SPORT Mariner on right passage
THE Northern Sharks claimed back-to-back premierships for the first time since 1976-77 last night with a 34-22 win over Brothers.
Having been deducted four competition points during the regular season, the Sharks sat outside the top four with two rounds to play.
Notwithstanding, first year coach Anthony Castro, who took the clipboard only weeks from the start of the season after the sudden departure of Mixie Lui, got his side to peak when it mattered.
“It’s been a very hard year so I couldn’t be happier for the boys and some of them have said this is their last hurrah. It’s a special one,” Castro said.
The Sharks beat Litchfield, then minor premiers Palmerston to advance to the big dance.
Brothers gave the Sharks a head start after they broke out to a 28-point lead before the half-hour mark.
Deba Cook, Joey Tarau, Cooper Segeyaro, Joey Webster and Jardine Hape all crossed to put the Brethren in a spin.
Samson Mariner was a wrecking ball through the middle of the pitch and laid the platform for the right edge to capitalise, with all five tries coming on that side.
Eventually possession turned and Matt Goodson crashed over from short range.
It was followed by a superb individual bust from Brothers skipper Leon Routmah. He cut through the Sharks defence from 40 metres out and propelled his way to the tryline, cutting the margin to 16 at the break.
Brothers needed another try straight after halftime and they got it. The Sharks couldn’t gather a kick in the right corner and Josh Saveka pounced.
It was followed by a Rodney Barba intercept.
As the pivot ran up field. a spectator threw a full can of beer that narrowly missed his head.
The game was stopped for two minutes, and when play restarted, Lyle Ah Sam crossed to cut the margin to six, with the momentum completely with the Brethren.
However, the Sharks stood firm and the ascendancy was thwarted by a second try to Cook, who urged his way across the stripe to seal the premiership.
Castro said Brothers were always going to get back into the contest, but his side dug deep.
“When things went their way they were able to capital- ise. We just had to regroup which we did, but it could have gone either way there,” he said.
“I’m very pleased with my halves. They were able to regroup the boys, we got back to our patterns and went forward. The boys wanted to win it and they did it.”
Brothers beat Sharks 16-8 in reserve grade.