On Saturday the blue and golds piled on 27 points after half-time to beat Tumut 40-3 at a cold and greasy Jarrah Park.

The win leaves the Steamers two points clear of Leeton, with Griffith 14 points and more than three wins away in third.

It means this week’s clash against Phantoms will almost certainly decide who gets the rest in the first week of finals.

Coach Mick Raynes said the Steamers controlled their own destiny.

“Both sides know just how important this game is — it will decide who finishes on top of the table,” he said.

“That’s the message we will be giving the boys this week but I’d expect it will be the same message Seru (Rogu, the Leeton coach) will be giving his side.

“Neither one of us are relying on results to go our way — it is in our own hands.”

Leeton has bragging rights from their first round clash with a 33-25 win, when the Steamers were missing five of their starting line-up on rep duties.

The blue and golds lost Richard Manion, Ash Lefevre, James Olds, Lex Botha and Liam Krautz to the squad that played for NSW Country ahead of the ACT Brumbies v Canterbury Crusaders Super Rugby match.

All will play against Leeton this week, while English second rower Dave Coyle will also be added to the squad that won in Tumut at the weekend.

Raynes said the 37-point win wasn’t perfect.

“It was a tight first half and a bit of Sam Allen brilliance got us to a 13-3 lead at the break,” he said.

“Allen put in a solo 50-metre effort, running through broken play to score the only try of the first half.

“Their midfield defence and attack was outstanding in the first half but they ran out of legs in the second half and in a 10 or 15-minute period we took control of the game.

“On Saturday our decision making was better but the execution wasn’t 100 per cent.

“We would pick the right time to run the short side but then the last pass under pressure was found wanting.

“That will be refined with some drills at training this week so that we are better against Leeton.”

In addition to Allen, Raynes rated forwards Krautz, Scott Ison and Tom Boyle among the Steamers’ best on Saturday.