But immediately after full-time, the Dubbo CYMS gun’s attention turned to frying some much bigger fish.

Bonham’s outstanding showing in the 12-4 victory over a spirited Group 10 all-but secured the Fishies star a spot in Tim Ryan’s Western Division outfit for round one of the country championships in May.

As a member of last year’s team that was miserably eliminated in round one against Monaro, Bonham has a point to prove at the next level.

He’s confident Saturday’s win at Jack Arrow Sporting Complex, alongside the performance of a stack of his Group 11 teammates and that of a handful of Group 10’s best, should translate into a better championship campaign for the green and white.

“I just went out and did everything I could for the team. Everything came off the boot well,” Bonham said, his composed kicking game the difference between the two sides in a man of the match outing for the 2017 Bob Weir medalist.

“With the summer pre-season with Timmy (Ryan), that will help us big time.

“Everyone has gelled and as you can see at the end, all of us were laughing and carrying on. Mate against mate, our team will be better this year.”

Group 11 survived a scare in its opening game of the cluster against Castlereagh, coming from behind to win 10-4.

But, from the outset against Group 10, the red and blacks were in control.

Tightening the screws from the opening whistle, Group 11 never gave its opposition an inch thanks to a pin-point shorting kicking game from Bonham and halves partner Mitch Burke.

They led 6-0 at half-time after a try from Billy Sing in the opening 20 minutes and then 12-0 after Jesse Wighton showed a great turn of pace to score in the corner in the second stanze.

Bonham booted one conversion but landed a penalty goal, too, and his side was essentially in cruise control.

Group 10 tried to make a game of it late and managed to score through Chris Kirby, the St Pat’s back latching on to a nice pass from Orange CYMS back Lachie Munro to cross under the sticks.

It was too little, too late tough.

“Group 11 built pressure very well,” Group 10 coach Daniel Finn said.

“Their plan was obviously to tap it in goal and work hard after that.

“We wanted to be patient but in the second half we were forced to try our hand and a couple of passes didn’t stick, a couple of kicks didn’t land where they needed to, but you’ve got to hand it to Group 11.”

Talon Hodge was the surprise stand-out for Group 10 in the final, while props Jo Duffy and Chanse Burgess proved a handful with every carry.

For the victors, Lee Price will be in the selection mix again while Sing, in his return to league after 12 months playing union, looked tremendous on the right edge.

Group 10’s best 23s – Ryan Griffin, Ethan McKellar, Mick Latu, Jake Betts and Tom Satterthwaite – all played in the senior game.

All five will press for spots in the Western team as well, one Bonham, the Group 11 skipper, should be named to lead when the squad is finalised on Monday.

The crafty half says everyone on show on Saturday gave themselves a shot at a Rams gig.

“Everyone did their job, we got out there and talked about our role and we came away with it,” he enthused about his Group 11 team.