Shark hunting title
THE desire for an NPL return burns within Jason Campbell but first the Palm Beach captain has some unfinished Premier League business.
After five years in the Palm Beach/Gold Coast City NPL systems, the 21-year-old midfielder joined the Sharks this season for his first taste of Premier League action.
Campbell trialled with the NPL’s Gold Coast United in the wake of City’s demise late last year, but an untimely injury put paid to his selection hopes.
The Austinville product is now desperate to make the most of his opportunity with the Sharks, who host Murwillumbah in Round 3 at 6pm today after opening their account with a 3-0 victory away to Mudgeeraba last week.
“I’d like to play NPL again, hopefully next year, but at the moment I not really thinking about that. I’m focused on having a really strong season with Palm Beach,” Campbell said.
“Our whole squad is a really great group of friends so I still enjoy going to play football. (Before the season) I was just like ‘all right, well this is what I have to do this year, we’ll see what next year brings’.
“This is my first season playing in this league and it’s been different to the NPL level. It’s a bit more physical, which our young squad is starting to realise, that we need to get more physical.”
Campbell said physicality would again be key against winless Murwillumbah.
“We played them in the pre-season cup and they were big, physical lads. We got a win over them so hopefully we can do it again.
“We focus on controlling the tempo, moving the ball around, running the opposition around. We have a few quick guys and a bit of flair upfront with Tommy Miller.
“This season, because it’s a lot of our players’ first season playing the top men’s league, to finish top four would be good.”
Tweed United will host Broadbeach at 4pm today, before tomorrow’s game between Coomera and Surfers Paradise at 3pm.