Coastal battle to victory
COASTAL Balaz are building a reputation as the powerhouse of the Bindal Sharks All Blacks rugby league carnival after holding out Jumma Balas 10-0 in yesterday’s open men’s grand final.
Coastal Balaz’s defence proved the difference in a lowscoring decider at Townsville Sports Reserve as they were crowned the champions for the third time in five years.
Jumma Balaz had all the early field position, but they couldn’t capitalise as big hits replaced the flashy tries that have been the trademark of the All Blacks carnival.
Coastal Balaz finally got their chance from the first goal line dropout of the game as hooker Curtis Dempsey sliced his way through for a 6-0 lead just before halftime.
They carried that momentum into the second half as a one-on-one strip put Coastal Balaz in attacking field position before Blackhawks winger Kalifa Faifai Loa scored in the corner.
Jumma Balas made a break as both teams started to throw the ball around, but handling errors again cruelled their chances as Coastal Balaz held on for a hard-fought victory.
Coastal Balaz halfback and former NRL player Kierran Moseley has been coming to the All Blacks carnival for the past five years and he said it was always special to pull on the jersey.
“We’ve been unsuccessful the last few years, but to come out here and do it for Balaz pop Jim Mcdonald, it’s been a great carnival,” Moseley said. “It’s always special to come back and play alongside these fellas.
“We all went to school together so it means a lot more when you’re running out with them.”
It was still a memorable occasion for the Jumma Balaz as they played in the memory of founding member Sam Reuben, for whom the open men’s trophy was also named.
Reuben’s nephew Wilfred Reuben laced up his boots for his first – and he insisted last – time at the All Blacks carnival, which he said was a positive celebration for the indigenous community.
“There was no way that I wasn’t going to be playing, whether it be for Jumma Balaz, which was the memorial team, or another team. It was really special to me,” he said.
“There’s not many times that black people come together for positive stuff.
“To have something positive in the community that black fellas can look forward to is very important.”