Western has suffered its worst defeat of the 2020 Presidents Cup, with tournament favourites the Maitland Pickers running in 10 tries to one in a 58-4 win on Saturday.
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Brock Lamb produced a personal tally of 22 points and halves partner Chad O'Donnell scored a hat-trick, but despite ladder leaders Maitland continuing their perfect record they now face a tough month ahead against fellow title contenders.
Coming off the bye the Pickers beat the winless Western Rams 58-4 at Maitland Sportsground on Saturday, making it four from four at the midway point of the statewide campaign before meeting the Thirroul Butchers, Wests Illawarra, North Sydney Bears and Glebe Burwood.
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The Newcastle club (10 points) is still the competition frontrunner, however, all of those sides (8) sit just one win behind them and remain in contention for the top-four finals series next month, which culminates in a decider at Bankwest Stadium on September 27.
"It's going to be a big month for us," Pickers captain Alex Langbridge said.
"We're going to know where we are at the end of that."
Langbridge praised the round-five performances of both Lamb, who crossed for the opening try and kicked nine conversions from 10 attempts, and O'Donnell.
"They were outstanding," the Maitland hooker said.
"Lamby is just a class above and you can tell he's an NRL player. Chady was really good as well, it was probably his best game this year."
The Pickers led 34-4 at half-time and didn't concede a point outside a 12th minute try to Rams second-rower Bailey Hartwig.
The Rams will take on Wentworthville, the only other side without a win this season, at Mudgee next weekend.
