The Penrith Panthers were on the bottom of the ladder after facing the Newcastle Knights back in May. Fast forward to August, the four-time premiers are on track for a top four finish following their ninth straight win.
Posting their highest score of the season with nine tries in a 48-12 rout in Indigenous Round, the Panthers were ruthless in continuing their dominance on the lands of the Awabakal people with their eighth straight win in Newcastle.
Getting off to a blistering start with last week's match winner Blaize Talagi laying on a try for Luke Garner (3rd minute), the Panthers hit double figures in the following set with Lindsay Smith (6th minute) capitalising on a dropped bomb from Greg Marzhew for a 10-0 lead.
Forcing the Knights to play from inside their own half for effectively the entirety of the first half, the weight of possession was reflected on the scoreboard with Liam Henry (25th minute) putting himself in the right position to collect his second try of the season.
Completing one of the most one-sided opening halves of this - or any - season with Brian To'o (37th minute) and Thomas Jenkins (40th minute) getting in on the try-scoring action, the 26-0 scoreline marked the tenth scoreless first half for the Knights this season.
As the heavens opened up to begin the second half, the rain did little to deter the Panthers with Casey McLean (43rd minute) running in his fifth try in four matches to push the premiers past 30.
The Knights managed to break their point-scoring drought with Mat Croker (52nd minute) getting the green light on a simultaneous grounding, while a break by Bradman Best moments later saw Jermaine McEwen (56th minute) race away to give the 20,197 supporters in attendance a moment of fleeting joy.
The Panthers kept the scoreboard ticking over with Isaiah Papalii (62nd minute), McLean (66th minute) and Izack Tago (72nd minute) crossing to close out an emphatic 48-12 victory.
Next week, the Knights will face the Cowboys in Townsville on Sunday afternoon, while the Panthers will host the Storm in a blockbuster Thursday night encounter.