Up 10-7 over the current competition leaders Orange City, a Filisione Pauta-inspired Dubbo outfit had 'we're back' written all over it.

But, it was only ever for a moment.

The Lions flexed their considerable muscle on last year's champions in a 27-17, bonus-point win based on the brute strength of No.8 Tatafu Na'aniumotu and the shadow-like presence of Duncan Young on Roos wrecking ball Pauta.

After scoring a first half try to hand his side the lead, everywhere Pauta popped up from that moment on Young was virtually glued to the former NSW Country centre in a brilliant performance from the Lions' openside flanker.

While Na'aniumotu was simply devastating, twice smashing Roos defenders to the point of smithereens on his way to five-pointers.

"He's only going to get better the fitter he gets, and the fitter he gets the scarier he gets," City co-captain Josh Maley smiled.

"It's good to have him play week in, week out.

"They're battling to stay in the top five and we knew they'd come at us hard. To get a result like that today is pretty pleasing."

Sam Coote opened the scoring early for the home side, slicing through some relatively soft defence to score next to the posts inside the first five minutes.

Young added the extras but at 7-0 City's way, Roos hit back swiftly through Ned Williams, the Dubbo hooker the conductor of a vintage rolling maul that put the red and blues on the board for the first time.

Five minutes later, Pauta showed why he is viewed as the competition's premier mid-field runner, brushing off several would-be Lions defenders on his way to the line to hand the visitors a 10-7 lead.

At that point both sides showed a willingness to spread the ball, City's Joe Lasagavibau, Cameron Cole and Mo Amone all dangerous, while Moa Kavafiaficaeta and Hena Tuatea proved anything but slouches in the clear.

Execution, though, would be the difference.

Simply, when City had a shot at points, the Lions invariably nailed it.

And at the half-hour point of the contest and deep in Roos' own territory, they did just that when City's pack stood tall, allowing Na'aniumotu to pick the ball up from the base of the scrum before barging his way over for his first of the day.

It gave City a 12-10 lead, one the hosts enjoyed until 13 minutes into the second period when the rampaging Lions' No.8 was at it again.

Mirroring his previous effort in the first half, Na'aniumotu scored his second in identical fashion to hand City a 17-10 lead, the boot of Young missing two of his three conversion attempts.

All good sides invariably do, so it didn't surprise the Pride Park crowd to see Roos hit back at the 64-minute mark through Kavafiaficaeta, the speedy winger finishing a Tuatea break in style.

James Mata nudged home the conversion and at 17-all it was game on.

But the final 10 minutes of every game so far this season has been City's signature, and with tries to Cameron Dennis and Lasagavibau on Saturday the Lions sealed a convincing 10-point win over Roos at home.

"Our fitness showed, and our willingness to spread the ball," Maley added.

"When it got back to 17-all, teams could have turned it up from there but we got another two tries late to get the bonus point and stay at the top."

Roos skipper Shaun McHugh thought Roos stuck with City fitness wise but out wide the Lions were simply scintillating.

"I don't think they're better than us though," McHugh said.

"We put it to them. We're excited. Come finals footy, we've been there the last couple of years, we know what to do.

"We're keen to have another crack at them, even come down here and have another crack at them. We're excited about the opportunities ahead."

ORANGE CITY LIONS 27 (Tatafu Na'aniumotu 2, Joe Lasagavibau, Cameron Dennis, Sam Coote tries; Duncan Young conv) def DUBBO ROOS 17 (Moa Kavafiaficaeta, Filisione Pauta, Ned Williams tries; James Mata conv)