IF SIZE counts for anything, the Mudgee Dragons are a huge threat on the 2015 Group 10 premiership after brutally out-muscling Orange Hawks in a 40-10 win at Wade Park.

Played in conditions perfectly suited to the giants in Mudgee's pack, prop Robbie Clarkson and backrower-come-five-eighth Alex McMillan stole the show in a powerful display that has the second-placed Dragons perfectly primed for an assault on this year's premier league title.

Jack Afamasaga's men tackle defending premiers Bathurst St Pat's next week before hosting this year's competition pace-setters Orange CYMS at Glen Willow the week after.

Both games will bear huge influence on the final make-up of this year's top five, and Afamasaga said there's only one way the Dragons are going to tackle both games - up the guts.

"That's our game plan," Afamasaga smiled.

"Beat it through the middle and then have a shot at them.

"(I don't think we're) stamping our authority, obviously Orange CYMS is top of the table for a reason, we just want to stay as close as we can. 

"Any team is beatable."

VIDEO: What the coaches had to say after full time:

Coming back from injury for the clash, Hawks captain-coach Brock McGarity was a bit lost for words as the two blues battled injury throughout.

Props Mitch Davis (hip) and Deryne McKenzie (knee) couldn't finish the match, while lock Kurt McNamara was ruled out with tendonitis in his forearm during the warm-up.

"And obviously we lost Villie (Taroga), he didn't play today either," McGarity said.

"We lost size up front and against Mudgee you need it.

"I think early on let us down, in attack with our mistakes. 

"And we were on the back foot after some errors and they were able to capitalise with tries and got around us pretty easily."

And Dragons three-quarter Camden Sutton was the big beneficiary of that extra space out wide.

Manning Mudgee's right-hand side attack, the nimble centre bagged a hat-trick inside the first 20 minutes, the latter two tries on the back of two beautiful long balls from McMillan.

At 16-0 down, Hawks hit back through Jedd Kennedy - the flying winger scooping up the ball after Jeff Wright fumbled a Brodie Christopherson bomb 27 minutes into the match, Cody Robbins added the extras and the two blues edged to within 10 points of the powerful Dragons.

That muscle was again in full force soon after when Nathan Orr and Todd Munn crossed before half-time, each on the end of brilliant passes from Wright and Sutton respectively.

The second half deteriorated as the conditions worsened, and Mudgee put on two tries through Clarkson - capping a wow of a game that included 18 hit ups - and then Orr's second. 

Justin Gossage kicked six from seven with the boot before Jye Barrow scored a consolation try for the hosts during a strong period for Hawks in the 30-point loss.

"Our second-half effort was good," McGarity said, drawing on the positives.

"Broders (Jared Brodrick) and young Jye Barrow tore them apart."

For Mudgee, Afamasaga played just three minutes of the round 15 encounter, leaving the field after coming on briefly as a replacement for the visitors with what's now become a troublesome hamstring issue.

"I strained my hammy last week and I was going to see how it goes today, I just went out there and felt a pull," he said.

"It's not too serious so I thought I'd come off."

MUDGEE DRAGONS 40 (Camden Sutton 3, Nathan Orr 2, Todd Munn, Rob Clarkson tries; Justin Gossage 6 goals) def ORANGE HAWKS 10 (Jedd Kennedy, Jye Barrow tries; Cody Robbins goal).