Cairns rugby league: Joel Marama, Sharks coach, close to title in rookie season

Rookie coach Joel Marama is just one game away from the CDRL minor premiership but he isn’t thinking about top spot just yet. EVERY RESULT >>

JOEL Marama is just one game away from clinching the Cairns District Rugby League minor premiership in his first season as Mossman-Port Douglas coach, but the experienced forward isn’t thinking about top spot just yet.

The Sharks all but sealed the minor title, and week off in the first week of the finals, with a 38-16 win against Innisfail Leprechauns at Coronation Park.

A Stanley Anau hat trick and Aggie Gibuma double paved the way for what Marama described as among their best performances of the season.

And it has the competition’s northernmost club needing at least a draw against lowly Mareeba on Saturday to claim the minor premiership.

But Marama, to his credit, hasn’t given that too much thought.

Mossman’s Gabriel Bon. Picture: Brian Cassey

“We’re going to give respect to Mareeba,” Marama said.

“They gave us a tough battle the last time we played them.

“They’re at home, they’ll want to finish on a high in front of their fans, so we are preparing for it like we would any other game.”

As for the 22-point win against third-placed Innisfail, Marama could not be more happy.

Northern Pride-contracted duo Shawn Bowen and Eddie Daniel both took the field for the Sharks in key positions, and the backs shone with their electrifying style of play.

But it was the unheralded but vastly experienced forwards who led the way.

Men like former Pride duo Noel Underwood and Davin Crampton, and experienced workhorses Matthew and Gabriel Bon, led from the front as they always do.

Mossman’s Lyle Murgha. Picture: Brian Cassey

But it was the collective effort which most impressed the rookie coach.

“Our core players, guys like Noel, Davin and Matty Bon, they all stepped up,” Marama said.

“As a coach, you don’t know when the team will click.

“We didn’t perform well against Tully last week so it was very pleasing to see the guys pull out a performance like they did against Innisfail.

“It was special for me as a coach as we’ve been working on things all season, and to see it come together was really good.”

While Marama’s focus is on the Gladiators this Saturday night, he said he would prefer that his team have an extra week to prepare for the semi finals.

“As I’ve said to you all year, we’re just focusing on that next game,” Marama said.

“The minor premiership hasn’t got a lot of talk here.

“We have to get the job done against Mareeba, then hopefully have that week off to prepare.”

ROOSTERS CROW IN TABLELANDS DERBY

ATHERTON coach Graham Clark Sr insists his team is slowly improving as it prepares for a tilt at the CDRL premiership.

The Roosters thumped Mareeba 52-20 to retain the Tablelands Cup on Saturday, with young flyer Alfred Passi crossing for four tries and fullback Ty Grogan three.

Atherton’s Jermaine Pedro. Picture: Brian Cassey

Atherton is assured a place in the elimination final, most likely against Ivanhoes in a fortnight, and it is then Clark Sr hopes to have more of his troops back.

“We haven’t really got anybody back, a few have come in but they’ve gone out about the same rate,” he said.

“A few of the kids we’ve had step up are starting to believe they belong in A-grade, and that’s been a big difference.”

Young duo Tom Cuda and Aiden Carson are among to those to have impressed Clark Sr, while Passi’s four-try effort did not go unnoticed.

“(Passi) and Quentin Shortjoe, neither of them had played grade before, but we had them together and they played well,” Clark Sr said.

“Jermaine Pedro really led them around well.”

Atherton will host Brothers on Saturday and Clark Sr will look to rest a number of players battling niggling injuries ahead of their finals campaign.

RESULTS

MOSSMAN-PD SHARKS 38 (S Anau 3, A Gibuma 2, B Gibuma, Elia tries; Daniel 3, Murgha 2 goals) def INNISFAIL LEPRECHAUNS 16 (Valentine, Vota, Taga tries; Addo-Nona 2 goals) at Coronation Park, Mossman.

KANGAROOS 36 (Bin-Garape, Hodge, B Stephen, Walter, Woodhouse, Millard tries; Woodhouse 6 goals) def YARRABAH SEAHAWKS 34 (Stephen, Bounghi, Hunter-Flanders, Bann, not supplied 2 tries; Hunter-Flanders 4, Saumalu goals) at Jilara Oval, Yarrabah.

ATHERTON ROOSTERS 52 (Grogan 4, Passi 3, Blackman, Dawson, Carleton tries; Carson 6 goals)def MAREEBA GLADIATORS 20 (Patolo, Lyall, Elu, Taulua tries; Lyall 2 goals)at Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium, Atherton.

IVANHOE KNIGHTS 30 (Knowles 2, Timu, Waim, Valmadre, Young tries; Knowles 3 goals)def TULLY TIGERS 12 (Nona 2 tries; Nona 2 goals)at Tully Showgrounds.

BROTHERS 42 (Lewis 3, El Suavai 2, Purcell, Peni, Heron tries; Peni 5 goals) lead SOUTHERN SUBURBS 14 (Chambers 2 tries; Chinfat goal) at Alley Park, Gordonvale.

EDMONTON STORM had the bye.

RESERVES

Kangaroos 40 def Yarrabah 18.

Innisfail 32 def Mossman-PD 22.

Tully Tigers 20 def Ivanhoes 16.

Atherton 30 def Mareeba 10.

Brothers 26 def Suburbs 18.

Edmonton had the bye.

UNDER-18S

Ivanhoes 56 def Tully Tigers 16.

Mareeba 34 def Atherton 32.

Kangaroos 86 def Yarrabah 10.

Brothers 100 def Suburbs 0.

Innisfail and Edmonton had the bye.

WOMEN

No games were played.

Follow @MMcInerney89

Originally published as Cairns rugby league: Joel Marama, Sharks coach, close to title in rookie season