Gold Coast Thunder squad named for next month’s Bulls Masters Country Challenge in Bundaberg

THE Gold Coast Thunder have chosen their side for next month’s Bulls Masters Country Challenge and coach Simon Belston is confident they can end a long wait for success in Bundaberg.

COACH Simon Belston is confident the Gold Coast Thunder can succeed at next month’s Bulls Masters Country Challenge after unveiling one of the strongest representative sides in recent memory.

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First-year coach Belston will take a 12-man Thunder squad dominated by Southport Labrador, Mudgeeraba Nerang and Alberton Ormeau players to Bundaberg for the October 4-6 Twenty20 tournament.

Up for grabs for the top two teams – a result that has eluded the Thunder for the best part of a decade - is the chance to play at the Gabba in a curtain-raiser to a Brisbane Heat Big Bash League on a date to be confirmed.

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With Cricket Gold Coast’s second pre-season T20 competition to wrap up with the third and final week of fixtures this Saturday, Belston said the Thunder would be primed for the trip north.

Alberton Ormeau captain Corey Galloway. Picture: Jason O'Brien

“It’s looking good for this year. In previous years we’ve not really had the T20 comp prior to the Kookaburra Cup … but we’ve got it right this year and last year,” the Southport-Labrador player-coach said.

“We’ve got a pretty new, fresh group. It’s a good blend of youth and experience and you need that experience up there.

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“It must be about 8-10 years ago that the boys went up there and got to the final. The ultimate goal is to get to the Gabba for that Brisbane Heat curtain-raiser.”

Mudgeeraba have four players in the squad, including teenagers Connor Brown and Brad Munro, while Southport and Alberton have three each.

Left-arm quick Sam Winton is the sole Queens representative in the Gold Coast Thunder squad. Picture: Richard Gosling

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GOLD COAST THUNDER SQUAD

Nic Peterson (c) (Southport Labrador)

Wade Kilborn (Southport Labrador)

Josh Reid (Southport Labrador)

Shane Connors (vc) (Alberton Ormeau)

Matthew Yiend (wkt) (Alberton Ormeau)

Corey Galloway (Alberton Ormeau)

Josh Nelson (Mudgeeraba Nerang)

Connor Brown (Mudgeeraba Nerang)

Bradley Munro (Mudgeeraba Nerang)

Kevin Chapman (Mudgeeraba Nerang)

Kyle Brockerly (Broadbeach Robina)

Sam Winton (Queens)

Coach - Simon Belston

Assistant Coach - Kevin Chapman

Manager - Graeme Madden

Scorer - Andrew Carter