From a misstep that helped the visitors score the NRL's fastest-ever try, to a pinpoint 40/20 kick, Cherry-Evans produced a bit of everything in his 352nd and last game for the Sea Eagles on Friday night.
The superstar halfback did not inspire the mammoth win required to prolong both Manly's unlikely finals hopes and his own storied career on the Northern Beaches.
But his left-footed field goal in the last five minutes ultimately proved the difference when the Warriors crossed in the final seconds through Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Cherry-Evans was mobbed by teammates after the one-pointer, and the high emotion gave way to "surreal" feelings when farewelling the Brookvale Oval faithful at full-time.
The 36-year-old has still not confirmed whether he will play next year, though intimated his career was not yet over after months being linked to the Sydney Roosters.
"I think it's really important to acknowledge that I might not be finishing here, which is a lot of people's wishes, but I will finish my career how I want to finish it," Cherry-Evans said.
"I get it will make people disappointed and angry and frustrated, but that's life. It's just life."
"I won't be looking back, that's for sure."
But making a hard-and-fast decision on his future is not even at the top of Cherry-Evans' to-do list.
"(I'll first) probably enjoy the next few days with my teammates and then spend some time with my family," Cherry-Evans said.
Manly's most experienced player had a nervy start to his farewell game, inexplicably leaving Tanah Boyd's kick-off to bounce past him.
The ball sat up for Warriors prop James Fisher-Harris, who shaved two seconds off the record for fastest NRL try when he touched down after nine seconds.
"I was just too deep and underestimated the breeze," said Cherry-Evans.
Cherry-Evans quickly atoned with a 41st NRL 40/20 kick that put Manly in position to hit back through Lehi Hopoate on the left edge.
It was a much-needed momentum shift for Manly, who took the lead through Jake Simpkin five minutes later and never surrendered it.
The Warriors, who spent the majority of the season in the top four, are now fated to finish sixth on the ladder following a shaky run to finals.
The Kiwi side will host a home elimination final against Penrith next week if the Panthers defeat 15th-placed St George Illawarra on Saturday.
But the Warriors will be finals cannon fodder if they cannot clean up their discipline; four of Manly's five tries came directly after the Warriors knocked on or were penalised.
"We believe what we can do in that dressing room. Back home, all our fans believe it. We'll have a full house at Mt Smart Stadium," said Warriors coach Andrew Webster.
"I just said to the boys, 'we're in control of this', we're the ones beating ourselves at the moment."
Warriors centre Rocco Berry is set to miss the elimination final after dislocating his shoulder ahead of the first of Hopoate's two tries.
Manly attacked the makeshift right edge all night after the Warriors lost Berry, leaving five-eighth Luke Brooks to take charge rather than Cherry-Evans.
As one halfback's Manly career ended, the Brookvale crowd rose to its feet as another's started.
The Sea Eagles' great new hope Joey Walsh came on for a cameo on the left edge in the final 20 minutes and was cheered with every involvement.
