Last-gasp loss to Broadbeach in 2017 driving Gold Coast Knights in Saturday’s grand final rematch

THE pain of the Gold Coast Knights’ last-gasp grand final loss in 2017 is driving striker Teddy Watson as the club prepares to take its Premier League bow at Carrara tonight.

THE pain of the Gold Coast Knights’ last-gasp grand final loss in 2017 is driving striker Teddy Watson as the club prepares to take its Premier League bow at Carrara tonight.

Englishman Watson is one of only five remaining players from the Knights squad that fell 2-1 to Broadbeach in last year’s final after two stoppage-time goals from Dolphins striker Shaun Robinson.

With the Knights to take the leap into the NPL next season, the heartbreaking memory is one the 31-year-old is keen to erase in their 6.30pm rematch at the Croatian Sports Centre.

“Every time I think about it or someone talks about the grand final, it still burns because we were a couple of minutes from winning it,” Watson, in his second season at the club, said.

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“We were the better team and in a couple of minutes it all just turned around. It just shows how cruel football can be so this year we have to make sure there’s no mistakes or switch off for 30 seconds because that’s what can happen.

“Especially for the people who were here last season, we’re putting everything into this. I think a lot of the new boys know (the importance) as well and it means a lot to the club.

Gold Coast Knights striker Teddy Watson in action against Broadbeach in last year’s Premier League grand final. Picture: Jerad Williams

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“We get a lot of fans (watch us) and they come week in, week out and we want to win it for the club and ourselves. Going into next season, this could be the last time we play in one of these finals.”

The Knights appeared to be cruising towards the title double when they went unbeaten en route to a second-straight premiership last month, before Broadbeach burst their bubble 2-1 in the major semi final.

While they fought back to book their grand final ticket with a penalty shootout win over Surfers Paradise last weekend, Watson knows the Dolphins will present their greatest challenge yet.

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“They always seem to raise their game in finals and they’ve been here numerous times so we’re expecting them to raise it even more. We’ve just got to match them with the physical side of it, which I think let us down a little bit last game.

“If we play our own game and everyone gives 100 per cent, I think we should do the job.”