South Sydney have copped a drubbing by North Queensland, and to add injury to insult, a dazed Greg Inglis was forced to leave the field after copping a high shot in the Rabbitohs' 44-18 NRL loss in Townsville.
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South Sydney thrashed by North Queensland
High shot to Greg Inglis adds to Rabbitohs' woes as they suffer humiliation at the hands of Cowboys.
Cowboys co-captain Matt Scott was placed on report for the 66th-minute tackle, and it capped a nightmare Friday night for Souths, who slumped to their second straight loss despite the return of Adam Reynolds.
Reynolds had hoped to use his comeback from a broken jaw as a NSW Origin audition, lining up against the Cowboys' Maroons playmaker Johnathan Thurston.
![Playing like premiers: The Cowboys celebrate one of many tries against Souths.](/web/20160926191506im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/7/s/r/9/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.go7t2h.png/1460724334311.jpg)
But he came off second best - as most do - against the Cowboys co-captain, who became just the second person to notch 1000 points at a venue in Australian rugby league history.
By the end of the eight tries-to-three romp, Thurston had 1007 points at 1300SMILES Stadium, joining Newcastle's Immortal Andrew Johns in the elite club.
Souths (3-4 record) became yet more roadkill in Townsville. North Queensland (5-2) have now won 13 of their past 15 home games and outscored visiting sides 179-32 in the past five games in the north.
Coincidentally, South Sydney were the last team to beat North Queensland in Townsville, in round 23 in 2015.
![What a score: Kyle Feldt of the Cowboys touches down in the corner.](/web/20160926191506im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/7/s/r/p/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.go7t2h.png/1460724334311.jpg)
It marked the first time the Cowboys had won first four home matches of a season since 2005.
Thurston sparked a backline boosted by the return of centre Kane Linnett from a shoulder injury.
![Struggling: Sam Burgess of the Rabbitohs is tackled by Gavin Cooper and Jake Granville.](/web/20160926191506im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/7/s/r/d/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.go7t2h.png/1460724334311.jpg)
Thurston helped North Queensland lead 18-6 at halftime when he scored off his own grubber in the 15th minute and kicked three conversions.
He brought up his milestone with the third conversion thanks to a slice of luck: the kick ricocheted off the post but still fell over the crossbar to register point No.1001.
![On form again: Johnathan Thurston of the Cowboys.](/web/20160926191506im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/7/s/r/q/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.go7t2h.png/1462010993935.jpg)
The Cowboys concede their first points in three home games when Reynolds and Luke Keary combined to set up barnstorming backrower Chris Grevsmuhl, locking up the scores at 6-6 in the ninth minute.
Then it was all one-way traffic.
AAP