Murgha out to kick goals
A familiar foe is up to his old tricks once again, but this one-time premiership hero could be a nightmare for his former club on Sunday. Yarrabah five-eighth Charles Murgha (above) led Brothers to the 2011 CDRL premiership but he threatens to end their 2017 dreams early in an elimination final this weekend. The crafty 36-year-old lays claim to arguably the best kicking game in the Far North.
RUGBY LEAGUE A FAMILIAR foe is up to his old tricks once again, but this one-time premiership hero could be a nightmare for his former club on Sunday.
Yarrabah five-eighth Charles Murgha led Brothers to the 2011 CDRL premiership but he threatens to end their 2017 dreams early in an elimination final this weekend.
The crafty 36-year-old lays claim to arguably the best kicking game in the Far North.
Think the trick-shot bananas and hooking it across the body you’ve seen Johnathan Thurston produce for the Cowboys. Not to mention an elite long kicking game and he’s certainly not shy of a 40/20, kicking two against Innisfail back in Round 18.
Murgha’s direction has been crucial to righting a wobbly ship on the way into the finals but after starting the season in reserve grade, he’s just surprised to be here.
“I was playing reserve grade all year and six games before the semis they called me up,” he said.
Murgha remained coy on his skills but proudly said he got them from his dad, Eddie.
“I just play with my heart, hey,” he said.
“I started it as a junior. I just train a lot.”
He said the spritely spring in his step was down to the energy of the younger Seahawks, particularly the bench, which he hoped could keep their roll going against Brothers.
“They boost me, hey, make you feel young again,” he said. “It’s going to be hard one. “We need to play out our set of six, be patient, play disciplined.”
Brothers captain Ben Fitzpatrick played alongside Murgha in 2011 and said not only was his general play kicking up there with the best, the fact he could slot goals from anywhere posed another massive threat ahead of what is expected to be another tight finals contest.
“We’ve played him out at Yarrabah on a windy day and he’ll kick goals from the sideline all day,” he said.
“I don’t know how he does it. It’s unbelievable.
“We’ll have to score our tries next to the post I think, like we did on the weekend.
“He’s just very unpredictable, could score tries out of anything really.”