Game breaker Bernard Foley believes the NSW Waratahs' steely statement win over the Melbourne Rebels proves they can seize the Super Rugby crown without Israel Folau.
Foley's 16 unanswered points allowed the Waratahs to overcome a 13-point half-time deficit and breathe life into their campaign with a season-saving 23-20 triumph over the Australian conference leaders.
With Folau stood down by NSW Rugby and fighting to save his career after another round of provocative homophobic social media posts, Foley said the Waratahs' gritty victory in the face of such adversity showed no player was bigger than any team.
Not even Folau, the three-times Wallabies player of the year and Super Rugby's all-time leading try-scorer.
"He's a special player. No doubt about it he's a freak and he's been a big part of this team," Foley said.
"So you lose any player like that, there's a hole.
"But what the side did this week, they filled it pretty quickly in terms of how we just went about our business.
"We didn't try to replicate or find another Israel.
"Everyone did their role. To find a way to win after that start and the week we had, and to enjoy that scrap, makes us a tough team to beat."
Proud coach Daryl Gibson also hailed the side's spirit and resilience and said the Waratahs, blessed with a world-class backline even without Folau, were still trying to find their identity.
But Foley said he was happy to win ugly and challenged teammates to keep delivering, however they can.
"To have our backs to the wall and for the team to galvanise and come together and respond like that is something special and guys can sit back and be content with that performance," he said.
"Hopefully that's a real performance that can be a catalyst to send us into the second half of the season.
"It wasn't as pretty as we want. We want to be scoring flashy sides but a quality side is the stuff you don't see - the off-the-ball hard work, the tough stuff.
"That's the stuff you play for. That's the stuff you can't replicate outside a team environment.
"And that's the stuff we've got to chase. We've got to get addicted to that feeling."