A dominant first 40 minutes laid the platform for a big 48-10 victory for the South Sydney Rabbitohs over the Warriors at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
The Rabbitohs opened up a massive 30-point lead at the break on the back of a Cameron Murray masterclass early on, with Latrell Mitchell finishing the job.
Three try assists from the skipper, coupled with a double and two further try assists to Mitchell took the game away from the visitors as South Sydney raced away to their biggest win of the season.
The first half was up there with the Rabbitohs’ best of 2022 as their attack flowed seamlessly and their opponents weren’t given a chance to breathe from the opening whistle.
It started in just the fourth minute as Lachlan Ilias found himself in a yawning gap from close range to stroll over underneath the posts.
Murray was among the standouts early, and his break helped put Damien Cook into open space, as the hooker put on the burners and raced in the second try of the afternoon.
He had his third try assist just minutes later as Tevita Tatola continued his try-scoring form with another to stretch the lead out to 18, before Keaon Koloamatangi made it 24 points in as many minutes after crashing his way over from close range.
The Warriors hit back with one of their own, but it would prove to be the only blemish on an otherwise exceptional half.
Mitchell got in on the action late in the half after busting through a number of tackles on the back of a Jai Arrow offload to score, and the fullback threw the last pass for Alex Johnston to make it try number 23 of the season and cap off a 36-6 first half.
They picked up where they left off in the second half, with debut winger Izaac Thompson scoring in his first NRL outing.
A beautiful cut-out pass from Mitchell gave the winger room to move close to the touchline, where he barged over the opposing fullback and got through another tackle to push the total out past 40.
It was that man again in the thick of things, as Mitchell crossed for his double in the 57th minute on the back of an orchestrated set play close to the line to extend the lead out to 48-10, in what would prove to be the final points of the match.
Their defence was tested over the last 15 minutes, but every time they were called upon, they were able to hold the Warriors away.
The win moves the Rabbitohs into sixth spot on the ladder with four games remaining, their next blockbuster clash against the Parramatta Eels on Friday night.
