NSW Country Eagles coach Darren Coleman has downplayed suggestions that his side are now favourites to win the 2016 National Rugby Championship, despite scoring 60 unanswered points in a 60-28 victory over the Canberra Vikings yesterday.

The Eagles scored eight tries in a brilliant attacking display in the opening 60 minutes and claimed a bonus point victory despite leaking four tries in the final quarter.

“It was an amazing day. They say you make your own luck and I’d have to agree, everything just went our way and in the three years I’ve been with the Eagles, that’s easily the best 60 minutes we’ve played,” Eagles coach Darren Coleman told Rugby News.

“I don’t think anyone would have predicted that scoreline. Our goal was to be competitive and to be in it towards the end so to do that was pretty amazing.”

Despite the comprehensive victory, Coleman argued that his side hadn’t done enough to be labelled competition favourites just yet.

“I don’t think so. We were on and the Vikings were off yesterday. We could play them next week and the result could be different.

“I think Melbourne have the strongest roster, they are still favourites and then the Rays, they’re leading the comp with two bonus point wins, so we are all chasing them.”

“The biggest thing we’ll take out of it is the belief. The group knows now that when we are on, we can match anyone and score plenty of points.”

While Coleman admitted it was disappointing to leak four tries late in the match, he was still full of praise for his side from No.1 to 23.

“The team is really well balanced at the moment. The scrum was dominant, our forwards got us front foot ball and the backs were able to benefit,” the newly appointed Warringah coach said.

“Godwin and Horwitz have gelled together really well. Throw in Andrew Deegan at 10 and I think our midfield has been really strong. They are able to rotate around and set up in a number of different ways and they’ve gelled together quite seamlessly.”

The Eagles face Melbourne next Sunday but are expected to be without star fullback Andrew Kellaway who aggravated a minor knee injury in the first half yesterday, and potentially Kyle Godwin and Tom Robertson who were both called into the Wallabies 33-man squad.

“We’ll lose Kyle (Godwin) and Tom for the week and won’t find out if we have them until later on but that is out of our control. The Wallabies selections can cause a big swing. If they pick a few Melbourne guys and don’t pick our guys, or vice versa it can really swing the ledger,” Coleman said.

A win against the Rising would almost secure a semi final spot for the Eagles, however Coleman said his side aren’t looking that far ahead.

“We knew we were playing the three pre-tournament favourites to start the season in the first three rounds. I thought one would be good, two would be fantastic so I’m really comfortable with where we are,” he said.

“In saying that, we’ve got to back up that performance. It’s our first real home game, we’re taking Melbourne out to Tamworth so hopefully they won’t be too comfortable out there. If we could start the year with three wins, it would really exceed our expectations and set up our year well.”