TUNE IN: SPL GRAND FINALS LIVE-STREAMED ONLINE
A LOT has changed in the world since the last time Palm Beach Currumbin State High’s senior boys’ team appeared on the Queensland Schools Premier League grand final stage.
A lot except the team they will lock horns with in their quest for back-to-back titles.
In 2019, PBC downed football arch-nemesis Cavendish Road State High School in the SPL semi-final to book their grand final place before defeating Chancellor State College in the final.
Now, one year on, the squad gets the chance to become the first from their school to win back-to-back titles with only their 2019 opponents standing in their way.
“I’m constantly reminding them, Chancellor are a good team and they’ve been in the final two years in a row now like us so they’ll be chasing revenge,” coach Luke Morley said.
“They’d love nothing more than to come down and beat us here on the Gold Coast. We’ve been very focused on making sure the guys don’t go out there expecting to win and making sure they’re not complacent which can be the case after not conceding any goals.
“Our results so far have been good and I don’t think we’ve been tested by a really good attacking side yet but we just have to be better than them on the day.”
While a 4-0 semi-final victory over Helensvale State High school reads well, PBC had to do it the hard way with several players missing due to injury or border bubble restrictions.
But now back at full strength and set to host Chancellor SC at Gold Coast United’s home pitch, Morley expects a tight tussle.
“We have a few Gold Coast United-linked players so familiarity with a ground is always a good thing and a few of the boys might have an affinity with the ground,” he said.
“There are a few younger players, whether through injury or form, that haven’t played in a grand final but they’ve been selected in the squad for a reason so we’re backing them in.
“I’m very confident with the players we’ve got representing us and we’ve scored plenty of goals this year but games can be won and lost really quickly so it’s going to take a team effort to get over the line.”
The 2020 senior boys grand final between PBC and Chancellor SC kicks off at 2.30pm on Thursday and can be live streamed online at the Gold Coast Bulletin.