Mareeba are still confident of making the end-of-season Bendigo Bank Cairns District Rugby League A Grade finals despite a 34-16 loss at Tully on Saturday night.
Following their defeat at Tully Showground, the Gladiators are now in fifth spot, one point clear of Innisfail and Ivanhoes, with just one round remaining.
But Mareeba player-coach Rod Jensen said his side are confident of keeping their rivals at bay when they host second-from-bottom Mossman-Port Douglas at Davies Park this weekend in their final regular season game.
Obviously, the Tully result was not one we were looking for, as we had the opportunity to go third on the ladder, said Jensen.
The boys played competitively, but Tully deserved their win, especially considering where they are on the ladder and the season theyve had.
However, if youd had told me at the start of the season that we needed to win our last game to make the finals, I would have taken that.
We know what weve got to do this weekend, and we just need to remain consistent.
The players were talking about doing extra training sessions, but Ive told them we just need to keep doing what weve done throughout the year to get us into this position.
Greg Miglio scored a hat-trick for Tully, with Jacob Rix, Troy Peri, Rob Howard and Isikeli Sitapa also on the scoresheet for the hosts. Joe Sio (2) and Jensen crossed for Mareebas tries.
Jensen said he was proud of the achievements of the whole club this season, with the Gladiators A Grade side bouncing back from a ninth place finish last season, and the Reserves losing just one game in 2013.
Id especially like to praise Reserves coach David Grainer, whos done a fantastic job this year, Jensen said.
With the Reserves going so well, it does give me the opportunity to possibly use some of their players during the finals if needed, so thats a great position to be in.
Im really proud of what the boys have been able to achieve this year, and Im also pleased with how my first year of coaching has gone.
Leaders Kangaroos bounced back from two straight losses by defeating third-placed Brothers 34-22 in their top-of-the-table clash at Vico Oval.
Winger Josh Mene was the star of the show, scoring four tries, while halfback Robbie Amber was superb for the hosts, as they outscored the reigning premiers seven tries to four.
Yarrabah secured their place in the finals with a dramatic last-minute 38-36 victory over Edmonton Storm at Peterson Park on Sunday.
The Storm looked to have ended the Seahawks finals dream as they led 36-34 in the final seconds, but Yarrabah winger Wade Smith crossed in the right corner to seal a thrilling two points for the visitors.
Southern Suburbs set up a minor premiership decider with Kangaroos this weekend when they comfortably beat lowly Mossman-Port Douglas 46-4 at Mossman Showground.
Northern Pride-contracted player Rickki Sutherland showed he is back to his best after injury with a two-try performance, as Suburbs ran in eight tries.
Meanwhile, bottom-of-the-table Atherton put on an improved display but still went down 44-32 to seventh-placed Ivanhoes.
Try-scoring machine Trent Barnard scored another two tries for the Knights, while Bruce Baragud also chipped in with a double.
Innisfail Leprechauns had a bye.
2013 Bendigo Bank A Grade ROUND 21
Saturday 10 August
Tully 34 (Miglio 3, Rix, Peri, Howard, Sitapa tries; Barra 3 goals) def Mareeba 16 (Sio 2, Jensen tries; Lea 2 goals) at Tully Showground.
Kangaroos 34 (Mene 4, Kerwick, Lauenstein, White tries; Amber 3 goals) def Brothers 22 (Bann, Beetham, OFarrell, Ledger tries; Beetham 3 goals) at Vico Oval.
Ivanhoes 44 (Barnard 2, Baragud 2, Burns, Kyle, Slade, Hancock tries; Doolah 6 goals) def Atherton 32 (Joseph 2, Rivett, Curcio, Akiba, Tairua tries; Curcio 2, Akiba, Pedro goals) at Atherton Showground.
Southern Suburbs 46 (Sutherland 2, Chinfat, B. Oosen, Day, Sailor, Whittle, Rayment tries; Babsek 7 goals) def Mossman-Port Douglas 4 (Hilditch try) at Mossman Showground.
Sunday 11 August
Yarrabah 38 (W. Smith 2, O. Fourmile 2, C. Murgha, Miller, Ambrym, Harris tries; Harris 2, Murgha goals) def Edmonton 36 (Tildora 3, Patterson, B. Murgha, Tatipata tries; Murgha 3, Riesen goals) at Peterson Park.
Innisfail Leprechauns bye.
Following their defeat at Tully Showground, the Gladiators are now in fifth spot, one point clear of Innisfail and Ivanhoes, with just one round remaining.
But Mareeba player-coach Rod Jensen said his side are confident of keeping their rivals at bay when they host second-from-bottom Mossman-Port Douglas at Davies Park this weekend in their final regular season game.
Obviously, the Tully result was not one we were looking for, as we had the opportunity to go third on the ladder, said Jensen.
The boys played competitively, but Tully deserved their win, especially considering where they are on the ladder and the season theyve had.
However, if youd had told me at the start of the season that we needed to win our last game to make the finals, I would have taken that.
We know what weve got to do this weekend, and we just need to remain consistent.
The players were talking about doing extra training sessions, but Ive told them we just need to keep doing what weve done throughout the year to get us into this position.
Greg Miglio scored a hat-trick for Tully, with Jacob Rix, Troy Peri, Rob Howard and Isikeli Sitapa also on the scoresheet for the hosts. Joe Sio (2) and Jensen crossed for Mareebas tries.
Jensen said he was proud of the achievements of the whole club this season, with the Gladiators A Grade side bouncing back from a ninth place finish last season, and the Reserves losing just one game in 2013.
Id especially like to praise Reserves coach David Grainer, whos done a fantastic job this year, Jensen said.
With the Reserves going so well, it does give me the opportunity to possibly use some of their players during the finals if needed, so thats a great position to be in.
Im really proud of what the boys have been able to achieve this year, and Im also pleased with how my first year of coaching has gone.
Leaders Kangaroos bounced back from two straight losses by defeating third-placed Brothers 34-22 in their top-of-the-table clash at Vico Oval.
Winger Josh Mene was the star of the show, scoring four tries, while halfback Robbie Amber was superb for the hosts, as they outscored the reigning premiers seven tries to four.
Yarrabah secured their place in the finals with a dramatic last-minute 38-36 victory over Edmonton Storm at Peterson Park on Sunday.
The Storm looked to have ended the Seahawks finals dream as they led 36-34 in the final seconds, but Yarrabah winger Wade Smith crossed in the right corner to seal a thrilling two points for the visitors.
Southern Suburbs set up a minor premiership decider with Kangaroos this weekend when they comfortably beat lowly Mossman-Port Douglas 46-4 at Mossman Showground.
Northern Pride-contracted player Rickki Sutherland showed he is back to his best after injury with a two-try performance, as Suburbs ran in eight tries.
Meanwhile, bottom-of-the-table Atherton put on an improved display but still went down 44-32 to seventh-placed Ivanhoes.
Try-scoring machine Trent Barnard scored another two tries for the Knights, while Bruce Baragud also chipped in with a double.
Innisfail Leprechauns had a bye.
2013 Bendigo Bank A Grade ROUND 21
Saturday 10 August
Tully 34 (Miglio 3, Rix, Peri, Howard, Sitapa tries; Barra 3 goals) def Mareeba 16 (Sio 2, Jensen tries; Lea 2 goals) at Tully Showground.
Kangaroos 34 (Mene 4, Kerwick, Lauenstein, White tries; Amber 3 goals) def Brothers 22 (Bann, Beetham, OFarrell, Ledger tries; Beetham 3 goals) at Vico Oval.
Ivanhoes 44 (Barnard 2, Baragud 2, Burns, Kyle, Slade, Hancock tries; Doolah 6 goals) def Atherton 32 (Joseph 2, Rivett, Curcio, Akiba, Tairua tries; Curcio 2, Akiba, Pedro goals) at Atherton Showground.
Southern Suburbs 46 (Sutherland 2, Chinfat, B. Oosen, Day, Sailor, Whittle, Rayment tries; Babsek 7 goals) def Mossman-Port Douglas 4 (Hilditch try) at Mossman Showground.
Sunday 11 August
Yarrabah 38 (W. Smith 2, O. Fourmile 2, C. Murgha, Miller, Ambrym, Harris tries; Harris 2, Murgha goals) def Edmonton 36 (Tildora 3, Patterson, B. Murgha, Tatipata tries; Murgha 3, Riesen goals) at Peterson Park.
Innisfail Leprechauns bye.
