Sharks to have a crack at the minor premiership tonight
SPORT
Mossman Port Douglas Senior Sharks coach Brian Murgha was in a buoyant mood on the eve of the final match of the regular season predicting his team was on track to retain the premiership in consecutive years.
Currently sharing top spot on the ladder with Yarrabah Seahawks with 26 points, the Sharks meet Ivanhoes in Smithfield tonight and if they overcome this challenge, they will be crowned minor premiers.
Such is Murgha’s confidence, he does not believe the team will lose again. They have already put aside their recent 32-22 loss to Yarrabah – their first defeat in 12 games – and followed this up with a convincing 58-12 win over Edmonton Storm.
“With the finals looming, we have learned from the loss to Yarrabah, we have moved on and this showed in the win over the Storm,” said Murgha.
With a win tomorrow night, they will get the week off before playing in the Grand Final Qualifier followed by the Grand Final.
It is pretty tight at the top of the ladder, however, the Sharks and Seahawks are clearly the front runners to contest this year’s top prize.
Mossman and Yarrabah (26 points) are followed by Brothers Innisfail (25), Brothers Cairns (22) and Atherton 20 among the top five on the table.
The key matches this weekend are: Friday 8pm, Smithfield: Ivanhoes v Mossman Port Douglas; Saturday 6pm, Callender Park Innisfail: Brothers Innisfail v Yarrabah.
Last season, the Sharks ended a 20-year premiership drought when they overcame Tully 36-12. The final was contested at Barlow Park and Mossman ran in seven tries while Tully crossed over twice in an exciting game between the competition’s two top sides.