Helensvale State High School’s boys side is set to rise into SPL contention

THEY failed to make finals last year but Helensvale State High school football director Lachlan McDonnell believes the gap between Helensvale and the Queensland School Premier League’s best has “narrowed significantly.” SUBSCRIBE TO READ FULL INTERVIEW.

THEY failed to make finals last year but Helensvale State High school football director Lachlan McDonnell believes the gap between Helensvale and the Queensland School Premier League’s best has “narrowed significantly.”

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Helensvale has always boasted a strong female football side, qualifying for the SPL grand final last year, but the injection of a Gold Coast football icon Keith Garland as a specialist coach and the addition of some high calibre talent is set to see Helensvale’s boys rise into contention.

Helensvale State High School's senior boys team. Pic: Supplied.

“The big gap that used to be there has narrowed significantly,” McDonnell said.

“The boys have been showing marked improvement and are now holding their own against some of the more established side.

“Our junior program also continues to strengthen and we’re attracting some higher calibre kids.

“At the end of the day, the culture within the program continues to strengthen.”

The majority of Helensvale’s playing squad is already involved with National Premier League clubs Logan Lightning and Gold Coast United where McDonnell acts as the Under-11 SAP coach alongside Palm Beach Currumbin counterpart Shane Robinson.

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But as one of the Northern Gold Coast’s strongest school football academies, Helensvale continue to attract some of the Gold Coast’s best and brightest talents.

“I think we’ll field some very strong teams in the competition,” McDonnell said.

“Our girls last year made the grand final so we’re looking to try and finish the job this year.

“We’ve lost a few key personnel from both sides but we’ve also had a decent injection of players who are NPL standard stepping into those roles plus a decent intake in our junior program.”

Helensvale State High School's senior girls team. Pic: Supplied.

Helensvale takes on Cleveland District State High School and Cavendish Road State High School in their opening SPL bouts before semi-finals kick off on August 14.