THE backs might have scored most of the points in Saturday's 38-18 win over the Lithgow Bears, but it was the CSU forward pack that laid the foundation for the Mungoes' fifth consecutive New Era Cup victory.
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Barnstorming runs from the likes of Kyle Madden and Daniel Kennedy plus Callum Ferguson pinching yards out of dummy-half in a Damien Cook-esque performance at Diggings Oval helped the Mungoes strengthen their minor premiership claims.
CSU co-coach Billy Dickinson, who again steered the Mungoes superbly from halfback, praised the efforts of his pack as they muscled up well against the physical Bears.
He knows they have also been key in the Mungoes' current winning streak and will be crucial as they look to build on their momentum.
"Our forwards are the best on the team, they carry us every week, they're great. They help to make us look so much better out in the backs," Dickinson said.
"They're playing great, we are stoked with that win and very pleased with the way things are headed at the moment. We are looking forward to finals footy."
While there was a minute's silence before kick-off on Saturday as a mark of respect to the late Stan Kowalski, once the whistle blew that calm was replaced by intensity.
A fired up Mungoes side struck early - opening their account with just over 90 seconds gone - as the forwards carried the hosts up field then Dickinson stepped his way through the Bears defence.
The Bears also showed muscle when they hit back in the ninth minute, centre Michael Parsons diving over in the right corner. Blake Collins' sideline conversion locked it up at 6-all.
The wrestle for the lead continued as Mungoes five-eighth Joe Coady exploited an overlap on the left flank while Bears hooker Nathan Annetts barged over following a CSU knock-on.
But it was the Mungoes who went to the sheds with the lead as a Blake Schaefer fend helped him cross and Dickinson converted to make it 16-12.
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That try not only stung the Bears on the scoreboard, but left them a man short as a resulting scuffle led Daniel Coleman being sin-binned.
Seven minutes into the second half CSU's Jamie Crawford and Lithgow's Ethan Parsons were also sin-binned, but at the same time the Mungoes kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Josh Byron benefited from a nice Dickinson pass as he crossed on the right edge and when second rower Matt Knight steamed over, the Mungoes held a 28-12 lead with 17 minutes remaining.
All the while Kennedy, Madden and Ferguson made good yards.
Two more CSU tries in the space of four minutes - Byron bagging his second while Sam Groom added the other - sealed a Mungoes victory.
"We scored some good tries and showed what happens when you stick to good footy," Dickinson said.
"There are things to improve on, there are always things to improve on and never a perfect game, but I'm pretty happy with how things are going."
