But the Orange CYMS veteran, in his last year at the helm of the green and golds, is being particularly brash in 2018. Again, though, it’s not without reason.

CYMS is arguably the form side of the competition leading into the penultimate round of the Group 10 title race, one of the closest in Sullivan’s time in the western region.

A win over Blayney on Sunday will secure CYMS a place in the top three and, potentially, set-up a shot at the minor premiership the week after.

Five weeks ago, with Sullivan’s men on the edge of the top five and down a stack of players, a run at top spot was a notion that would have had you laughed out of Kelly’s Hotel, the staunchest of CYMS cubbyholes.

“I had a few people come up to me after that Cowra loss and say we were struggling,” Sullivan said.

“I’m not sure what it was, or why, maybe I was just being cocky, but I said to them ‘we won’t lose another game’.

“I’m always confident, but didn’t think we’d click like we have.”

CYMS has lost another game, the match immediately after that loss to Cowra in fact, but after the 18-8 defeat at the hands of Oberon the green and gold machine has been full steam ahead. Last week’s 38-10 derby win over Hawks indicative of that.

Now on a three game winning run, Sullivan says his CYMS side is determined not to let any momentum slip at King George Oval on Sunday.

“We’ll be looking to sharpen up our attack,” Sullivan said looking ahead to Sunday.

“Complacency shouldn’t be an issue this time of year, if we can’t compete we shouldn’t be in the finals.

“We’ve got some good momentum so the key for us will be not getting caught up in a scrappy game.

“We’ve got to stay methodical and complete sets. We have to build for bigger things.”

Sullivan said his side’s defence was the key to the turnaround in form, for both the team and a couple of big men in the middle.

“Lithgow was probably the turning point, everyone ripped in and it showed what type of club we are … and I think guys like Grevs and Kyle, they watched that game, and they’ve really bought in at that point,” he added.

Sunday’s clash will also double as a bit of a Mortimer family reunion, with Robbie taking on Bears captain-coach, and brother, Tim for the first time.

“I had a little dig at him at training and said we have to win it for Robbie to make sure he doesn’t get picked on at home,” Sullivan laughed. Kick off is at 1.40pm.