Addin Fonua-Blake vowed to "make him remember it" as he played a lead role in ending Paul Gallen's career, and now faces English enforcer Sam Burgess with plans to do the same to the Rabbitohs' premiership campaign.
Fonua-Blake stood head and shoulders above teammates and opposing Sharks forwards alike in Manly's 28-16 upset on Saturday night, reserving special attention for retiring Cronulla skipper Gallen.
On several occasions Fonua-Blake made a beeline for Gallen throughout the first half before swinging the contest early in the second with a critical try that scotched the faint chances of a Cronulla comeback.
The Tongan terror finished with Gallen-esque numbers – 187 running metres from 23 carries, seven tackle busts and a linebreak – and coach Des Hasler billing Fonua-Blake's 60-minute effort as "one of his best games".
After Manly's upset for the ages both Marty Taupau and Burgess will return from suspension in Friday's sudden-death semi, with Fonua-Blake salivating once more after sending Gallen packing.
"I just thought tonight was his last game so I thought I'd make him remember it," Fonua-Blake said of his early clashes with Gallen before a heaving Lottoland crowd.
"I don't really know him or have anything against him.
"He's obviously been great for their team over how many years? Well over a decade. He's been a great warrior for the NRL, Australia and New South Wales. I think it's a bit sad that I got him at the end of his career, I would've loved to have played him at the start.
"I'll back myself against anyone to have a go. I'm not one to take a step back."
Fonua-Blake praised the contributions of second-gamer Sean Keppie and Jake Trbojevic in cutting Cronulla's big-name forwards down to size on Saturday night, but was reluctant to talk up a one-on-one stoush with Burgess based on the quality either side of him in the ruck.
"They've got a top quality side all across the park so if I take too much focus on Sam, I lose focus on his brothers, Liam Knight and Junior Tatola – all their other players," Fonua-Blake said.
Fonua-Blake actually started out in the Rabbitohs' junior system before finding his way to Manly via Parramatta and the Dragons, while Dylan Walker is already preparing to dodge any pre-game sledging from his former teammates.
Walker played a key role in Souths' 2014 title before shifting to Manly a year later after he had overdosed on prescription drugs.
The Sea Eagles five-eighth said his WhatsApp group featuring a few old Rabbitohs mates had already started firing up within an hour of Manly booking their showdown at ANZ Stadium.
"I'm in a group chat with a few of them, the older ones," Walker said.
"There is a bit of banter in there saying that they're going to beat Manly. I haven't said anything yet, I'll probably just keep my nose [out of it].
"I'll probably mute that group chat for a bit."
Match Highlights: Sea Eagles v Sharks
Walker is expecting Souths to be stinging from the 30-6 Roosters shellacking that has put their season on the line, none more so than Burgess after he watched it from the sidelines due to his poor judiciary record.
"Sammy in my opinion is up there with the best players I have ever played with and one of the toughest I have played with," Walker said.
"He means so much to that team and club.
"You can imagine losing something like that. You've got the coach in there probably questioning how they started the game, especially up through the middle.
"But knowing a lot of them boys, especially getting Sammy back, they're going to be really riled up and ready to go this week."