Todd Carney hasn’t wasted any time getting the Cronulla faithful on-side, scoring two tries on debut for the Sharks in a 38-6 NRL trial win over defending premiers Manly at Toyota Stadium on Friday night.

Carney’s last first-grade game was 180 days ago in August for the Sydney Roosters, coincidentally, against the Sea Eagles.

On that occasion Carney’s team were on the end of a thrashing, but things went more to plan this time around.

Carney made the perfect start to his Sharks career – scoring a brace of tries, kicking a conversion out of the ground and generally looking at home at his third club, despite only entering the action at halftime.

The former Raider and Rooster brought the crowd to their feet with his first touch – even though all he did was catch the kick off.

They roared twice as loud when he stepped inside two Manly defenders to stroll over for a try and give the Sharks a 26-6 lead and he received a standing ovation after scoring his second, a 90-metre effort where he evaded three defenders.

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan rewarded the 2010 Dally M medal winner an early night straight afterwards, pleased with what Carney had offered in his 33-minute stint, as he created options for his outside backs and looked in great touch with a pinpoint kicking game.

Both teams rested their NRL starters until the second half, but the home team looked far more impressive, piling on four second-half tries – including an 80-metre intercept to winger Stewart Mills that iced the victory.

Earlier, the Sharks took a 16-6 lead into halftime, largely off the back of an impressive performance from halfback Chad Townsend, who set up two tries.