North Queensland have consolidated their push for a top-two NRL finish with their biggest win of the season at the expense of the Warriors in Townsville.
One night after Penrith dashed their hopes of contesting for the minor premiership, the second-placed Cowboys registered their 16th win of the season with a 48-4 thumping of the Warriors at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
The win moves Todd Payten's side to 34 competition points, two clear of Cronulla who face Manly on Saturday at 4 Pines Park, and with a superior points differential of 115 over the Sharks after their big victory.
Should Cronulla dispose of the Sea Eagles, the two sides will be at each other's necks to secure the second spot on the ladder and two guaranteed home finals in the post-season.
Cronulla have the easier run home, facing Canterbury and Newcastle to finish their season, while North Queensland play South Sydney away and minor premiers Penrith at home in round 25.
But their first home fixture after three consecutive away games was a welcome one for their fans, hammering the Warriors by eight tries to one.
Their habit of starting slow was put to bed quickly when Coen Hess crashed over Reece Walsh for their first in the sixth minute before going bang-bang three minutes later when Murray Taulagi sent Walsh flying.
Shifting through the hands to their right edge, their next tackle began with right winger Kyle Feldt and finished with his opposite winger Taulagi, who shoved off Walsh's attempted tackle then slammed the ball down.
Valentine Holmes slotted a penalty goal to make the score 12-0 with Marcelo Montoya firing back for the Warriors off a kick to briefly find the visitors back in the contest.
With five minutes before the break, Walsh spilled Chad Townsend's kick and Jeremiah Nanai crossed for his 17th try of the year.
They were then in again on the halftime hooter when Scott Drinkwater deftly offloaded to Holmes on halfway, who had players lining up in support and Peta Hiku dotted down against his former team.
The damage was done in the first half and further tries to Luciano Leilua, Townsend and a first career double to Dearden had the home fans clamouring for 50 points.
But the Cowboys blew several chances in the final 15 minutes with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow tackled dead in goal, Hiku dropping the ball over the line and Scott Drinkwater's flare being too much for Hess who found himself in a rare spot on the wing.
Kicking eight of his nine attempts at goal, Holmes became just the third Cowboys player in history to score 200 points in a season alongside club legend Jonathan Thurston and Josh Hannay as North Queensland solidified top-two goals with two games remaining.
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