While most punters did predict the first placed Bathurst Bulldogs and third placed Orange Emus to be among the top sides few forecast Orange City, Cowra Eagles and Mudgee Wombats to be the others making up the top five, in second, fourth and fifth respectively.

Emus and Bulldogs have been expectedly strong while, much like the aforementioned majestic river horses of Africa, the three latter sides have been territorially dominant and turned their respective home grounds into fortresses, and proved their contender status along the way.

So, when you speak of the 20 most influential individuals of the season so far, there's no surprises players from the top five sides make up the bulk of the list.

Following on from his inaugural list in 2014 - from which just two players reappear - Central Western Daily rugby guru Matt Findlay has cast his eye over the most influential players of 2015's opening seven rounds.

1. Rota Setu - Mudgee Wombats (new entry)

Setu is Mudgee's very own Shane Falco.

In the same way Falco inspired his Washington Sentinals to the play-offs in turn of the century classic The Replacements, the arrival of Setu has lifted the Wombats to another level in 2015.

But unlike Falco - at the start of the flick anyway - Setu has no issue chancing his arm and taking the responsibility of his side's attacking play.

His strength in contact is outrageous, as is his footwork at the line. He's scored five tries, and set up countless others for the men outside him.

If Setu continues to fire, Mudgee can win the 2015 Blowes Clothing Cup.

2. Mesui Lemoto - Orange City Lions (2014: 8th)

Lemoto is Orange City's, and quite possibly the entire competition's, most consistent player.

Time and again he turns, and wins, Orange City games with his pinpoint goal-kicking, and his ability to create space for his sterling outside men is second to none.

His decision making his flawless, his general kicking game is on point and on top of that, when he grows a moustache he's a dead ringer for Lionel Richie.

Without Lemoto in the No.12 jersey, the Lions would not be in as comfortable a position as they are after seven rounds.

3. Phil Tonkin - Bathurst Bulldogs (new entry)

He's shifted between Bulldogs' first and second XVs in recent seasons, but in cementing his top grade spot in 2015 Tonkin has set his team alight.

Punctuated by a four-try effort against Dubbo Kangaroos, Tonkin's ability to avoid contact, find space and create it for others makes his inside men's jobs easy, and has inspired his team's march to the top of the ladder.

Basically, if Bulldogs' halves see a chance, they give the ball to Tonkin and he does the rest.

4. Carter Hirini - Orange Emus (new entry)

He makes fast people look ... not fast.

The flying kiwi has scored two hat-tricks already this year, and on most of those occasions his opposite number has needed ice to treat the windburn Hirini gives him on the way past.

He's been hunting work in 2015, and has even slotted into the halves this year. But, Hirini is at his most influential on the wing, thanks to his flawless finishing.

He's currently battling a hamstring strain, but if fit and in space, a try is as predictable as the result of a Road Runner versus Wile. E Coyote battle.

Meep, meep.

5. Shaun McHugh - Dubbo Kangaroos (new entry)

The little engine that could, McHugh is fully fit after a serious back injury, and he's firing.

McHugh's work-rate in the back-row has been the stuff of legends in 2015, his leadership is inspirational, and his try-scoring exploits have been as important as his barnstorming runs and bruising defence.

'Roos are sixth at the moment, and it's safe to say they'd be much lower if their skipper wasn't on the field every week.

6. Jake Davis - Orange City Lions (new entry)

One of four rugby league converts making this list, Davis used the 2014 season to warm to the 15-man code.

Now he's killing it.

Although he's got feet like James Brown, Davis doesn't bother using his agility much. 

He prefers to just barrel over his opposite number, who more often than not substantially outweighs the bearded No.13.

Davis has scored five tries already this year, and with Lemoto and Cameron Cole - who also made the cut - inside him, expect that that tally to rise, quickly.

7. Andrew Cosgrove - Orange Emus (new entry)

This bloke's an animal.

He's got absolutely no regard for personal safety, and is one the Central West's toughest ball runners as a result - just ask Andrew Logan's cheekbone how hard Cosgrove is to stop.

Considering he'd be averaging 20 runs a game it's not difficult to see how valuable he is to Orange Emus.

But, he's been clinical at the breakdown as well, is strong without the ball and incredibly durable.

The Emus coaching staff are just hoping he doesn't go anywhere near a gas bottle for the rest of the season.

8. Joe Lasagavibau - Orange City Lions (new entry)

Our third rugby league convert, Lasagavibau only being able to play once a fortnight so far this year has proven how crucial he really is for Orange City.

When Lasagavibau - or Joey Lamborghini as he's affectionately known - is on the field, the Lions are just a much better side.

Much of that is because of the flying Fijian's finishing, but also thanks to his innate ability to break tackles, and keep the attention of several defenders at once.

Put simply, he does things most fullbacks aren't capable of, and now he's available every game.

9. Nick Hughes-Clapp - Orange Emus (new entry)

The strongest jumper in the competition, Emus' lineout would have gone to water by now without Hughes-Clapp and his go-go-gadget arms.

Despite resembling a giraffe on the field, Hughes-Clapp pinches plenty of opposition ball and protects his own more diligently than Napoleon Dynamite looks after his Tater-Tots.

The Tom Selleck moustache is the main reason he broke into the top 10 though.

10 Jimmy Montgomery - Cowra Eagles (2014: 6th)

Tough, resilient, skilful, clever and damaging. 

With huge forwards in front of him, Montgomery's snipy nature around the rucks is nigh on impossible to defend.

The form No.9 of the competition, and Cowra's best for many seasons before this one.

11 Cameron Cole - Orange City Lions (new entry)

Has slotted into five-eighth for the Lions seamlessly.

Much like Michael Sparks in previous seasons, Cole's level head has provided Orange City with a reliable playmaker who more often than not makes the perfect decision.

With class backs outside him, Cole's running game has been severely underrated and much of the reason he has been so effective is his ability to unexpectedly threaten the line.

12. Gabe Brown/ Dan Burnham - Cowra Eagles (new entry)

One of the main reasons Cowra has performed so well in 2015 is its scrum, in particular its front row.

That's why it was impossible to split the Eagles' props.

The pair has added steel and weight to Cowra's pack, something the Eagles sorely lacked in past seasons.

With reliable backs, Brown and Burnham are the most important factor in the Eagles' go forward, which was most noticeable when they were both forced from the field against Emus - Cowra faltered massively as a result.

If they remain strong, Cowra finishing in the top five - at the very least - is almost inevitable.

13. Tom Lewsley - Mudgee Wombats (new entry)

Lewsley, a former Western Rams rugby league representative, gives his side much-needed reliability in the No.15 jersey.

His experience in the 13-man code lends itself to the custodian role, Lewsley doesn't lack size, and has been a handful for every defensive line his side has come up against. 

He injects himself perfectly into the Wombats' back-line in attack, defends stoutly when it's necessary but it's his support play which has been the biggest influence on his team - Mudgee's ability to keep the ball alive is the Wombats' main attacking threat.

Unfortunately for Mudgee, Lewsley has reportedly left for England. His departure could have a bigger influence on Mudgee's season than any other factor.

14. Izaak Breen - Bathurst Bulldogs (new entry)

With ball in hand - much like Lyle Lanley's Springfield Monorail - Breen is seemingly unstoppable.

But where Homer Simpson halted the monorail with a makeshift anchor, it seems nothing can stop Breen in 2015.

The second-rower is leading Bulldogs' pack with his barnstorming runs, but is equally as effective in defence.

Just like the monorail put Brockway, Ogdenville and North Haverbrook on the map, Breen has helped shoot Bulldogs to premiership favouritism.

Yep, there's nothing on earth like a genuine, bona-fide, electrified, six-car monorail, and for Bulldogs, there's nothing else on earth like Izaak Breen.

15. Blake Ridges - CSU Bathurst (new entry)

Another rugby league convert, Ridges could slither his body through the gap in Madonna's front teeth if given half a chance.

CSU's strongest in the students' underwhelming start to the season, Ridges has announced himself as one of the premier backs in the competition - not an easy thing to do in a side that's only won one game.

He hasn't crossed the stripe as much as those outside him, but that's more a reflection on his ability to create space for his fullback and wingers than anything else.

If CSU is going to spark some sort of resurgence, the students need to follow their skipper's lead.

16. Chris Miller - Cowra Eagles (new entry)

For some, it might be hard to fathom how a player who does nothing brilliantly would feature on this list.

It's because he does everything well, and just does his job - every single week.

Miller is Cowra's leader, and the Eagles' Mr Consistency.

He leads from the front, always, and despite the amount of talent in the Eagles' camp without Miller's captaincy Cowra could well have fallen in a heap by now.

17. Rob Thorburn - Orange Emus (new entry)

He looks like Greg Bird, he runs like Greg Bird, he tackles like Greg Bird and he's as versatile as, you guessed it, Greg Bird.

The former Mosman Whale runs wider than a typical No.8, and is far more damaging with the ball than without it.

In recent weeks he's been breaking the line for fun, and has scored five times to boot.

18. Steve Locke - Bathurst Bulldogs (new entry)

Every orchestra needs a maestro, and for Bulldogs' sparkling back-line, that is Locke.

He's not flashy and he's rarely a stand out - but that's only because he plays so well every week big performances are expected of him now.

With Tonkin chiming in when necessary combined with sterling centres and wingers, Locke acts primarily as a distributor.

That makes him even more dangerous when he does run the ball.

Simply, if their five-eighth stays fit, Bulldogs have a top five spot...Locked up. Badum tish.

19 Dan Ryan - Parkes Boars (new entry)

Central West's only NSW Country Cockatoos representative. 

Even if he has been struggling with injury, he's Parkes' best. 'Nuff said.

20 Jack Hammond - Forbes Platypi (new entry)

The poor old Platypi are a team with so much potential, they just can't put the results on the board - outside their sole victory.

Not for lack of trying though, and without Hammond Forbes probably wouldn't have recorded any wins.

At times Forbes look a million bucks, primarily because of Hammond's influence as a playmaker.

Here's hoping it turns into results soon.