VETERAN LEADING
The experienced halfback behind the Yarrabah Seahawks’ stunning flight to the CDRL grand final, and their shot at a second premiership
EMERGING from the darkness of the Barlow Park tunnel with their hearts pounding out of their chests, there will be no looking back for the 17 players who will represent Yarrabah in the Cairns District Rugby League A-grade grand final.
The Seahawks will head into Saturday’s decider as marginal underdogs against an Innisfail side that has conquered all before it this season.
Innisfail is the only team to have beaten every other CDRL club this year, and was first through to the 2021 grand final after a dominant 39-18 win against minor premiers Brothers.
But rugby league is a funny game, and the Seahawks have a history of spoiling the Leprechauns’ party. The two sides met on the last day of the 2017 season, with Yarrabah securing its maiden CDRL A-grade premiership after a 31-22 victory.
It was an historic moment for the club and the community, but veteran halfback Charles Murgha – who was part of the premiership-winning side – believes clinching a second title would mean just as much.
The wily playmaker, who was part of the club’s inaugural CDRL season in 2000, said having Yarrabah in another grand final was “like State of Origin” for the community, and the Seahawks were the Maroons.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” Murgha said.
“We were pumped up for the first semifinal, the second, and then last week, there was just more of a crowd and we just stuck together as one.”
The 40-year-old is one of the oldest players in the competition, but he certainly doesn’t play like it.
Proving that age is just a number, the veteran has been at the top of his game of late, playing a leading hand in his side’s march to the big dance. Murgha’s ability to come up with a massive play was the difference in the preliminary final against Brothers last week when he kicked two crucial 40/20s and scored an intercept try against the run of play.
His other try was the perfect reflection of his influence and ability, the veteran dropping the Steeden to his boot just shy of the tryline and scooping up a four-pointer.
But his response when asked if he practised his 40/20 kicks at training during the week will strike the most fear into Innisfail. “Nah, just natural,” he said.
“We just play what’s in front of us – I saw it and went for it.”
It is that eyes-up, off-the-cuff footy that makes Yarrabah so dangerous, and gives them a fighting chance every time they take the field.
Seahawks co-captain Dale Ambrym, who was part of that premiership triumph in 2017, said Murgha hadn’t lost a beat and his influence on the playing group could not be understated.
“He still looks the same as what he did 20 years ago,” Ambrym said.
“The speed has stuck around, the skill hasn’t gone away, but I’m really happy he’s still here.
“I thought his time was up a few years ago, but I’m glad he’s still here. Without him, we wouldn’t be in this position.”
Alongside Murgha in the halves is one of the club’s most exciting players, Coleridge Dabah, who has taken his game to another level this year.
An accurate goalkicker, Dabah represents everything great about Yarrabah’s rugby league: he’ll play out a structured set as easily and naturally as he drops it on to the toe for a chip-and-chase in his own half.
Ambrym said the combination Murgha had developed throughout the season with Dabah was special.
“Charles controls the game and has real good vision, but so does Coleridge,” he said.
“He can come up with something out of nothing, gets us into a good position, and has a good kick on him.
“With Charles, it takes it to another level with him.”
Ambrym put the Seahawks’ late-season surge down to “heart and determination”, fuelled by the club’s passionate supporters.
“The boys lifted their spirits – the crowd gets us up, especially for me,” Ambrym said.
“Having the whole community backing you takes it to another level.
“Me, being the captain, it’s really amazing. It’s just … completely different. Seeing your family, the whole community cheering for you, it takes it to another level.
“It shows how much the community loves footy. It makes us feel so proud, them showing us that love.”
He said Yarrabah would have to dig deep against a “tough” Innisfail outfit.
“They’ve got the big boys in the middle and some speed. It’ll depend on who wants it more,” he said.