The league heavyweights, with their ledger this season at 1-1, were set to meet this coming weekend in a match that would go a long way to determining who finishes in the top two.

That match is now off, with every chance it won't be squeezed back in by season's end depending on the length of the COVID lockdown announced on Saturday.

News of the lockdown filtered through Collegians Sports Centre moments before the Dogs and Corrimal headed onto to park, as Wests and Dapto did the same next door at Parrish Park.

The big guns were typically clinical, with Collegians running in six first-half tries and effectively put the match to bed at 32-6 at halftime. The Devils did the same, racking up 10 four-pointers, including a hat-trick to veteran No. 1 Brad Scott, in a 54-8 win.

The lockdown loomed large over Saturday's clash, but Dogs coach Nathan Fien was happy with a return to the defensive discipline that marked its flying start to the season.

"It's been a long while since we played and it's all about to happen again for us but it was good to get out there," Fien said.

"We were very dominant in that first half but the most pleasing thing was our defence. It started early in that first half where we had to turn them away but it was a 10-15 minute block in the second half when we were just camped on our try-line.

"We had to scramble and keep showing up for each other and that was pleasing as a coach, that even after that long break and with that lead, they were still willing to go all-in and keep working hard for each other.

"Most of the sides got to play last week when we had the bye so it's been a disrupted year, like it has for all teams. To get back out there and still have that hunger and fire in the belly is what was most pleasing."

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Saturday's outing was Collegians first in three weeks with the long weekend and bye over the previous fortnight. Having a hit a mid-season lull with losses to Wests and Thirroul back to back, the run home initially shaped as a valuable unbroken five-game unbroken stretch.

That's now been thrown into chaos but Fien said his side will just need to roll with the punches with the top-two carrot still dangling.

"That top-two spot's still on the line, Thirroul's out in front at the moment but Wests and us are battling away for that spot," he said.

"After that Thirroul [win] in round three we had a month before we played Wests and we missed the jump that day by a country mile. We just weren't in that game from the get-go.

"I think that [period off] hurt us and we just haven't got back to that level we were playing at at the start of the season. It's been disrupted, obviously, but we spoke about it at training this week, we were running into a block of footy.

"With what's going on now that's not going to happen but all we could worry about this week was Corrimal and getting the job done and I was proud of the way we did that."

Corrimal remain determined to take a win off one of the big three before the season's out ahead of a likely finals berth and started Saturday's clash full or running, Tonga Tongotongo breaking the Dogs open in his side's first set.

The Cougars could barely complete a set from there, with three errors, a penalty in possession and failing to find touch off a penalty leaving coach Sean Maloney tearing his hair out.

There was some respite when a bone-rattler from centre Wiremu Peters forced an error and sent Manasa Cavuilati on the long run for his side's first try. However, an error in the next set saw Jace Barnes hit straight back for the hosts and take an unassailable lead to the break.

The Cougars enjoyed a glut of footy in the second half but couldn't pierce a stoic Dogs defensive line, the only try coming off a charge-down from halfback Tuki Jackson. The hosts closed out the game with a try to Tom Angel and Jason Gillard's second four-pointer as they cruised to victory.

One silver lining to a brief hold on the competition will some added time for halfback Jackson Willis to recover from a hamstring injury that forced him from the park early in the first half. Fullback Alec Reid moved into a play-making role and was comfortably best on ground, scoring a try and laying on two more in a standout display.

With lockdown in place until Friday week, there'll be no games this weekend and, with training and other preparations also off limits, teams are long odds to see the competition resume until at least round 13 (July 17). It could see postponed rounds struck out altogether with the set aside 'spare' round already occupied by washed out round five fixtures.

Illawarra Rugby League general manager Chris Bannerman said the IDRL board will consider all factors this week but at least two weeks without football appears likely at senior level.

"Theoretically we could be back on Saturday week (July 10), but without access to training in that time, it could be a sticking point," Bannerman said.

"We'll factor all these things in and there'll be some talks with NSW Rugby League this week about where we can go. I would think as we get to 10-12 days from now we'll have some indication if the lockdown is going to end as scheduled.

"It may well be we have to put a line through a couple of rounds but we're living in different times and unusual circumstances so we've just got to roll with it and do our best."

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