Coach Mat Kelly had spoken in the lead-up to the clash, about wanting the premiers to take their game to another level.

They obliged to finish off the first round with a 54-nil thrashing of Barraba.

Skipper Conrad Starr led the carnage with three tries, all three coming in the first half, while Brandon Parry crossed twice.

"It was probably up there with one of our best performances this year," Kelly said.

What he was most pleased with was their defence.

"We still gave away too many penalties but our defence covered for our mistakes, which was great to see.

"This season we've conceded penalties which have then led to points," he said.

On Saturday that didn't happen.

A lot of that was down to attitude, Kelly remarking that they were "really putting our bodies on the line and having a proper crack".

As well as the overall team performance, he thought it was a couple of the players' best performance.

"Andrew Collins had probably his best game, definitely his best this year," Kelly said.

"Coming out of his rep duties (for Central North last weekend) he really stood up."

"Sam Bowden was another that was definitely having his best game. Then he rolled his ankle."

Doug Biffin was a standout. He picked up the three points and players' player.

"He was great," Kelly said.

"(But) It's hard to fault any of them."

Their next assignment is against a Quirindi side that will be riding high after picking up their first win of the season. On the back of an 18-point haul from young gun Ben Grant, the Lions edged out Inverell 23-20.

Elsewhere Moree won a low-scoring affair against arch-rivals Narrabri 12-9.