Bundled out in the first semi-final in 2014, the Two Blues appear a stronger and more balanced team after beating the Saints by 107 points yesterday.

The win has taken Penguin to the top of the NWFL and next Saturday it faces an interesting battle with Devonport as the new-look competition begins to unfold.

Penguin has been strengthened over the summer with a group of players returning from overseas, and one of them, ruckman Finbar Wray-McCann, made his presence felt yesterday with a best afield display.

Wray-McCann gave his team first use of the ball and it helped create many scoring opportunities.

The Two Blues kicked six goals in the opening quarter to take the ascendancy and it was through the good work of Toby Skene, Rodney King and Zac Mihocek.

Mihocek has provided the "grunt" that Penguin had needed since he arrived from the Burnie Dockers, and yesterday he capped his play finishing with six goals.

First-gamer Nathan Russell started on the interchange bench but showed he would be a player of the future, kicking four goals.

Smithton, which has the youngest team in the competition, is tipped to struggle this year after losing many experienced players, but 22-year-old coach Aarn Tuxworth is aware of the job in front of him and led by example yesterday.

Although outclassed and undermanned, the Saints didn't wilt and fought out the game to the final siren.

The third quarter was their best when they restricted Penguin to three goals.

One of the experienced players left at Smithton is veteran defender Scott "Soup Bones" Blizzard, who was able to repel Penguin many times from the half-back line.

Nathan Drake was another to win his share of possessions, while Jacob Willie showed he would become a permanent senior fixture.

Although the Saints were outgunned on the scoreboard, their accuracy couldn't be faulted, as they finished with seven straight goals.