Gold Coast Knights coach Grae Piddick confident of NPL success in 2020 after signing six new stars

A late flurry of NPL signings have the Gold Coast Knights confident greater glory awaits this season following their historic 2019 debut.

Brent O’Neill

2 min read

February 3, 2020 - 5:30PM

Gold Coast Bulletin

Football

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A LATE flurry of NPL signings have Gold Coast Knights coach Grae Piddick confident greater glory awaits his side this season following their historic 2019 debut.

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Having bid farewell to Oskar Dillon, Sam Smith, Shannon Brady, Luke Marsh, Luke Austin and Cai Tipaldo from their grand final-winning squad, the Knights are now preparing for Saturday’s season opener buoyed by the recruitment of a host of big names.

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The group is headlined by Colombian international Jheison Macuace from the two-time title-winning Lions FC side, as well as Matthew Henvey from Scottish Premier League club Dundee.

Midfielder Paul O’Brien has also arrived at the Croatian Sports Centre after three years with Victorian NPL heavyweights Heidelberg United, with fellow recruit Guilherme Desouza spending last season with South Hobart in Tasmania.

Jheison Macuace (right) in action for Lions FC in September. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Defender Emlyn Wellsmore was a member of the Brisbane Roar side that won last year’s National Youth League, while midfielder Rhys Lambert was Capalaba’s 2019 Player of the Year.

“All of them are genuine first-team players and in areas where we needed to replace departing players or improve the squad. There’s a couple of big targets and trophies we want to win and I think we’re good enough to challenge for it,” Piddick said.

DILLON DRAWING ON KNIGHTS EXPERIENCE IN A-LEAGUE JOURNEY

“We’ve got some exciting attacking players in Jheison and Matt Henvey so we’re expecting big things from them.

“Emlyn Wellsmore has come from the (Brisbane) Roar Youth and is another young fella who can have a big impact. Rhys Lambert will definitely give us more depth and quality in the midfield and at the back.

Paul O'Brien playing for Heidelberg United in 2017. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“We’ve got a very well-rounded squad and we’re expecting some of our youth team boys to push into the first-team squad over the course of the season.”

On the comeback trail from a broken leg, O’Brien is expected to be back running soon, while midfielder Adam Endean has not been re-signed by the Knights but is continuing his rehabilitation from a knee reconstruction at the club.

SHARKS SNAP UP TRIO FOR PREMIER LEAGUE CAMPAIGN

Second in last season’s premiership race, the Knights kick off the new campaign away to Brisbane Strikers at 6.30pm on Saturday.

Gold Coast United face Olympic at Goodwin Park at 6pm on Sunday.