A DOMINANT first 40 minutes from NSW City set up a massive win over their NSW Country counterparts in Thursday's NSW Police Rugby League match-up at Orange's Wade Park, extending their unbeaten run in the annual fixture to more than half a decade.

On the back of huge showings in the opening half from man-of-the-match and halfback Sam O'Brien, five-eighth Josh Murphy, fullback Alex Sahyoun and back-rower Nathan Clarke, the City side ran in five tries to Country's none to lead 26-0 at the break.

O'Brien and Murphy in particular continued their red-hot form in the second period to help their side pile on another four tries and ultimately claim a 48-16 victory.

"I'm very pleased with that, it was only a short week ... so getting them to come together as a team is the big challenge," City coach Marty Hyde said.

"They did that, they listened at training and learned, and came together well. We didn't think it would be that big a win, you always hope, but you look forward to a good, tough game against Country.

"We needed to get out to a good start and we did, but they kept coming. I didn't think it'd be that sort of score-line, but we're very pleased about it."

Sayoun and skipper Mitch West both scored doubles in the win while O'Brien, Murphy, Andy Hiam, Ben Fuller and Hayden Bombaci all crossed for four-pointers as well.

West bustled over from close range on the back of a penalty - City scoring from penalties or errors was to become a trend - in the sixth minute of the game to open the scoring, before O'Brien latched on to a knock-on six minutes later and waltzed over. Murphy converted one, to give City a 10-0 lead after just 12 minutes.

Country somewhat took control of the contest in the middle stages of the opening half, kicking well in particular. But with Sahyoun, Fuller and right winger Simon Gairns policing the back-field, the hosts' chances came to nought.

Then, Country started making errors again.

City kept the Country side handcuffed to their own try-line in the latter stages of the half and bombed a number of chances, but Andy Hiem, Sahyoun and Fuller all capitalised in the 34th, 37th and 39th minutes.

Murphy nailed two more conversion attempts to give his side a 26-0 lead at half-time.

City's dominance didn't stop after the break - although it waned slightly at times - as Sahyoun scored his second in the 44th minute.

Country finally got on the board in the 53rd through John Jackson, but conceded in City's next attacking set when Bombaci scored an easy try down the left edge.

Luke Jay scored next for Country, before Murphy put the finishing touches on his strong performance with a try of his own. West grabbed his double late and Simon Cass gave Country a consolation try in the 77th minute.

"It's obviously a lot easier when your halves are going well, but they were playing behind a forward pack which was going forward all day," Hyde said.

"[Murphy] has been outstanding for [his club] in Sydney and he was again today, but I also thought Sam O'Brien was a deserved man-of-the-match.

"I was very pleased with both of them."

"We didn't see that coming," Country coach Mick Ricketts said.

"Ball handling wasn't gone, but we lost our way defensively and City capitalised on it when their opportunities arose."

The NSW side to contest the Australian Tri-Series later in the year was named on Thursday night, at a function at the Hotel Canobolas.

NSW CITY 48 (Alex Sahyoun 2, Mitch West 2, Sam O'Brien, Andy Hiem, Ben Fuller, Hayden Bombaci, Josh Murphy tries; Murphy 6 goals) def NSW COUNTRY 16 (Luke Jay, John Jackson, Simon Cass tries; Matt Chapple 2 goals)