By MARK CASHMAN

There’s talk swirling around of the Beasties being competition smokies but Eastern Suburbs coach Pauli Taumoepeau is having none of that “idle chatter”.

Taumoepeau reckons that there is still a lot of work to do before they can even think about what is going to happen in the Shute Shield playoffs.

One step at a time is the attitude that Easts are taking and that’s the mindset they will take to Woollahra to play Penrith on Saturday.

“We’re in no position to be sitting back and chilling,” Taumoepeau said this week.