Such talk naturally accompanies and unbeaten streak stretching all the way back to the preseason Challenge Cup, a trophy the Canaries achieved without a loss, and puts them within reach of an undefeated premiership for the first time since Thirroul’s all-conquering 1995 side.

It's a run that's let the canary yellow and blue faithful dare to think a decade-long run without a premiership could come to an end. The fact the 2016 crown would come exactly 50 years after the club's breakthrough premiership in 1966 only adds to intrigue.

But for Murphy, that talk is for other people because, while a look at the ladder paints a picture of dominance, he knows how tough they've done it against their top four rivals this year.

“We’ve never spoken about being undefeated or premierships and it still hasn’t been spoken about now,” Murphy said.

“Obviously we haven’t lost a game and [a grad final] is getting closer but we just take it week by week as it comes. That’s what we’re doing this week. We might be undefeated but against all the semi-final sides we’ve had very close games and we haven’t run away with anything so we know that there won’t be another easy game this year.

“Collies had us under the pump at halftime at 20-0 or whatever it was and it was the same against Helensburgh. Against Wests it’s been three points between us across two games so there hasn’t been any easy ones.”

Several points clear at the top of the table, the Canaries could have dropped any of those three games without it hurting their premiership fortunes but it’s testament to their will that they found a way to win on each occasion. 

Murphy said the tightness of those results has tempered the excitement heading into what’s sure to be a hotly contested finals series but said his side will be full of confidence after grinding out those tough results.

“We’re a tight knit bunch there, we train hard against each other and for each other and it shows on game day when we’re under the pump like that,” Murphy said.

“I think with the NRL experience in our side, when we do get behind nothing really changes for us and we just hang in there. That’s how we approach every game.”

The Canaries will face a Wests outfit in red-hot form having racked up 220 points in their last four starts. Just three points has separated the two front-runners in two encounters this season with the Canaries getting away by two in round two and Beau Henry field goal in round nine.

Coming off the bye, Murphy said his side can’t afford to give the Devils the jump on Sunday.

“They’re a class side, we know that, and I think they’ll be pretty confident coming in as well,’ Murphy said.

“We’ve had two close games and two really good games of footy. They’re strong right across the park so we really can’t afford to be off in any area."