Sonny Bill Williams has been praised by Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson after an extended role in his side's 42-12 thrashing against the Newcastle Knights.
Williams showed signs of his old self as he played 33 minutes in the game, finishing with 100 run metres, 19 tackles, and three offloads.
Last weekend, Williams played 13 minutes against the Canberra Raiders in his first competitive match in six months and his first NRL outing since 2014.
The 35-year-old will see out the remainder of the NRL season with the Roosters, before rejoining the Toronto Wolfpack for the final year of his contract in the UK Super League.
The Wolfpack were forced to withdraw from the remainder of the 2020 Super League season due to complications as a result of coronavirus.
"I thought the balance of his game was good," says Robinson.
"He got his defensive work done, moved well, retreated well and then had a variation of plays with hard carries, offloads, and combination plays with forwards and halves, and the combination of all those was really strong."
In the game, the Roosters outscored the Knights seven tries to two, with Luke Keary and Daniel Tupou both grabbing braces.
Williams believes the Roosters are starting to peak as they look for their third consecutive NRL title.
"For myself, it's a privilege to come back in the team. It's a well-oiled machine and I just try to add my two cents," he told Fox League.
"Tonight was a step in the right direction. We want to seal that top spot, but want to keep improving towards the finals."
There was one slight concern for the Roosters with captain Boyd Cordner leaving the field with concussion.
Cordner has already missed six games this season due to head knocks.
Meanwhile, the Gold Coast Titans confirmed they would finish the season as the best-placed Queensland side after handing the Brisbane Broncos a record ninth-straight loss.
The Titans won the match 18-6, to move six points clear of the North Queensland Cowboys and Broncos, who are 14th and 15th respectively.
The result also meant the Titans became the first Gold Coast-based side in NRL history to beat the Broncos twice in a season, a record which pleased coach Justin Holbrook.
"I am proud of that. To be part of the first Titans side to win twice over the Broncos is fantastic," says Holbrook.
"And in particular for a guy like Jai Arrow who is moving on, so he gets to go out with a couple of good wins over the Broncos.
"I know us Queensland sides haven’t set the world on fire this year but to finish as the top side, I am proud of that and of this club."
Earlier, the Canberra Raiders ended the St George Illawarra Dragons' slim hopes of finishing inside the NRL's top eight with a 37-8 win.
The Raiders remain fifth with their win, while the Dragons are struggling in 13th. The only bright spot for the Dragons was a two-try debut performance for wing Cody Ramsey.
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