Cameron Murray slid under the crossbar for a spectacular double as South Sydney Sydney beat the Warriors 31-10 to keep their NRL top-four hopes alive.

Outstanding young lock Murray was the game’s best player in Auckland on Friday, busting through the Warriors defence in timely fashion to lift the Rabbitohs to third place provisionally.

The visitors weren’t at their best but they were clinical enough to beat a Warriors team who conceded 12 penalties and completed a forgettable season at Mt Smart Stadium.

After a committed first half and trailing just 14-10, the Warriors fell away badly. They have conceded 115 points in their last three games.

Murray enhanced a reputation already boosted by three bright bench appearances for the victorious NSW State of Origin side.

The Rabbitohs attack seemed to lose steam while the 21-year-old sat out a mid-game rest but they came alive when he returned.

Murray’s season try tally is 10, three more than any forward at any club.

The Warriors looked sharp early but Murray swung momentum by stepping and fending his way past three defenders before sliding across for the opener.

In his first appearance for 11 weeks, Alex Johnston scored in the corner before an Adam Reynold penalty made it 14-0.

A Warriors fightback began through centre Adam Pompey’s maiden NRL try before Ken Maumalo completed a sensational score after Kodi Nikorima’s line break and pinpoint grubber.

Maumalo’s 17th four-point of the season lifts him level with Latrell Mitchell at top of the competition tryscorer list.

Souths dominated the second half, aided by an alarming Warriors error count and ill-discipline.

Two more penalty goals were followed by a charging Murray’s second try, put through the middle when Reynolds and Cody Walker combined sweetly.

A Campbell Graham 60m burst set up a try to fellow-centre Dane Gagai before Reynolds’ left-footed field goal was the final play of the game, giving the halfback 15 points and a perfect night with the boot.