The Sydney Roosters are the new National Rugby League leaders, seeing off injury-hit Penrith 42-6 at Centrebet Stadium on Friday night.
But bitter rivals South Sydney can reclaim their place at the top of the ladder with a win over North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday night.
In Friday's other NRL game, the Newcastle Knights drew 18-all with the visiting Brisbane Broncos after golden-point extra time at Hunter Stadium.
The Roosters' record win over the Panthers came thanks to two tries from Boyd Cordner, and efforts from Daniel Tupou, Jake Friend, Aidan Guerra, James Maloney and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in front of a crowd of 11,879.
The heavy defeat effectively ends Penrith's finals aspirations and they were hit by two new injury blows with Sika Manu and Adam Docker were both forced out of the game at half-time with broken hands to join an already lengthy casualty list.
