The NRL’s record try scorer crossed twice before the break as the Rabbitohs shot to a 30-nil half-time lead, then added another brace to put the finishing touches on an emphatic victory on an emotional night.

Souths donned an all-white strip instead of their traditional red-and-green hoops to recognise Arrow, who has been forced into retirement by a devastating motor neurone disease diagnosis.

And wearing Arrow’s name on their backs, the Bunnies were inspired from the get-go, with halves Cody Walker and Ashton Ward assisting five tries between them and ex-Bronco David Fifita back to his rampaging best against his old team-mates.

Debutant John Radel ran away with a late try in another nice moment for the victors, who shored up their place in the top eight.

Facing his former club on his old home ground for the last time, Broncos playmaker Adam Reynolds limped off early on a dirty night for the Queenslanders, who also lost live-wire Ezra Mam to a shoulder complaint.

Both these clubs came into this game on the end of long losing streaks that have sent them tumbling down the ladder.

Souths’ defeat to Manly the Thursday prior made it three losses on the bounce, and veteran coach Wayne Bennett lost Cameron Murray (Origin duty), Campbell Graham (calf) and Sean Keppie (thumb) for this crunch clash with Bennett’s former club.

Michael Maguire — also facing his old side, where he won the 2014 premiership — had it even tougher at the selection table, five days after a fifth straight defeat against local rivals Gold Coast.

Out went Origin stars Kotoni Staggs, Payne Haas and Reece Walsh, with injured Maroons Patrick Carrigan and Gehamat Shibasaki also unavailable.

Reynolds nearly registered an early intercept try, before a Ward bomb supplied Edward Kosi the opening four points.

Fullback Jye Gray dummied his way through the Broncos’ defence from inside his own half, setting up Johnston’s first.

Fifita crashed over from close range to punish his ex-team-mates, then Latrell Siegwalt put Johnston into the left corner.

In the shadow of half-time, Souths’ halves brought out their party tricks. Ward speared a chip into the path of Walker, who offloaded to Jaymie Humphreys to complete an outrageous try.

Brisbane eventually had some joy when Josiah Karapani scampered down the left flank on the end of a Mam bust.

Mam denied Kosi up the other end, and Grant Anderson came within inches of another for the visitors.

But with Reynolds and Mam sidelined, South Sydney resumed the demolition job.

Johnston poached his third before Jayden Sullivan burst through and gifted Radel a memorable moment on his first-grade bow.

Another Ward kick assisted Johnston’s fourth try, making it 19 from his last nine games at Accor Stadium.

And Siegwalt’s eighth successful conversion put the finishing touches on the rout.

Both these clubs now have a post-Origin bye in Round 16.

GAMESTAR: Alex Johnston just keeps adding to the record try haul, collecting another four in the Bunnies’ thrashing of the Broncos.

GAMEBREAKER: Johnston grabbed his fourth off Ashton Ward’s boot to complete the belting.

  1 Jye Gray

  2 Alex Johnston

  3 Latrell Siegwalt

  4 Tallis Duncan

  5 Edward Kosi

  6 Cody Walker

  7 Ashton Ward

  8 Tevita Tatola

  9 Brandon Smith

10 Keaon Koloamatangi

11 David Fifita

12 Euan Aitken

13 Lachlan Hubner

Subs

14 Bronson Garlick (not used)

15 Jaymie Humphreys

16 Jayden Sullivan

17 John Radel

18 Dayne Jennings (not used)

19 Liam Le Blanc

Tries: Kosi (13), Johnston (15, 29, 66, 74), Fifita (23), Humphreys (40), Radel (72)

Goals: Siegwalt 8/8

  1 Hayze Perham

  2 Josiah Karapani

  3 Antonio Verhoeven

  4 Grant Anderson

  5 Jesse Arthars

  6 Thomas Duffy

  7 Adam Reynolds

  8 Preston Riki

  9 Cory Paix

13 Xavier Willison

11 Brendan Piakura

12 Jordan Riki

19 Josh Rogers

Subs

10 Jack Gosiewski

14 Ben Hunt

15 Ben Talty

17 Aublix Tawha (not used)

18 Ezra Mam

20 Phillip Coates (not used)

Tries: Karapani (53)

Goals: Reynolds 1/1

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0, 30-0; 30-6, 36-6, 42-6, 48-6

Rabbitohs: Alex Johnston; Broncos: Xavier Willison

Penalty count: 3-2

Half-time: 30-0

Referee: Grant Atkins

Attendance: 12,784