A PAST star has returned, a trio of celebrity Saints have joined in and the CSU Mungals are on a role in the Mid West League's league tag competition.
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While CSU has been the force of the league tag competition since it was introduced to the Mid West League - they have won every premiership - the 2020 squad shapes as one of the finest yet.
With the Group 10 league tag season cancelled due to COVID-19, three members of the dominant St Pat's outfit in Meredith Jones, Bronte Emanuel and Emily Rhynehart have made the switch to CSU this year.
On top of that Claudia McLaren, who was named in the Mungals' team of the decade earlier this season, has made her return.
McLaren and Emanuel, who crossed twice in last year's grand final as the Saints made it three titles in a row, both shone on Saturday as the Mungals held on for an 18-14 win over Cargo.
"Claudia is like my best friend, when she moved back home it wasn't too hard to get her to play," CSU coach Phil Tuilau said.
"She is very, very handy, she set up two tries which is great especially considering she hasn't really had time to train with us.
"The Pat's girls, they've really just lifted the team and all the uni girls absolutely love them, they think they are celebrities."
Heading into Saturday's round four clash both CSU and Cargo - who are playing Mid West this season after back-to-back Woodbridge Cup premierships - were undefeated.
Tuilau was not sure if his side would be able to extend their winning run, but while Cargo proved to be their toughest opponent yet, the Mungals emerged four-point victors.
"Going into it we weren't really sure how we would go, but they really stood up. If like Bronte or Claudia didn't play I think it might have been a loss, but they just really helped the side step up," the coach said.
"Defence, tagging was good, the ball handling skills were a bit missing though, especially that first quarter. Because we're not used to having to play against a defence as good as Cargo, we were just throwing silly passes.
"But by the second quarter we settled down and started to play better football."
It was a cut-out ball from McLaren that put Caitlin Treble over for the opening try inside the first five minutes and while Cargo hit back to level at 4-all, once again CSU's returning star came up with an assist.
This time McLaren, who lined up at fullback, fired a pass out to Fallon Attwater on the left wing.
Again Cargo came up with a reply, but when Emanuel plucked an intercept on the 50 metre line and sprinted away to score it swung momentum back to CSU.
Halfback and skipper Issy Hunt scored the match-winner soon after in a contest which also saw Rhynehart impress at hooker.
"The level of play the Mungals have compared to last year's squad, last year's competition, it's just a much faster and stronger and it's a lot more positive vibe than compared to last year if I'm being honest," Tuilau said.
"I think Cargo are probably going to be the best team we play, so we are just looking to hold onto that top position so we get the first week of the finals as a bye."
