The Dragons were dealt a blow before kick-off as front rower Jack Afamasaga was ruled out with an injury as he joined Chanse Burgess on the inactive list.

Either way, it was going to be hard to stop a determined Cowra outfit that wasn’t overlooking a tough road trip to Mudgee – especially without flamboyant fullback Jeremy Gordon.

“I put it on Joey (Bugg) and Warren (Williams) before the game and told them they need to take responsibility now.

“I thought Joey was really good and Warren was strong, as always. They led us around the field well.

“We were patchy at times but got the job done. That’s the main thing.”

After conceding a 50-metre try to Mudgee’s Corin Smith in the second minute, Cowra piled on 24 unanswered points as Callum Clyburn scored two tries, both off some Warren Williams brilliance.

The first try saw the rangy centre pounce on a Williams’ grubber in the 28^th minute, before he was the beneficiary of a left-side raid, kick-started by a Williams’ offload.

The flashy five eighth took the reins on Sunday and helped send his side to second position on the ladder after eight rounds. 

With victories over Oberon, Panthers and now a tough away effort at Mudgee, Steve Sutton thinks he’s coaching a legitimate premiership threat.

“We’re a contender for sure,” Sutton said.

“Our last month of footy has been really strong. Ever since the Panthers game we’ve lifted.

“The guys have a bit of self belief now. We’ll go home, we’ve got Lithgow next week – you never know what they will throw at you.

“We’ll be prepared for that and if we can finish the first half of the season in second spot… well, we’ll take that for sure.”

COWRA MAGPIES 30 (Bradyn Cassidy 2, Benji John, Warren Williams, Will Ingram tries; Caley Mok 5 goals) def MUDGEE DRAGONS 14 (Corin Smith, Jared Robinson, Jack Beasley tries; Lachie Hill 1 goal).