Cronulla have emerged as the biggest winners of the NRL's pre-season, coming out on top everywhere - except in the club's bank account.
The Sharks' 36-16 win over Canterbury on Sunday capped off the perfect pre-season for last year's finalists, as one of only two NRL clubs to win both their trials.
In two matches against Newcastle and the Bulldogs, the Sharks scored the most points of any team in the pre-season challenge with 64 and conceded only 32.
But under the NRL's new pre-season tournament rules, a lack of offloads in both games placed them second on the ladder, with the $100,000 going to Manly.
Winners in both their games, Manly and Cronulla claimed bonus points in their victories for scoring at least five tries and breaking the line five or more times.
The difference in the end was in the usually unimportant statistical category of offloads.
Manly threw 10 against South Sydney last week and earned a bonus point for their tally.
Cronulla needed to do likewise against the Bulldogs on Sunday to draw level with Manly and go top of the ladder on for-and-against, but only threw three in their big win.
"I was only aware of it too late. I said 'go for it', but it's really hard," Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said.
"It can change a mentality if you go and chase it. There's a bigger picture at play here."
Fitzgibbon is fine with the concept of a pre-season tournament and wanted to make clear he was not bagging organisers.
But he is unsure offload counts should equate to bonus points.
"The thought behind it is great, because you want to see footy played," he said.
"But how is an offload more entertaining than a normal pass? I'm not sure.
"If you looked at a metric of winning, do offloads win games? So why are we awarding it as a win? I don't get it.
"It's exciting to watch, but it's not what's going to happen in the rounds. So why is that the deciding metric?"
Other coaches agree, with Anthony Seibold refraining from telling Manly players to build up their offload count against the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.
Had he done so, Manly could have locked in the $100,000 early with an unassailable lead before Cronulla took the field on Sunday.
Still, the Sea Eagles showed signs they can be the NRL's big improvers as they and the Sharks walk away happiest from the trials.
Wests Tigers fans have also been sold hope with a 36-4 win over Canberra on Sunday after being soundly beaten by the Warriors last week.
Souths and Parramatta also looked good with their big guns on the field this weekend..
And while two-time defending premiers Penrith were beaten in the World Club Challenge, they will be better with fullback Dylan Edwards back in round one.
For the Dolphins and St George Illawarra, the enormity of the tasks ahead were laid bare, going winless alongside North Queensland, Newcastle and Canberra.
