Sharks quietly confident heading into Rugby League finals

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Howard Salkow

Senior Journalist

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The Mossman Port Douglas Senior Rugby League club will be hoping cool heads prevail when they meet Brothers Innisfail in this do-or-die qualifying final at Barlow Park, Cairns on Sunday afternoon (5.30pm).

Innisfail earned the right to meet the Sharks when they defeated Yarrabah 28-14 last weekend in what was described as a ‘spiteful match’, which was stopped 23 minutes early. With tempers out of hand and a fear for the players’ safety, a decision was taken to end the contest after 57 minutes.

One suspects Brothers would have learned from last week’s events and will rise to the occasion and throw everything at the Mossman team, who are two steps away from retaining the Premiership, and strive to create a major upset.

But there is an air of confidence in the Sharks camp who believe they can get the job done.

“Our biggest challenge is containing their massive forward pack but we have the chargers who can contain what is expected to be a battle in the middle,” said Sharks coach Brian Murgha.

Sharks go into this match with a full complement of players and are injury free. “In fact, we’ve got players coming back from injury which adds to our strengths.”

Murgha is expecting a 100 per cent team effort and is not looking for any individual performances. “I am not looking to any one player to shine above the rest. I am expecting a team effort,” he said.

Innisfail will need a win to book a spot in the CDRL grand final. In this weekend’s elimination final, Yarrabah will take on Atherton.


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