RETIRING STAR’S GRAND PLAN
HE is one of the most successful players in Gold Coast Premier League history but Broadbeach’s Luke Martinero admits he is battling an unexpected bout of jitters ahead of his eighth and final grand final shot.
The 37-year-old defender will make his Premier League swan song against the Gold Coast Knights tonight, bringing to an end a 20-season career featuring six premierships and four grand final victories with Broadbeach and Burleigh.
“I’m actually nervous, I haven’t been nervous in a game of football for about 10 years,” said Martinero, whose first stint at Broadbeach was interrupted by an eight-year shift at Burleigh from 2006-13.
“I’d say probably 100 to 150 mates of mine will be there and they get rowdy, so it should be fun. I just don’t want let the team down.
“I’m pretty blessed; I’ve played for probably the two strongest clubs of the last 20 years. Even my junior days were just full of winning so I’ve been lucky enough to be on mostly winning sides.”
Martinero will not be lost to the game, however, with plans to play for the Dolphins’ reserves next season and continue his work with the Broadbeach Ability Program.
The club will feature in all four senior grand finals, with its Coast League (4pm) and Coast League Reserves (11am) sides to play Musgrave either side of the Premier League Reserves decider against Surfers Paradise at 1.30pm.