The Parramatta Eels have launched the revived NRL competition by thrashing the Brisbane Broncos 34-6 at an empty Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
The showdown kicked off 67 days after the enforced COVID-19 shutdown of the NRL back on March 22.
The Eels showed they are genuine title contenders in the shortened season as they continued from where they left off.
The new six-again rule for infringements in the ruck, crafted during the competition's hiatus, and the move back to a one-referee system made for a frenetic match.
The Eels led 12-6 at half-time thanks to tries from Marata Niukore and Maika Sivo, while Brodie Croft - who failed two temperature tests on his way into the stadium before passing a third to get the all-clear to take to the field - scored the Broncos' only try.
The Broncos then lost captain Alex Glenn, making his first appearance of the season, after he suffered a nasty gash to his leg just before half-time.
Coach Anthony Seibold confirmed he will require surgery due to the severity of the cut.
Glenn's absence was notable in the second half as the Eels slithered away with skipper Clint Gutherson, centres Michael Jennings and Waqa Blake and Shaun Lane scoring tries to give them three wins out of three for the season.
It is the first time since 1993 that Parramatta have started a campaign with three consecutive wins, but coach Brad Arthur isn't getting carried away.
The undefeated Eels now have five games on the trot at Bankwest Stadium, starting against the Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday night.
"There are still 17 games to go before the finals and we have got to back this performance up," he said.
"We are comfortable playing there [at Bankwest] but there is not 20,000 or 30,000 fans.
"We've just got to be able to back this performance up. We need to learn to go back and start again."
Meanwhile, the Broncos will face the Sydney Roosters in their next match.
