The Roos outclassed and outgunned their opponents, inflicting revenge for a shock loss at The Burrow earlier in the season.

“We spoke about what happened last time and we didn’t want that to happen again,” Pauta said.

“We did a lot of tings wrong that day, and a lot of things right today.

“We played our style of football and the points came. But only giving up one try to an intercept probably makes me happier.”

While his team was well beaten, it didn’t stop Mudgee skipper Adam Rayner from engaging in a heated discussion with referee Richard Madden after full-time before refusing to be interviewed.

Instead it was left to co-coach Neil McDonald to speak, and not surprisingly he heaped praise on the Roos.

“They were very good. I didn’t think we deserved to be beaten like that but well played to the Roos, they’re a big player in this competition,” McDonald said.

“We had a few issues with the referee but I’m not going to be drawn into saying anything about that.

“I think our boys were brave and tried hard right to the end, but they are a very, very good rugby side who will be hard to beat in the finals.”

The writing was on the wall early for Mudgee, as it took just one minute for the home side to cross for their first five-pointer of the afternoon.

Hat-trick hero Moa Kavaefiafi was on the end of kicks from Ted Bates and Pauta to open the scoring, and that try was followed by one to back-rower James Elliott seven minutes later as the hosts opened up an early 10-0 buffer.

The match turned into an arm-wrestle for the following 15 minutes before a Wade Richardson try opened the floodgates and Roos crossed twice more for a 31-0 half-time lead.

With the match won, the second half became show time as the Roos added a further seven tries, highlighted by a massive fend from a flying Shaun McHugh as he flew down the sideline and crossed in the 53^rd minute.

Mudgee’s only points came when winger James Ford pounced on a loose pass to run 70m and score 10 minutes before full-time.