The Sydney Roosters appeared back to their best in a 28-4 win over North Queensland, after a hot and cold start to the NRL season.
Questions were already being asked about the 2018 and 2019 premiers after a comprehensive loss to South Sydney last week, their second loss in the first three weeks.
But the Roosters arrived in Townsville with a point to prove and proved it well beyond reasonable doubt in a complete performance to take down the Cowboys.
James Tedesco and Luke Keary were in fine form, with centre Joey Manu showing flashes of brilliance and the entire Roosters pack standing tall.
They were also aided by playing half an hour of the game against 12 men thanks to three sin-binnings for the Cowboys' Tom Gilbert, Griffin Neame and Chad Townsend.
The first of them came in the 21st minute, when Gilbert was called for a professional foul after pulling Keary out of a kick chase down the right wing.
Having already scored the opener through Paul Momirovski in the fifth minute, the Roosters took advantage with Gilbert off the field, running in tries to Manu and Victor Radley in that 10-minute stint.
The next came just after Gilbert returned, with Manu backing up a try-saving tackle on Valentine Holmes with a sensational flick pass to Kevin Naiqama to score his first try back in the NRL after three years in the European Super League.
Manu crossed himself shortly after the half-time break, and while the Cowboys hit back through winger Murray Taulagi, the Roosters finished things off with a four-pointer for Daniel Tupou.
The news keeps getting worse for the Cowboys, as fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow suffered a knee injury in the game.
Sea Eagles pull away late against Raiders
Earlier, Daly Cherry-Evans showed his mastery off the boot with a complete performance in a 25-6 win over Canberra.
The Manly captain kicked a 20/40, a 40/20, grubbered for a try, bombed to set up another, forced two dropouts and slotted a field goal as the Sea Eagles notched their second win of the season.
It was a tight contest for about the first hour, with the Raiders responding to Reuben Garrick and Morgan Harper's early tries, with five-eighth Jack Wighton powering over in the 25th minute.
It was not until halfway through the second period that either team crossed, unsurprisingly coming thanks to Cherry-Evans, who poked a rolling ball through for interchange forward Haumole Olakau'atu to touch down.
DCE and the Sea Eagles kept the pressure on and adding the requisite try to Tom Trbojevic shortly after, but it was not all smooth sailing for the Manly fullback.
He came out of a number of clashes limping, and finished the game with heavy strapping on his right knee.
In good news for Manly fans, he said after the game he expected to be alright for Thursday's clash with Newcastle.
Warriors beat Broncos on costly day for Brisbane
Brisbane have lost a second straight game, against the Warriors, but may have bigger concerns in coming weeks thanks to injuries and suspension.
The Warriors won 20-6 in Redcliffe, as the Broncos lost half Albert Kelly to an apparent foot injury, and middle forward Pat Carrigan to a knee injury.
Prop Tom Flegler could also miss some time, after being put on report four times during the game, for dangerous contact, a late shot, a cannonball tackle (for which he was sent to the sin bin) and a hip-drop tackle.
It was a rough day for Brisbane at the future home of the Dolphins, watching on-loan centre Jesse Arthars cross twice for the Warriors in the opening quarter of the game.
Reece Walsh was also influential at fullback, while another former Bronco, Matt Lodge, ran for 175 metres up front.
One bright spot for Brisbane was captain and star signing Adam Reynolds getting his first try in maroon and gold, grubbering through the line for himself to score in the first half.
