WALKING WOUNDED

COURTESY JACOB GRAMS @ THE CAIRNS POST

BUSTED CDRL clubs will be relying on their depth in the coming weeks after a spate of injuries to start the A-grade finals.

Mareeba coach Tye Ingebrigtsen said his side’s 24-20 win over Yarrabah was a special one after three players went down or played through the pain to get them into a grand final qualifier against Innisfail Brothers.

The addition of Ian King, Maddie Oosen and fullback Kienan Grogan-Hayes to the injury list now makes for a grand total of eight unavailable for the Gladiators, meaning Ingebrigtsen will almost certainly need to hand a 2017 A-grade debut to one or more players this weekend.

“Three big concerns but we’ll just continue to roll on. Everyone just keeps turning up for each other,” Ingebrigtsen said.

“Our backs have been against the wall with injuries and even losing players during the game, like losing our captain Maddie after 18 minutes, it’s tough but this is the best thing about this group, they keep working hard for each other.”

The likes of forward Okomaka Talagi and bench utility Clint Posselt played increased game time against the Seahawks as a result of the injuries and both scored crucial tries.

Ingebrigtsen said it would be difficult to establish new combinations – almost on the run – in time for their clash with Innisfail, but said the players had come too far to let it weigh them down.

“We want this. The boys want it,” he said.

“We’re going to be down on troops.

“No one will probably give us a chance next week and they probably shouldn’t because we’re going to be busted, but we’ll turn up.”

Yarrabah prop Cyprian Mossman suffered a suspected broken hand and will be racing the clock to play Brothers on Sunday.

The Fish have their own concerns after Luke Badge and Chase Taia both left the field due to knocks in the elimination final against Ivanhoes.

Yarrabah captain Milton Mossman said his side missed a big chance against Mareeba and they would learn from it in time for their do-or-die match on Sunday.

“I’m just hoping we recover well, get back to training, better our defence in the middle and across the paddock,” he said. “If we get on top from the start, we’ll win the game.”

CASUALTY WARD

Mareeba

Ian King — hip flexor

Maddie Oosen — ankle

Kienan Grogan-Hayes — elbow

Yarrabah

Cyprian Mossman — hand

Brothers

Chase Taia — head cut

Luke Badge — arm