In a scary sign for the rest of the NRL, Latrell Mitchell brought his hot State of Origin form back to South Sydney as he helped them thrash the Warriors 60-22.
The NSW star had his best Origin series with the Blues this year and picked up where he left off for the Rabbitohs in his return to club football on Saturday.
The Rabbitohs fullback pulled off a spectacular try-assist for Cameron Murray in the first half with a miraculous offload, backed up by 162 running metres, a try, and five tackle-breaks.
"It's been that long since he played for us I can't remember where he left off," joked coach Wayne Bennett after the game at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
"His level was pretty high today so if he can go better than that I'll be pleased."
It was Mitchell's first game for the club since round 16, but he showed just how dangerous Souths can be at the back end of the year.
The 38-point win was just the fourth time in Souths' history they had scored 60 points or more, while it also notched up their seventh win in a row.
Sitting third on the ladder behind Penrith and Melbourne, Souths look set to finish in the top four but Bennett will aim for the top spot.
They will face Parramatta, Panthers and Sydney Roosters from the top six sides, as well as St George Illawarra twice and the Gold Coast.
"There's six weeks to go in the comp, it's starting to open up, things are starting to fall," Bennett said.
"That's our challenge: six more weeks in the competition, we've got to play two or three of the top four teams in that period as well so we've got a pretty good handle on ourselves as the season comes to its conclusion."
That test will be tougher now that Origin season is over with an increase in the quality of competition.
"What I saw over the weekend, last night and a game on Thursday night, I saw teams in a different state of mind, which comes at this period when everything is behind you, the season end is not too far away," he said.
"The quality of football over the last few days has been pretty high, in my opinion.
"Teams that haven't aimed up so well at different stages of the year have certainly aimed up in the last few games.
"I saw some of it last weekend and I think it'll only get better the last six games."
Australian Associated Press
