Full season preview: Taper Premier League first grade cricket
The Taper Premier League kicks off on Saturday with a new season favourite, the return of imports and several coups set to shake up the competition. Here is your full season preview.
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The Taper Premier League kicks off on Saturday with a new season favourite, the return of imports and several coups set to shake up the competition.
We dissect every team’s goals and aspirations for the new season, including ins, outs and players to watch.
Here is your exclusive preview to the entire season ahead.
Surfers Paradise
Defending champions Surfers Paradise shocked the competition last season after coming from fourth place to defeat Runaway Bay in the final.
But this season, they’ll have to deal with several blows losing former Queensland cricketer Michael Phillipson to UQ and former Brisbane Lions footballer and Surfers’ captain Claye Beams, who has gone to South Brisbane in Queensland Premier Cricket.
The plus side is they’ve retained Nathan Reardon as their club coach, whose experience playing T20 for Australia and with Queensland shines on the pitch.
Finishing place last season: 1
Captain: Aaron Densley
Runaway Bay
2021/22 runners up Runaway Bay have strong hopes for the new season.
Captain Jayden Hoare is confident they’ll play finals but the team will need to adjust to a few squad movements first — one of which could involve an unconfirmed UK import, Hoare said.
“Obviously we want to play semi final cricket again, to finish in the top four, I think we’re capable of that,” Hoare said.
“We’ve had a couple of losses, a couple of gains, so we’re pretty well placed.
The side lost Michael Narracott in the off-season after he moved overseas for work, while stalwart Jarrod Austin is not yet confirmed to play.
Finishing place last season: 2
Captain: Jayden Hoare. Hoare is in his second year at Runaway Bay, having played the previous nine years in the Northern Rivers for Pottsville.
One to watch: Charles Parsons. Parsons has shown a promising off season and is hitting the ball hard into the net.
Mudgeeraba Nerang & Districts
Along with Palm Beach, Mudgeeraba Nerang will be the team to beat this season.
While they lost out to Palm Beach in the All Ballsports T20 final, captain Howard Biddle isn’t concerned, saying the preseason has been excellent for his team.
“The preseason has been very good, we started first week on August so we’ve been ramping up, been doing some preseason games in Noosa doing T20,” Biddle said.
“We just want to play our brand of cricket, we’re not too concerned about the result.”
But the side will have to deal with the loss of opening batter and bowler Kevin Chapman to Tasmania.
“We’re basically trying to replace two players in one,” Biddle said.
Despite this challenge, other clubs are saying former Dolphins and underage Queensland rep Nathan Lyons will be hard to stop.
Finishing place last season: 3 (knocked out in semis)
Captain: Howard Biddle. Biddle played at the Dolphins for a number of years before coming back to Mudgeeraba to give back to the game and develop the club’s juniors.
One to watch: Jai Kurt. The 19-year-old, six foot four off spinner has been in the side for three years now and is finding fine form.
Palm Beach Currumbin
After finishing third in the 2021/22 Kookaburra Cup, Palm Beach Currumbin shocked the competition when they took out the All Ballsports preseason T20 comp in September.
With very few list movements, they’ve been widely regarded by other clubs as favourites to take the season.
Captain Zane Beattie said the goal was nothing short of the two-day grand final.
“The goal for us is definitely grand final, to win the two day grand final,” Beattie said.
“That's the one everyone is gunning for.
“I think we’ll look to play a similar brand of cricket throughout the one dayers, and then reassess the two days.
Palm Beach will be hard to beat with James McNeill, who came to the club last year after playing in Melbourne's premier cricket with Melbourne University, and Connor Carroll.
Carroll has been playing in Queensland Premier Cricket the past weeks, so his time spent with Palm Beach could be a major factor in their success.
Finishing place last season: 3 (knocked out in semis).
Captain: Zane Beattie. One of the youngest captains in the competition, 21-year-old Beattie has been at the club since age 10.
One to watch: Cody Durante. Durante came from first grade at Wynnum where he played the last three years as a keeper batsman. After testing himself in grade cricket for a few years Durante recently decided to come back to the Gold Coast league to enjoy his cricket more.
Burleigh
Burleigh’s greatest weapon for the coming season could be import Rob Lord. Lord has been playing Queensland Premier Cricket and comes from Lancashire in the UK.
Burleigh’s greatest weapon for the coming season in their quest for a return to finals cricket could be All-Rounder Rob Lord.
Along with the key acquisition of Wicketkeeper Jimbo Martin as Player/Coach from Coomera, Lord joins Burleigh from the UK previously having spent time at Lancashire County Cricket Club.
Finishing place last season: 5
Captain: Michael Spargo
Helensvale Pacific Pines
Helensvale are already on their way to a better 2022/23 season after stunning the competition to reach the semi finals in the All Ballsports T20 competition.
While they finished six in the regular season for 2021/22, captain Kaleb Day said the team were still gunning to play finals.
“That was our goal last year and we fell one or two games short so we’re a bit disappointed there but definitely shooting for the stars this season,” Day said,
Day said his team’s loss in the All Ballsports semi was crushing, but packed a lot of learning lessons for the season to come.
“We definitely went into that game full strength trying to win, but that game was a tale of our best and our worst cricket, and it ended up costing us the result.”
Helensvale will be bolstered by two 19-year-old English imports in Max Trotman and Oliver Hawkins.
Finishing place last season: 6
Captain: Kaleb Day. Day returns for his eleventh season at Helensvale and his second year as captain.
One to watch: Harry Lickiss. Lickiss is dominant with the bat and the ball. He won the club’s player of the year last season at only 21.
Southport Labrador
While they only finished sixth last season, Southport Labrador look to be serious finals contenders thanks to some key signings and little overall movement.
The biggest of which is Englishman Will Hale, a 27-year-old opening batsman from Sheffield in the UK.
Hale will be here for the full season and has been playing in Australia previously down in Victoria and had a stint in Western Australia.
Daley Miller has also come across from Surfers Paradise to join up with his brother TJ Miller, a former captain of the side.
Dhanushka Mitipolaarachchi will continue as coach, having already started his season well in the All Ballsports T20 competition.
Club president Dean Johnson said it was a “definite” goal to make the top four.
“We’ve targeted those one-dayers as key games to try and win, with the change of the format changing after Christmas with the two-game games,” Johnson said.
Finishing place last season: 7
Captain: Phil Tunnicliffe. 2022 will be his first year captaining at Southport. Tunnicliffe has played in the competition for over six years and is a previous Sam Loxton medal winner that has come from Coomera last season.
One to watch: Hiran Wickramasekera.
Broadbeach Robina
The dark horse of the season is Broadbeach who will boast some of the biggest signings of the competition.
The eighth placed finish last season was disappointing for Broadbeach, who suffered several last minute losses.
“We struggled with the loss of a few players late in preseason last year which we never really recovered from,” captain Kyle Brockley said.
“It led to some pretty poor performances on the field, but we’ve been able to recruit pretty well in the off season and get the right players in.”
The biggest of their recruits being former England U19 captain Adam Ball, who was initially scouted for the past season but was unable to come over due to Covid.
Their second pom comes with Ryan Thorpe who used to play for Bath in the West England Premiers League.
Other mainstays include former Dolphins head coach Trent Keep who is massive with the bat, and the ever reliable Reece McDonald.
“We are quietly confident, but obviously crickets a game that can change quite quickly,” Brockley said.
Finishing place last season: 8
Captain: Kyle Brockley. Fifth season at the club after moving up from Sydney. Captained the second premiership in 2021, had a year off and then back again this season.
One to watch: Dushant Thaman. The 14-year-old orthodox bowler has been playing with Broadbeach in the juniors and has already earned a reputation as one of the best underage kids in the state.
Coomera Hope Island
With one win and three losses in the All Ballsports Cup, Coomera Hope Island will need to hope for a better regular season. Their ninth placed season was completed with four wins, eight loses and four draws — so there’s plenty to work with this season.
Finishing place last season: 9
Captain: Josh Henderson
Alberton Ormeau
With no imports or major signings this season, Alberton Ormeau will be trying their luck with their squad from last season.
As many other clubs weave in fresh blood, the move could work in their favour if they can pull things together before the Christmas break.
“Last season was a bit disappointing in the end, we had hopes to make the semis but didn’t win too many games after the Christmas break,” captain Reece Neyland said.
“So getting in a good position before the Christmas break is going to be critical for us this season.
“Our batting looks to be our strong suite for our upcoming season, we bat pretty deep so hopefully we can play and set up our season around our batting, although we do have a good bowling lineup with Will Hudgson and Corey Galloway.
Finishing place last season: 10
Captain: Reece Neyland. This will be Neyland’s first season as captain, and second season back after having a hiatus when he retired from Brisbane grade cricket where he played for 10 years.
One to watch: Matthew Yiend. The club president is expected to be the club’s most prolific run scorer.
Queens
Last season’s wooden spooners aren’t lingering on it.
Captain Max Houlahan said preseason had been strong for the team after picking up a couple of batsmen in the off-season.
“We’ve picked up a couple of batsmen which has been really handy because I think the boys will be the first to admit that’s where we lacked last year,” Houlahan said.
“Training has been really high intensity so I think we’re in for a really good season.”
Steven Baker has come across from Broadbeach while Tim Richardson will be a new addition to the squad.
The pair will hope to replace Blake Chapman and Lucas Poeppmann who moved to Coomera Hope Island as medium pace bowlers.
Finishing place last season: 11
Captain: Max Houlahan. It will be the 25-year-old’s second season at the club, after being at the Dolphins until last year.
Ones to watch: Ned Hanrahan is a young year 12 batsman from TSS who has shown good signs in the preseason.
Round 1 Fixture
Southport Labrador v Coomera Hope Island, 12pm, Golden Wheel Park
Mudgeeraba Nerang District v Surfers Paradise, 12pm, Carrara Community Centre
Queens v Burleigh, 12pm, Arthur Angove Park
Broadbeach Robina v Helensvale, 12pm, Hession Oval
Alberton Ormeau v Runaway Bay, 12pm, Alberton Cricket Club
Bye: Palm Beach Currumbin
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