The NSW Waratahs have broken the shackles to romp to a record-breaking 50-3 win over the Cats in the Super 14 mismatch at Aussie Stadium.

NSW ran in seven unanswered tries to secure only its second bonus point of the season and consolidate its position in the top four.

The victory was the Waratahs's biggest-ever winning margin in Super rugby, eclipsing the 53-7 thumping of the Bulls in 2001, and their fourth from five games this campaign.

Hooker Adam Freier, with a try scoring double, was the official man of the match after a powerhouse display, while Mat Rogers was also to the fore in his first starting appearance at five-eighth for the Waratahs.

Rogers lived up to the pre-match hype with a spectacular opening to the game to set the Waratahs on their way.

The Wallabies flyhalf scored a brilliant solo try, beating three defenders cold, and initiated another for winger Peter Hewat to give the Waratahs a 14-0 advantage after just seven minutes.

They never looked back as the NSW forwards took complete control of the round five fixture.

Rogers deflected the praise that came his way after the game.

"It was important for the team to get off to a good start. We haven't done that over the last few weeks and we wanted to do that today, make a good platform to build off, and we did," he said.

"We started well and ended up putting 50 points on a team, which is a good effort all round.

"A big pat on the back for the forwards giving us good ball to play off. It makes it a lot easier." While stressing there was still room for improvement, NSW coach Ewen McKenzie described the performance as the Waratahs' most complete of the season.

"Overall, I was pretty happy with everyone. It was the combination that pleased me," he said.

"We probably had some good bits of forward play prior to this game but it was more comprehensive against what I call a quality outfit up front.

"I think the backs are definitely on the improve too as a unit and the interplay between the two is great.

"There were two halves for us: we got the bonus point in the first half and we were disciplined and basically kept the opposition out of the game (in the second half)," he said.

"It was great effort."

Damaging flanker Wycliff Palu crashed over off a Chris Whitaker pass before Freier touched down twice in the final seven minutes of the first half to have NSW in total command at the break.

Hewat's five straight conversions, including three from the sideline, had the Tahs ahead 35-3 at halftime and the avalanche continued after the interval.

Hewat added a penalty goal before prop Benn Robinson notched his first Super 14 try to further demoralise the South Africans.

Replacement five-eighth Daniel Halangahu crossed five minutes from time to complete the demolition job.

Hewat finished with an individual haul of 20 points, which helped the 27-year-old to a personal milestone.

He is now NSW's third-highest all-time pointscorer with a tally of 319, having surpassed Manny Edmonds (299) with only Marty Roebuck (337) and the untouchable Matt Burke (1172) ahead of the competition's 2005 leading scorer.

On a night of milestones for the Waratahs, Whitaker celebrated his 20th success as captain of NSW, surpassing former Wallabies skipper Nick Farr-Jones's 19 while in charge of the sky blues.

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