The Rabbitohs have continued Newcastle's demoralising start to their 2016 campaign, handing them a 48-6 shellacking at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.
In what's been South Sydney's most successful start to a season in the club's illustrious history – scoring 90 points in the opening fortnight – the Knights had no answers to the Rabbitohs' dominant attack, even without injured halfback Adam Reynolds.
Even in defence the Rabbitohs held strong by keeping Newcastle to a lone late try, after earlier denying them four times past their line.
Souths coach Michael Maguire was was impressed with his team's display but emphasised the season had a long way to go.
"I was pleased with how the boys are approaching the game at the moment," Maguire said.
"They're very focused around what they want to try and do, and they were able to build a lot of pressure in that first half and by doing that it allows you plenty of opportunities throughout the game.
"They're working hard for each other at the moment which is obviously pleasing but it's Round 2."
The onslaught began in the third minute when Bryson Goodwin jumped above a pack vying for Luke Keary's bomb to score South Sydney's first.
Rabbitohs winger Aaron Gray scored in the eighth minute when a shift out wide caught the Knights napping, leaving a huge passage for the winger to touchdown in the corner.
The Knights looked to make amends for their early 10-0 deficit when Akuila Uate crossed in the 17th minute but it was pulled by the video referee bunker for an earlier obstruction.
South Sydney responded almost instantaneously when Gray scored his second in almost identical fashion to his first three minutes later.
Sam Burgess kept the good times rolling for the Rabbitohs when a line break and magic flick pass to Paul Carter allowed Luke Keary to cross under the posts in the 23rd minute.
Gray secured his hat-trick four minutes from half-time when Cody Walker produced a superb two-man cut-out ball for his winger to score and secure a 24-0 advantage at the break.
The Rabbitohs picked up where they left off early in the second half when an 11-man Knights defence – as Akuila Uate and Jaelen Feeney struggled in back play – failed to contain Souths' quick fire passing for winger Alex Johnston to score.
Johnston was at it again five minutes later due to some solo brilliance when he stepped inside opposite man Nathan Ross and left Feeney and Jarrod Mullen grasping air to secure his second.
Goodwin secured his own slice of individual glory when he shrugged off an poor one-on-one tackle attempt by Dane Gagai to grab his second of the match in the 65th minute.
Two disallowed Knights tries left South Sydney hungry for more points, which Hymel Hunt delivered by leaping high above a hesitant Feeney to score in the 74th minute.
Ross delivered the only highlight for Newcastle with two minutes to spare when he scored his side's only try.
South Sydney Rabbitohs 48 (Aaron Gray 3, Alex Johnston 2, Bryson Goodwin 2, Luke Keary, Hymel Hunt tries; Bryson Goodwin 6 goals) defeated Newcastle Knights 6 (Nathan Ross try; Trent Hodkinson Goal) at ANZ Stadium. Crowd: 13,364. Half-time: Rabbitohs 24-0. Injuries: David Bhana (Knights) – ankle.
