The Manly Sea Eagles shellshocked Melbourne in a 40-0 Grand Final ambush in Sydney, last night achieving atonement for last year's loss and claiming their first premiership since 1996.

A stunning hat-trick from winger Michael Robertson was the exclamation point on a dominant Manly attacking display orchestrated by captain and Dally M player of the year Matt Orford, delivering the northern Sydney club its seventh title.

Robertson scored two tries after the break to add to his first-half effort and complete a well earned treble, bookended by stellar four-pointers from Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, David Williams, Steve Menzies and Steve Bell.

Menzies's 180th career try provided a fitting farewell to a glittering 15-year career in Australia, the 349-game Manly veteran equalling Terry Lamb's all-time appearance record.

The Sea Eagles' triumph mirrored the grand final power shift achieved by Penrith in 1991, when the Panthers defeated Canberra in the decider after going down to the Raiders 12 months earlier.

Manly: 40 (M Robertson 3, M Ballin, B Kite, D Williams, S Menzies, S Bell tries; S Matai 2, J Lyon 2 conversions)

Melbourne: 0

AFP

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