Sunshine Coast Scorchers head coach Peter Dein previews 2025/26 Queensland Premier Grade season
Sunshine Coast Scorchers head coach Peter Dein has highlighted what excites him the most about his top squad as well as broken down his key players to watch and red ball aims.
The Sunshine Coast Scorchers have begun their 2025/26 Queensland Premier Cricket campaign with an increased focus on squad morale and self drive.
After taking charge midway through last season, Scorchers head coach Peter Dein helped his side turn their season around before narrowly falling short in the two-day grand final.
“We had a couple of big additions last year so we were always going to be better with the list we had but we all agreed the main reason we went so well is because the boys got around each other and enjoyed each other's company,” Dein said.
“We always back ourselves to win but there’s too many good grade clubs out there to solely focus on winning so our main aim is to hang our hat on enjoying each other’s company.
“We trusted our ability and our belief which I’m sure we’ll have again this season.
“If we do that and hold ourselves accountable for our preparation, as cliche as it is, the results and the process will take care of themselves.”
With the T20 tournament in the books, the one day fixtures are underway before the Scorchers preferred two-day format begins on October 11.
SQUAD BREAKDOWN
After representing the Scorchers as a player, Dein took charge as Toowoomba Grammar’s director of cricket in 2020 before returning to the club as an assistant coach in 2023.
“Our squad is probably the deepest it’s been in my 15 years of playing and three years of coaching,” he said.
“We’ve always had to deal with players being in and out of our second grade side and then just stopping making themselves available for selection to play locally which is fine.
“It seems like in the last few years players have been more accepting of going back to second grade or local level and performing as best they can to push their name back into selection.
“Because of that everyone enjoys being around each other, there’s healthy competition and we’ve got a really strong squad.”
The finalised squad of 35 players is set to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
KEY PLAYERS
A handful of players stepped up to the plate last season for the Scorchers, led by fast bowler Chad Soper who finished second in the top-wicket takers tally with 51.
Key recruit Nick Fletcher was also a major addition for the club, having a great impact in his 14 matches.
“Nick coming up from Melbourne added so much with the bat and the ball and Chad (Soper) was unlucky not to win the Peter Burge medal in my opinion,” Dein said.
“They’ll both be key again as well as our new recruit Blake Maher.”
Maher represented the Scorchers before joining Northern Suburbs for their back-to-back premierships in the past two seasons.
His efforts of 3/53 (15), 67 (104) and 4/37 (12.3) in the grand final last season earned him the Andy Bichel medal.
“We’ve reminded him a few times of his efforts in beating us last season but it’s amazing to have him back,” Dein said.
“He’s a huge in that will bat at the top of the order, take the new rock and field in pivotal positions.
“Nick Selman as always at the top of the order as well.
“He had one of his poorer seasons with the bat in the red ball formats last season so that’s quite exciting really given we made the grand final without our best batter scoring the runs he normally does.”
Dein also gave credit to the number of young and teenage players making their way through the ranks.“There’s quite a few young players in second grade that are exciting and will be looking to make a push,” he said,
“Will Noffke is coming off 112 from 51 last week against Ipswich and he’ll be making his first grade debut against University of Queensland which will be really exciting.”
“Jack Geldard is a young off spinner that didn’t play first grade last season but has played every match of our white ball fixtures.
“They’re two names but I could keep going and going which is exciting looking ahead.”
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