The Sydney Roosters produced a stunning second-half performance to pile 40 unanswered points on Melbourne on their way to a comprehensive victory.
The 40-10 win solidified the Roosters’ place in the top-eight, while also firing out a bold statement to the rest of the competition.
Mark Nawaqanitawase led the fightback from 10-0 down and surged to the top of the try-scoring charts with four tries in the process.
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Trent Robinson pays tribute to Mark Nawaqanitawase after four-try haul
"There is a high level of intelligence there," Trent Robinson enthused post-match about the former Wallabies star.
"There are his carries out of the backfield and his finishing of the tries, but then there’s smarts around how he looks after the ball.
"And how he always knows his position on the field. The position of his feet."
The cross-code star got his side onto the board for the first time in the 46th minute when he stood up Kane Bradley in the corner. The try proved to be the start of an avalanche of points for the visitors.
"Boy, he’s a freak," Mick Ennis said on Fox League after watching the flyer manufacture the four-pointer in an incredibly limited amount of space.
"He’s got a knack for making the impossible look somewhat easy."
The 24-year-old's second try of the night came almost 20 minutes later, but it kick-started a devastating spell that saw him cross two more times in quick succession.
Nawaqanitawase strolled over untouched for his second after neat build-up work from James Tedesco and Robert Toia, before he claimed his hat-trick after effortlessly reeling in a cut-out pass from his fullback.
He then went over for his fourth while leaving Grant Anderson rooted to the spot to cap his highlight reel of close-range finishes.
"There are a lot of little things there that are incredibly impressive," Robinson stated. "I’d say he’s on a good path."
The victory positioned the Chooks four points clear of their nearest rivals on the ladder.
They now know that a win over South Sydney in their final game of the regular season next week will secure their spot in September.
"You don’t get giddy because the job isn’t done," Robinson said.
"I can feel like I’m really proud of the guys…but you always know that there’s next week. There is always next week until there is not."