ONE-SIDED scores and long undefeated streaks - it is something that has been a feature of past Mid West League Cup seasons but in 2021 CSU Mungoes captain-coach Callum Flanagan does not expect to witness any real domination.
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Though Flanagan's CSU Mungoes, who won the pre-season Mid West carnival and have made the last four grand finals, again shape as very real title contenders he thinks they will need to be consistently strong to get there.
He thinks that this year's premiership battle - one which also involves defending champions Oberon Tigers, Lithgow Bears, Orange Warriors and after sitting out 2020, the Portland Colts - will be one of the closest yet.
"It's definitely something we realised after the knockout, every game we play this year is going to be within a few points," Flanagan said. "There's no real big gap anymore."
Big gaps have certainly been present in the past. The Lithgow Bears strung together a huge winning streak which spanned from 2010 to 2012 and in more recent years have been on the wrong end of blow-out scorelines.
In 2017 Wallerawang went undefeated and Blackheath took out the 2018 grand final 50-20 as they also enjoyed a perfect campaign.
But perfection is something Flanagan feels will be hard to achieve this year, saying "we've really got to keep in our minds that there will be no easy games."
Naturally Oberon will be keen to defend the premiership it won last year and CSU is eager to avenge that loss.
On top of that Flanagan was impressed with what the returning Portland showed at the pre-season carnival, feels that the Bears will be much improved and thinks the Warriors present a tough physical challenge.
"Portland, they look like they'll more than comfortably take Cargo's place," Flanagan said in reference to the Blue Heelers returning to the Woodbridge Cup after reaching the 2020 Mid West finals.
"The Bears, they showed a lot more skill and class than they have in the past, they are an actual serious competitor this year. They actually gave it to Oberon and Portland, so that's a massive takeaway for the Bears.
"These Warriors boys are not little boys, you don't want to be fighting them in an arm wrestle. They are going to be tough."
The opening round of the 2021 season will be played this Saturday with CSU hosting the Warriors, the Tigers hosting the Colts while Lithgow has the bye.
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