Mariners storm into big dance
JCU to stick to winning formula
JCU Mariners are just one win away from completing a dream FNQ Rugby season.
It might have been a much tighter battle on the field, but the Mariners eventually ran out convincing winners against Southside Crusaders in Saturday’s major semi-final, crushing the second-placed side 32-12 to qualify for the August 3 decider.
After falling short in last year’s grand final, the Mariners have built a wellrounded team their FNQ Rugby rivals have struggled to compete against.
Their only loss to date is the abandoned game against Southside on April 13 – and they haven’t looked like losing since.
JCU awaits the winner of the preliminary final between Southside and the defending champion Barron Trinity Bulls, who beat Port Douglas 35-26 in the minor semi-final.
JOSH Flaherty isn’t one to talk up his side, but the JCU Mariners coach is adamant his troops will be ready to play when they take the field for the last time on Saturday week.
Flaherty, who took on the role as Mariners coach at the start of the year, has enjoyed a dream season as his side swept almost all before them to clinch the minor premiership, then outplayed Southside on Saturday to claim the first place in the August 3 decider.
Flaherty refused to single out any player or any part of the game plan which allowed his side to best Southside 32-12 on Saturday, saying only it was a team effort and every player played their role.
“It was all over the park,” he said. “That first half was a real forwards battle but everyone did their bit.”
The only game the Mariners lost in the regular season was one controversially ended in the second half after the lights went out at Stan Williams Park, Manunda.
Under competition rules, the halftime score stood, handing Southside their only win against JCU this season, but all of that is ancient history. What happened in the regular season – the near perfect record and the incredible attacking statistics – does not matter anymore.
“Semi finals and final are a different kind of game,” Flaherty said. “It all comes down to who plays better on the day.”
Flaherty and his troops, aren’t too concerned about which team they will meet on Saturday, August 3, as they’re more concerned with their own backyard.
It’s how they’ve been all year, and it’s what has proven the difference between them and the rest, so why change a winning formula?
“I’m proud of the boys; they’ll be ready to play,” Flaherty said. “We’ll keep the focus on that game.
“They’ve stuck together on the field, and they’re all close off the field, and it’s showed.”