Vikings flyer eyes more
THERE is no luck involved when Queille Murray snuffles an intercept and streaks down the field to score. According to Gold Coast Vikings coach Wayne Forbes, it is simply one of the many “weapons he has in his arsenal”.
Murray’s long range effort in the final 90 seconds of play returned the Chairman's Challenge championship to the Glitter Strip, with the Runaway Bay winger’s instincts to shut down a Brisbane attacking passage sealing an 18-12 triumph on Sunday. It followed their 40-12 victory against Ipswich the day before, and was all the more impressive given the injury cloud over him.
The 23-year-old Murray has been training alongside the Tweed Seagulls throughout the season, striving for a Queensland Cup berth. And after his performances for the Vikings, Forbes believed he had the tools to thrive at the next level. He said Murray’s ability to identify an intercept opportunity removed any risk from the play, and it was that game-breaking x-factor that should have him on the cusp of higher honours.
“It’s certainly one of the weapons he has in his arsenal, it’s not the first time he’s gone for the intercept to score an 80m try,” Forbes said.
“He certainly has a knack for it, I think he might’ve had two or three goes early on and the one that stuck is the one that counted. “I think he’s built to be a winger; he’s got the speed, he’s got the height and he has got that instinctive flare and a bit of x-factor about him.
“The first gameS he was a bit quiet, but then he got more involved. He had a bit of sternum concern in the first game and had trouble breathing, but it fixed itself overnight.
“I think our one through to 18 have the ability to step up to the next level, and Queille is definitely one of those. Now it’s being patient, waiting of that opportunity and taking it.”
The Vikings are now set to play Townsville for the state title, on the back of the North Queensland side’s victory in the Foley Shield.
It is a side brimming with QCup experience, with veteran halfback Shaun Nona and former New Zealand Warrior Sione Lousi at the forefront of the squad. However Forbes has a rejuvenated halves pairing of his own to lean on.
Both Zane Harris and Keanu Te Kiri have shone for Southport and Tugun respectively, and each stood tall across the weekend.
Forbes said after the two men experienced the rigours of NRL systems they admittedly lost their love for the game, but now were playing with a palpable vigour once again.
“It’s been great to have Zane on board, he’s a young man but he’s also got a lot of leadership qualities in him. With a lot of footy players, because it’s so intense and there’s lots of training, then work and Cup there is a lot going on,” he said.
“You have to stay in love with the game, and it’s quite easy to lose that interest, but he has that passion back this year. I think Keanu was one of our best throughout the weekend, and he certainly was in similar boat.
“He was in the NRL system and lost a bit of love for it, but now he’s lost a bit of weight and is back to his best form.”