Keebra in national final after big win
KEEBRA State High School have the chance to avenge last year’s loss in the GIO Cup national final after beating Marsden High 28-10 in the Queensland decider yesterday.
It may have been an ugly victory but that mattered little to the players, who have toiled for the past year to have the opportunity to have another crack at the national title.
After forging a 14-6 halftime lead, Keebra’s win never looked in doubt, although they were made to work for victory.
“It was an ugly win but it was a win. The job was done, so the boys are pretty happy with themselves,” coach Glen Campbell said.
“(Marsden) came here to play football, there’s no two ways about it.
“We blew a few tries — lost the ball over the line, got held up a few times, dropped one cold in the second half — and missed a lot of goals. But we won, that was the good thing about it and we’ll improve off that.
“It was a good check-up for us going forward, just to say it’s not going to be easy and we need to be focused.
“Marsden definitely stepped up and had a good game and we needed it.”
Five-eighth Paul Karatiana was outstanding for Keebra, winning player of the final honours for his role in the win, while lock Brock Hamill and hooker Blake Scott also starred for the famous rugby league nursery.
“It just shows there are other players that stand up in our football side and it’s not just the so-called stars,” Campbell said.
Keebra lost last year’s national final to Westfields Sports High 26-24 after conceding two tries in the final two minutes of the decider.
The two could match-up again, with Keebra to meet the winner of next week’s NSW final between Westfields and Hills Sports High School on September 6 at Leichhardt Oval.
“We set high expectations and we try and make the Australian final and win the Australian final and that’s always been our goal,” Campbell said.
“We go in with that attitude and I think the boys would have been disappointed if we didn’t make it this far. But it’s a real focus.
“It’s not added pressure but the boys have got their own goals and now it’s in their grasp if they play well.”