First the good.
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Werris Creek appear to be the real deal: a strong win over Narrabri was backed up with an even better win over the Roosters at Kootingal on Sunday.
The 40-10 scoreline was a true reflection of the contest.
Now the bad.
The Roosters may have a problem: a second-half capitulation against Gunnedah was followed by Sunday's dreadful performance.
While the Magpies will travel to Gunnedah on Saturday brimming with confidence, Kootingal-Moonbi will arrive in Boggabri on the same day looking to restore their confidence.
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Because against Werris Creek they looked a shadow of the side who won last year's minor premiership.
With their inspirational skipper and No.7, Jordan Sharpe, missing on Sunday after receiving a one-week suspension for fighting in the Gunnedah game, Kooty were rudderless against the Creek.
The visitors ran in seven tries to two, with the former posting an early opening try via forward-turned-winger Zac Leonard and then never headed.
Werris Creek led 18-4 at halftime. The highlight of the opening half was Magpies No.1 Marty Shaw slicing Kooty's defence up the middle and racing about 75 metres to score under the upright.
For most of the second half Kooty's players looked deflated, before a long-range try to exciting winger Jack Rumbsy gave them a bit of a lift.
However the Magpies quickly regained their dominance, with winger Isaah Millgate putting the exclamation mark on the result with a late long-range try.
Werris Creek five-eighth Harlee Millgate was the scorer of a typically strong close-range try and was the recipient of two referee points (Magpies rake Callum Hayne got three and Roosters No.6 Zach Hatch got one).
Millgate said: "We just wanted to start strong and just keep the same pace all the way through the game."
Mission accomplished.
Werris Creek 40 (Marty Shaw, Zac Leonard, Isaah Millgate, Miles Kearney, Harlee Millgate, Scott Berry, Scott Hogg tries; Cody Tickle 6 con) Kootingal-Moonbi 10 (William Saunders, Jack Rumsby tries; Anthony Smith con)