All Blacks playmaker Damian McKenzie had a starring role for Waikato, as the Mooloos took a huge 53-6 victory over Manawatū in the NPC on Friday night.
Having missed out on an All Blacks spot after a stint playing in Japan earlier this year, McKenzie fired a reminder to national selectors about his worth to New Zealand.
Playing at first-five, the 27-year-old scored one try and assisted two more, to go with 53 running metres, 11 defenders beaten and one linebreak.
Up 15-6 at halftime, Waikato piled on the points in the second half, with six tries for 38 unanswered points to go top of the NPC's odds conference.
Winger Daniel Skininson scored a double, while fullback Liam Coombes fabling, No.8 Luke Jacobson, and reserves Rhys Marshall, Cortez Ratima and Taha Kemara all scored to pile on the points against a Turbos side with no answer.
One-time All Blacks first-five Brett Cameron scored the only points for Manawatū, kicking two penalties.
The defeat leaves Manawatū bottom of the NPC's evens conference, with five defeats from five played so far in 2022.
Waikato 53 (Skinson 2, Coombes-Fabling, McKenzie, L.Jacobson, Marshall, Ratima, Kemara tries; McKenzie 3, Kemara 2 conversions; McKenzie penalty) Manawatū 6 (Cameron 2 penalties)
Earlier, Canterbury's huge victory over Tasman was overshadowed by an injury to All Blacks hopeful Cullen Grace, who was forced from the field.
Canterbury No.8 Grace, 22, was taken off midway through the first half at Lansdowne Park, with his left arm clutched in his jersey.
Grace has been in sensational form for the Crusaders, Māori All Blacks and Canterbury in 2022, and topped the Duane Monkley Medal standings heading into Friday night's encounter.
But Canterbury didn't appear to miss Grace once he left the field. The red and blacks ran in seven tries against the Mako - who let in a record-equalling number of points.
Winger Manasa Mataele and lock Sam Darry landed early blows for Canterbury before Tasman hit back through Macca Springer.
Dom Gardiner grabbed Canterbury's third for a 24-8 halftime lead, while Fergus Burke grabbed the bonus-point try shortly after the break.
Further scores to Rameka Poihipi, captain Billy Harmon and prop Tamaiti Williams compounded Tasman's woes, despite Springer's second and a consolation effort from William Havili.
The victory sees Canterbury leapfrog Auckland at the top of the evens conference, although could lose out on the top spot later this weekend. Tasman meanwhile sits fifth in the conference, with just one win from their first four matches.
Canterbury 52 (Mataele, Darry, Gardiner, Burke, Poihipi, Harmon, Williams tries; Burke 7 conversions; Burke penalty) Tasman 20 (Springer 2, Havili tries; Havili conversion, Parata penalty)