Good days don't get much better than this for Cronulla skipper Brett Kimmorley.

The Sharks playmaker celebrated a birthday party for his daughter in the morning before scoring three tries and having a hand in several others as Cronulla recorded its biggest ever win with a 68-6 NRL hammering of Manly at Toyota Park.

Not only did the 12-tries-to-one pummeling eclipse the 64-14 win over Newcastle in 2002, but it also cemented the home side a finals berth for the first time since 2002.

For Manly it was the biggest ever loss in the 58-year history of the club.

The Sea Eagles are now locked in a dogfight for the last spot in the top eight with four other sides, but the Sharks have no such worries, with the magnitude of their return to form surprising even coach Stuart Raper.

"It probably surprised us a bit, not so much the way we played but probably the scoreline," Raper said.

"I think we've always believed we've had it in us, we just really haven't put it together."

The Sharks put the result beyond doubt by running up a 38-0 lead at the break.

Kimmorley scored two tries before halftime, while Matt Hilder, Nigel Vagana, Beau Scott, Paul Mellor and Jason Stevens crossed for the others.

It was razzle-dazzle after the break as Kimmorley and Vagana completed their hat tricks, with Vagana's second coming off a no-look over the shoulder flick from Paul Gallen, who also joined in on the try scoring action in the 63rd minute to make it 62-0.

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