Cup clash carrying extra significance
FORGET the Gold Coast Premier League.
For midfield combatants Jason Campbell (Palm Beach) and Adam Powell (Broadbeach United), tonight’s Club Health and Wellness Cup final is as important as any game they’ll play this season.
After helping their sides to semi final victories over Gold Coast Knights and Burleigh Heads respectively, much will rest on the shoulders of the engine-room pair in the cup decider at Broadbeach’s Nikiforides Park.
While the Premier League title race remains wide open at the halfway point of the season, both players will be going all out in their bid for cup glory.
“It’s just as important as a league game but a bit more riding on it,” Sharks skipper Campbell, 21, said.
“Making it all the way to the final, we’ve really upped the ante. To get a bit of silverware out of it would be good so Brett (Budwee, coach) has put a bit of pressure on the boys to really show up.
“Whoever turns up on the day is going to win so that’s what makes it exciting. (Broadbeach) have got quite a lot of experienced players so I think if we turn up, play well, high intensity, move the ball around and move ourselves around we should be able to get the job done.
“We’ll go out and give it our all and try to get the silverware.”
A key figure in the Dolphins’ Premier League grand final win last season, Englishman Powell has again been among their best in their run to third spot on the ladder.
However, the 22-year-old is desperate to taste more success in the knockout cup competition.
“Being at Broadbeach, you’re used to winning trophies so you take any trophy that’s there to win,” Powell, who moved to Australia from Worcester in 2015, said.
“We’ve got so many older players, they’ve all played in cup finals so it’s same old for them. They’re used to winning games and winning trophies.
“Intensity (will be key). We played Palmy three weeks ago (in the league) and beat them 3-0. The league at the start of the year is what you have your eyes set on and this is the cherry on top.
“If we play anywhere like we can, we should get the result we want.”