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.

“We’re in the top six by a single point (from Southern Districts) so no-one here is on cruise mode.

“That is why out training has been the way that it has been this week – no days off, there is still work to do.”

Easts have been able to name a Super Rugby quality back row with new recruit Rob Leota, teaming with Charlie Gamble and Will Harris.

All that Super Rugby talent in the Beasties side has meant that they are at the high end of the points scale under which the competition functions.

But there are combinations in their squad that  will keep them from flying too close to the sun in coming weeks.

Easts have been happy with the way that Leota has adapted to the patterns that the side is running and the way that he has worked with skipper and scrum half Jack Grant.

Leota has had little game time this year and will certainly be better for his 50 minutes against manly last weekend.

“Rob’s brought a bit of size. He’s a bit of a man mountain,” Taumoepeau said. “Naturally I would love to see him get a few more carries so we will see how that all pans out on Saturday.”

It has been a great week for Penrith with their invitation to compete in next years Shute Shield.

They have been making significant progress this year under head coach John Muggleton and it will be interesting to see how they come into 2021 with a full and considered pre-season.

Their scrum half Terry Fanolua will be at crux of a lot of their work against Easts on Saturday while up front if they can compete at scrum time and at line out they will be touching the bar for long periods of this game.

EASTERN SUBURBS (1-15):

James King, Lindsey Stevens, Archer Holz, Jack Digby, Tom Staniforth, Rob Leota, Charlie Gamble, Will Harris, Jack Grant (c), Nicholas Shannon, Henry Paterson, Lalaki Foketi, Alex Newsome, Richie Woolf, Dan Donato.

PENRITH (1-15):

David Tifa, Ezekiel Seia, Macia Latabua, Lucas Castle, Sosifa Funaki, Andrew Fiagatusa, John Tuivaiti, Matthew Faoagali, Terry Fanolua, Dean Blore, Masi Fidow, Luke Nadurutalo, Jeremiah Fa’amausili, Api Bera, Joseph Faoagali.

LAST TIME: not applicable.