Marrar coach Shane Lenon is hoping to keep a lid on expectations after his side made a statement on Saturday, knocking over the team widely considered the early premiership favourites.
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The Bombers were the first to lower the colours of East Wagga-Kooringal this season and are now the proud owners of the longest current winning streak in the comp, with five straight victories after a first-up loss to North Wagga.
Lenon said it's premature to suggest they are the new benchmark despite a brilliant first half against the Hawks.
"No. They've got some good players to come in, yet," Lenon said, referring to EWK captain Ben Absolum and two-time league medallist Nick Hull who were both missing.
However, he didn't shy away from Marrar's own self belief, as the Bombers defy suggestions they might suffer from departures and a premierships hangover after two straight flags.
"(Premiership contention) is up to other people to make up their mind. We're quietly confident within our own group," Lenon said.
"We're a young side, they're enthusiastic, they train hard, they love playing the game and, yeah, within our own club and our own group, we still thought we were going to be okay."
Marrar were helped by the return of key position players Nick Cooper and John Hoey, prolific goalkicker Rhys Mooney (now 15 in three games) and off-season pick up Damien O'Donoghue who showed some good signs through the middle in a tough affair.
Like most of Marrar's team on Saturday, none of them played in last year's decider.
But there are more in the wings, with premiership captain Josh Hagar and former Turvey Park coach Truman Carroll both likely to make their first appearances in two or three weeks. The experienced Tyler Cunningham and young forwards Archie Howard and Nathanel Mooney remain on the injured list, while the talented Drew Beavan will come back from junior rep duties.
The Hawks haven't quite blitzed all before them this year. Their wins include a get-out-of-jail effort at North Wagga. But they have put some sides away, were polished against CSU in their previous game (before a three week break) and remain on top with a comfortable percentage advantage.
Marrar head to Coleambally on Saturday hoping to make it six on the trot while East Wagga-Kooringal will look to bounce back when they host The Rock-Yerong Creek in the annual Mark 'Grunter' O'Leary Cup.
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