Their impact was most evident in the third quarter.

With the Kangaroos down by just 10 points at the half-time break, the Nomads turned the heat up and kicked eight goals to the Kangaroos one in the third term.

“We started well in the first, we kicked the first three goals but the Roos pulled us back in,” Hunt said.

“Fortunately, in the third we opened the game up through our smaller blokes, [they had] a bit more speed and maybe a bit of fitness toward the end.

“The smaller blokes, they're the ones that really turned the game. The Roos have a strong midfield but they opened the game up.”

Kangaroos coach Ben Mitchell agreed fitness was a major factor.

“The first half was pretty good. I think the fitness died away in the second half. A lack of training from the boys over the last two weeks have hurt us,” Mitchell said.

“I guess it was too cold for them to train. We had a bye and with a week off, there’s usually low numbers.

“I put the hard word on them. I said ‘if you’re serious, show it and have a crack’.”

The message to the Nomads at half-time was a simple one – stick to the structure.

The Nomads did that and then some with several of the players really reacting to the call.

“At half-time we just spoke about sticking to our structure, playing footy at our tempo and to start to bring that run and carry back and get the ball moving quickly,” Hunt said.

“Cameron Graham and Dave Richards took that on board.

“Alongside them, Luke Raymond and Paddy Tobias went well, the whole midfield played really well.”

All four aforementioned players were named in New England’s best – alongside Hunt and Wulu Hall – with Richards topping the goal-scorer’s list with six majors.

Matthew Hodge, Charles Bickersteth, Ben Mitchell, Carl Frazier, Daniel Johnson and Bryson Shepherdson were named in Tamworth’s best.

The victory was New England’s seventh for the year and the first after last week’s loss to Gunnedah.

It was a pleasing rebound from Hunt’s perspective.

“Definitely, the Roos are a good side, they’re well coached and, particularly at their home ground, they play well,” Hunt said.

“We knew it was going to be tough and at half-time, there was only about a goal in it, so for the boys to bounce back was good.”