brooks said.
"It was different. I thought I was alright all week, and then as we were driving to the ground that was when I started to get nervous.
"It was probably the most nervous I've been for a while."
In the time since, Brooks says the butterflies in the stomach have not returned.
That was evident in Manly's 34-22 win over Canterbury last week, where Brooks was the Sea Eagles' best player and set up two tries with free-flowing football.
The half has played with more freedom as this season has gone on, released from the shackles of organising the Tigers' attack and no longer a public punching bag.
And after a decade in the NRL, he does not anticipate nerves will now be a factor in the finals.
"Surely 10 years of footy should be alright for me," Brooks said.
"Going into finals we probably don't have too much pressure on us. If we're not in the top four, people don't expect too much.
"It did feel a bit like (the weight was off the shoulders) coming to the (Bulldogs) game.
"I don't know if it was because Leichhardt was a new experience, having not played there for another club.
"I was a lot more calm and it did feel like the pressure was off."
Manly received another boost on Saturday, with Tom Trbojevic returning to training with the team with his injured shoulder.
The Sea Eagles are adamant he will be fit to play finals, and could have faced Cronulla on Sunday if required.
The news is not so good for winger Jason Saab, who is "very doubtful" to play in the first week of finals as Manly weigh up if he needs ankle surgery.
