Murphy leads CM Medal

Norths Devils five-eighth Todd Murphy has polled maximum Courier-Mail Medal points for the fourth time this season.

The classy pivot scored a try and had a hand in three others to guide the Devils to a comfortable 38-8 victory over the Central Queensland Capras at Browne Park on Saturday night.

His outstanding performance saw him receive three points, taking his personal tally to 13 after seven rounds in the race for the prestigious award.

The former Sunshine Coast and Easts Tigers playmaker is setting the early pace from Israel Eliab (11), teammate Brendon Gibb (10), Jake Granville (10), Keiron Lander (8) and Khan Ahwang (7).

Murphy was simply superb against the Capras, who had high hopes in the round seven home match after a 16-16 draw against Redcliffe the previous week.

But Murphy and scheming Devils hooker Krys Freeman combined to rip the game away from the hosts with a number of clever plays on the edge of the ruck.

Freeman got the ball rolling with a lovely piece of work out of dummy half to put Dean Sheppard over the line for the opening points of the match.

The Capras hit back with a try to Corey Oates, before Freeman combined wonderfully with Murphy for the Devils’ second of the evening.

Capras centre Smith Samau was then able to close the visiting team’s lead to four points when he crossed outwide.

However, Norths steadied on the stroke of half-time with a penalty goal to push their half-time lead out to 14-8.

It was still anyone’s game in the second half until man of the moment Murphy stepped in to give the Devils the edge.

He threw the last pass that led to tries to Chris Faust, Dylan Galloway and Lachlan Maranta.

Galloway’s try was particularly impressive, with the right centre stepping back infield after receiving a long pass from Murphy to bamboozle the Capras defence and score under the posts.

Freeman capped off a great night by scoring from the close range.

The win elevated Mark Gliddon’s Devils to the top of the Intrust Super Cup ladder, although the Northern Pride have a game in hand after their round seven match against Easts Tigers was postponed.

NORTHS DEVILS 38 (Todd Murphy, Krys Freeman, Dylan Galloway, Chris Faust, Lachlan Maranta, Dean Sheppard tries; Todd Murphy 7 goals) def CQ CAPRAS 8 (Smith Samau, Corey Oates tries) at Browne Park.

Courier-Mail Medal

·         Round six votes from the Wynnum Manly v Souths Logan match are yet to be added.