Adam Lucius at ANZ Stadium
Wests Tigers have breathed life into their play off aspirations and all but extinguished South Sydney's hopes with an emphatic 36-12 victory at ANZ Stadium.
The Tigers, who haven't reached the finals since their premiership-winning season of 2005, came into the game on the back of four straight losses but turned a month of ordinary form on its head with a spirited seven tries to two win.
For the Rabbitohs, who had won five consecutive matches, the finals now look a forlorn hope.
The Bunnies are five points off eighth spot and don't appear to have enough games left to sneak into the play offs.
Wests Tigers had all the early ball and field position and made the most of that dominance to post first points after nine minutes.
Benji Marshall weighted his right-foot grubber to perfection, with winger Taniela Tuiaki rounding opposite Fetuli Talanoa to reach the ball first and touch down just inside the dead-ball line.
Marshall, taking over goalkicking duties from the injured Brett Hodgson, swung the conversion over from the sideline and the Tigers led 6-0.
Wests were then dealt a harsh blow when rookie fullback Tim Moltzen was controversially sin binned for a professional foul after he brought a Chris Sandow break to a halt.
The Rabbitohs made the most of their numerical advantage with impressive centre Jamie Simpson stepping his way through for the Bunnies' reply after 19 minutes.
Issac Luke converted to draw level at 6-all.
The committed Tigers were then subjected to a massive amount of pressure as Souths came at them in waves.
But despite enjoying six consecutive sets of six on the Tigers line, the Rabbitohs could find no way through.
The visitors were eventually rewarded for their refusal to yield, half-back Robbie Farah putting winger Beau Ryan away down a narrow blindside with a beautiful cut-out pass.
The try was converted by Marshall and the gutsy Tigers were heading for a 12-6 half-time lead.
A wonderful set play from a scrum win 40m out from the Rabbitohs' line resulted in the Tigers' third try five minutes after the break.
Liam Fulton picked the ball up from the back of the scrum and linked with Farah, who had faded back into the line from the scrumbase.
Farah drifted across field before putting Chris Lawrence into a hole away with a lovely pass.
Lawrence was untouched en route to the line and the joint venture club was in front 16-6.
Farah did it all himself in the 51st minute, handling a couple of times as the Tigers kept the ball alive before dummying twice and spearing past Craig Wing for a brilliant solo try.
Marshall was again off target with the conversion but the Tigers looked the goods, leading 20-6.
Souths, noted for their comebacks in recent weeks, hinted at another resurrection when Wing flung an inside ball to Roy Asotasi and the big prop steamrolled his way over in the 64th minute.
Luke's conversion gave the Rabbitohs hope at 20-12.
But the revival was cut dead in its tracks when John Morris chipped across field for an unmarked Ryan to collect and plant the ball down.
Lawrence sealed the deal with his second try three minutes from time and Tuiaki added the Tigers' seventh try with 45 seconds remaining.
South Sydney 12
Tries: Simpson, Asotasi
Goals: Luke 2
Wests Tigers 36
Tries: Ryan 2, Lawrence 2, Tuiaki 2, Farah
Goals: Marshall 4
Sportal Player of the Year
3 - Robbie Farah (Tigers)
2 - Benji Marshall (Tigers)
1 - Bryce Gibbs (Tigers)