Confidence building for Nerang coach Dave Benigno as Eagles continue pre-season trial success

THE continuation of Nerang’s impressive pre-season trial form is giving coach Dave Benigno belief his new look squad can make an immediate impact in this year’s Gold Coast Premier League.

THE continuation of Nerang’s impressive pre-season trial form is giving coach Dave Benigno belief his new look squad can make an immediate impact in this year’s Gold Coast Premier League.

Former Surfers Paradise mentor Benigno, who has taken the reigns at the Eagles after a year out of the game, watched on as his troops made it four-straight trial wins against Brisbane Premier League outfit Taringa at Glennon Park on Saturday.

NPL DEBUT AN ‘EYE OPENER’ FOR THWAITE

The 2-0 victory, which came courtesy of second-half goals from captain Tolga Yorulmaz and Sam King, followed successes against NPL heavyweights Olympic (2-1), BPL side Acacia Ridge (2-0) and the QPL’s Ipswich Knights (2-1).

Nerang captain Tolga Yorulmaz during his side’s 2-0 win over Brisbane Premier League side Taringa Rovers at Glennon Park on Saturday. Picture: Luke Sorensen

The Eagles, who finished fifth in the 2018 Premier League, have been boosted by a number of high-profile signings over the off-season, including Yorulmaz, Acim Tomic, Kazuma Kobayashi and Tim Jackson.

And with kick off in the season proper looming early next month, Benigno said the early signs were positive for the Eagles.

KNIGHTS FOCUSED ON NPL POSITIVES

“I can’t predict how many games we might win (this year) or if we’ll win everything, but I think we’ll have a good crack at upsetting some top teams and playing some good football along the way,” Benigno said.

Nerang striker Koki Miasaka in action against Taringa. Picture: Luke Sorensen

“What I can’t fault is the effort and workrate some of these players have put in so far. The combination of youth and experience here (at Nerang) is extraordinary and the results so far have been well and truly earned.”

The only negative in the weekend’s win was the loss of Kobayashi to an ankle injury, with the former Burleigh defender expected to be out for at least three weeks.

STAR RECRUIT HAPPY TO PLAY HIS PART

The Eagles will round out pre-season preparations with more games in the coming weeks, including a clash with 2018 Toowoomba Football League runners up Willowburn FC.

They will then travel to Surfers Paradise in Round 1 on March 9.