MARINERS END BULLS’ CHARGE
WITH the first FNQ Rugby Rainforestation Cup held by a JCU Mariners captain since 2011 in his left hand, Kai Lowah was a happy man.
“It feels amazing, it’s so good. We took our time, but we got here,” Lowah said.
Lowah led his team to a drought-breaking grand final win against Barron Trinity at Barlow Park, ending the Bulls’ three-year streak with a 28-19 win in the wet.
It capped a strong year for the Mariners, who lost just one game in controversial fashion on their way to the A-grade minor premiership.
THE first FNQ Rugby Rainforestation Cup held by a JCU Mariners captain since 2011 in his left hand, Kai Lowah was understandably a happy man.
“It feels amazing, it’s so good. We took our time, but we got here,” Lowah said.
Lowah led his team to a drought-breaking grand final win against Barron Trinity at Barlow Park, ending the Bulls’ three-year streak with a 28-19 win in the wet.
For Lowah, the result was never in doubt.
“It was a tough 80 minutes, it really was, but we put it in, got the work done, and now we have this,” Lowah said.
“I knew we had it from the get go. That trophy was ours, that premiership was ours.
“We’re a family, we’re brothers, and I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Coach Josh Flaherty said several players still felt the disappointment of last year’s loss, but talked down the role he played in steering the Mariners to the trophy.
“First time as a coach, with the group of lads that I had, it was up to me to spark that culture up in the boys,” Flaherty said. “You build up that culture of playing rugby together and the football flows after that.”
Scrumhalf Robert Rodokal’s yellow card in the final 10 minutes left the Mariners short one player at a crucial time, as the Bulls mounted their final comeback.
Flaherty stood on the sideline hoping his team could hold on as the Bulls charged.
“Everything from trying to work out who I can have on the field to keep that momentum going,” Flaherty said.
“You can’t pass the message out at that point of time but the boys, they must’ve been mindreading or something, because they stuck it in and worked hard to create that extra person on the field.
“Through the year I trained the boys in multiple positions – you have to be prepared for stuff like that.
“I can get them playing three or four positions they feel comfortable in through the season ... so when something like that happens it makes it easier to put someone in that spot.”
Barron Trinity Bulls coach Wayne Meredith admitted it was a tough day for the club, as several players backed up to play in both reserve and Agrade grand finals.
Meredith praised the efforts of his players, in particular the likes of Brock Harris, Felix Pese, captain Cameron Thomson and Matt Kirk, but said the JCU Mariners were simply better on the day.
“I thought we showed some good reserves coming back in that second half, I think we gave JCU a good scare,” Meredith said. “Depth and coaching I suppose. Not giving myself a wrap but we’ve got a lot of guys around the club who have played a lot of rugby.
“Deryk Gray’s played Queensland Country, Cam Thomson has played Australian Stockman, so these guys help out by bringing through those young guys.
“It goes to show we’ve got the depth and something to build on for next year.
“The boys just keep backing up after each other, they play for each other and not themselves. They’re happy to have made both grand finals. We didn’t get the result but they’re proud of what they achieved.”
NORTHERN Beaches Mudcrabs capped an enormous year for the club when they won the FNQ Rugby reserve grade grand final on Saturday.
The Mudcrabs scored two tries in the opening moment of the grand final, eventually holding on to beat Barron Trinity Bulls 28-19.
Young flyer Dharzell Robsaid. erts was named man of the match for his efforts, while fullback Brandon Wyatte shone for the Yorkeys Knob club.
Joey Drahm made an impact off the bench, particularly in the kick chase, while forwards like Cameron Scott and Matthew Gardiner kept pummelling away at the Bulls.
It capped a year in which Mudcrabs players were forced to work harder than ever to keep their club competitive in A-grade, while remaining a premiership contender in the second division.
Many players regularly had to play two full games to keep the Mudcrabs in the competition, but once the A-grade regular season finished, they could pour all of their energy into an unlikely premiership tilt.
Coach Russell Todd praised his troops’ efforts.
“It’s a really nice feeling after a really tough year,” Todd “The boys deserved it. They battled through two games a week for the majority of the year so it’s just reward for their efforts.
“It’s certainly not a lack of effort. We trained really well in good numbers, we had a good intensity week in, week out, so they deserve it.”
The Mudcrabs led the decider early, but had to battle as periods of heavy rain changed the complexion of the game.
Barron Trinity charged back at the Northern Beaches side, but the Mudcrabs were able to keep one foot ahead.
“The first five minutes were really good but it slowed down,” Todd said. “They needed a swift kick up the butt at halftime which went in one ear and out the other as we conceded almost straight away in the second half. But they did the hard work to get us into position to hold on.”
Todd said he hoped the win would lead to bigger and better things come next season.
“Hopefully this success will help draw more players to the club,” he said.