GCPL Team of the Decade: Robina Coach Nathan Mulhearn picks his 11
Robina City coach Nathan Mulhearn reckons he could have selected three Gold Coast Premier League teams of the decade so much is the quality of the competition.
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ROBINA City coach Nathan Mulhearn reckons he could have selected three Gold Coast Premier League teams of the decade so much is the quality of the competition.
Mulhearn picked some players we have not yet seen in other teams, like defender Dean Wernerson who he now calls his own, but all who deserved recognition for their contributions to Gold Coast football.
DON’T MISS: Coast football’s team of the decade
“This was a very difficult team to select and may not be the most balanced side, but they are all good players who deserve recognition,” said Mulhearn.
“There are a couple of glaring omissions who I struggle to leave out and would love them in my side at Robina.”
COAST COACHES’ TEAMS OF THE DECADE
■ Broadbeach’s Andrew Robinson
■ Surfers Paradise’s Alex Morrison
GOALKEEPER
Michael Negrepontis - (Burleigh/Broadbeach)
“It would have been easy to select Andreas Eikum for his one year at Southport. But Negsy’s longevity and quality stands out. Also throw in the fact that he is an outstanding person.”
DEFENDERS
Luke Martinero - (Burleigh/Broadbeach)
“Every side needs a Luke at the back. Hates getting beat and mixes it in every aspect. Strikers know they have played a game afterwards.”
Adam Evans - (Palm Beach/Broadbeach)
“Adam was a great defender who had so much quality on the ball. A big reason behind a lot of Broadbeach’s success in the decade.”
Dean Wernerson - (Knights)
“Probably a bit of bias, but Dean won the Premier League three times in that period and is still only 24. I’d expect him to be in the team of the next decade also.”
Ben Harrison - (Broadbeach)
“Would cover so much ground up and down the left. If not for injuries, he would have played at a much higher level.”
MIDFIELDERS
Justin Watmough - (Broadbeach)
“Potentially the player of the decade. If you could select from all the players in the last 10 years, he is one of the first on your teamsheet. I remember marking him one day, I had no answers, he was almost unplayable.”
Troy Ruthven - (Murwillumbah)
“Murwillumbah going undefeated in 2013 had a lot to do with Ruthven controlling the midfield. He had so much class.”
Matt Noble - (Burleigh)
“Some very good midfielders have missed out including Wade Russell, Justyn Mackay, Russell Miner and Tommy Nielsen among those. Matty is a player other players want to play next to and he makes them better players. He can break the opposition’s game down as well as be a creative player. Burleigh don’t win the league in 2019 without him.”
Max Brown - (Knights)
“We can’t forget that the Knights has a team of very good players in 2018. Max has so much quality and is one of the best players in the NPL.”
FORWARDS
Luke Morley - (TVK/Murwillumbah)
“The King of Kingscliff or the Mayor of Murwillumbah? Such a consistent goalscorer who had no equal on his day.”
James Odenbriet - (Southport/Merrimac/Surfers Paradise)
“I can’t believe my side doesn’t have Matt Hilton or Sean Robinson in it. Matty has been so dominant the past few years and Robbo has been very good, but Jimmy was such a talent who maybe isn’t remembered as much. He could make goals out of nothing. Golden Boot twice in the decade as well as winning the 2011 GF with Southport and the league undefeated at Merrimac in 12.”
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