North Queensland

Walker and Reynolds put on a ball-playing clinic as they combined to create five of the Rabbitohs' eight tries with deft passing and skills on the fringes of the rucks.

Alex Johnston scored a hat-trick of tries for South Sydney and has now scored 13 tries in his past five games.

The result moves the Rabbitohs level on points with the Storm and Panthers, who will pick up two points each for the bye this weekend.

The North Queensland Cowboys remain 11th, two points above the Warriors who visit the Cronulla Sharks on Sunday evening.

Photo NRL

The Dally M medallist is on the verge of signing a 10-year contract worth over $10 million with North Queensland, according to a News Corp Australia report.

The deal, which will see 24-year-old Taumololo become a Cowboys players for life, dwarfs that of superstar teammate Johnathan Thurston who signed for $5 million four years ago.

An official announcement of Taumolo's re-signing is expected as early as today.

"We are very hopeful of keeping Jason," Cowboys chairman Laurence Lancini told News Corp Australia.

While the 31-year-old re-signed with the Cowboys three weeks ago, a chronic knee injury will cut short his career at 12 seasons.

“Ben’s contribution to this team over the past two seasons can never be undervalued,” Cowboys general manager Peter Parr said at the time of the re-signing.

“His experience from more than a decade playing professional rugby league at the highest level is something he has willingly passed on to our emerging forwards.”

Sharks skipper Gallen and Tagataese, both having completed training yesterday, are set to return from respective back and shoulder injuries to take their place against the Cowboys.

Gallen missed Cronulla's qualifying-final win over Canberra a fortnight ago, while Tagataese hasn't played for five weeks.

North Queensland have also rushed Kane Linnett straight back into the centres. He's overcame a hamstring injury that had kept him out of last week's semi-final win over Brisbane.

Johnathan Thurston, celebrating his 250th game after over a decade of service for North Queensland, has capped off another memorable Queensland derby with a 75th minute field goal to take his Cowboys to a 19-18 victory in front of a packed out 1300SMILES Stadium.

On the play prior to his field goal, Thurston was hit behind play by Broncos prop Josh McGuire and got up holding his right hip.

But in a moment that encapsulated his 15-year career, Thurston brushed off the hit and remained poised to snap the game-winner.