Muller: Take your moment to shine
GOLD Coast Dolphins legend Scott Muller has urged the club’s class of 2019-20 not to squander their shot at Queensland Premier Cricket history as they fight to end six years of finals pain.
Without a playoff appearance since 2013-14, the Dolphins’ six-month first grade campaign now hinges on their final two-day outing beginning at home to SandgateRedcliffe today.
With an upset victory over Wests last weekend and
YOU PLAY A LOT OF CLUB CRICKET, IN MY CASE 12-13 YEARS, AND YOU DON’T GET OPPORTUNITIES OFTEN SO YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOST OF IT
DOLPHINS GREAT SCOTT MULLER
Norths’ shock loss to winless Souths, Gold Coast are clinging to fourth place by just 0.75 points and could very well have their finals fate decided by bonus points.
Muller was a foundation player with the Dolphins in 1990, going on to make two Test appearances for Australia before captaining Gold Coast to a maiden first-grade premiership in 2002-03.
Having watched the club unsuccessfully chase title success since claiming back-toback crowns in 2008-09 and 2009-10, the 48-year-old said the current group now had the chance to forge their own legacy.
“You play a lot of club cricket, in my case 12-13 years, and you don’t get opportunities often so you want to make the most of it,” Muller, whose 158-game first-grade career with the Dolphins yielded 324 wickets, said. “I know Swanny (coach Chris Swan) earlier this season was saying there’s a lot of talent in that squad but it’s quite a young group. He has really had to mentor some of the younger ones through it and I think a lot of the guys have got a lot of value out of that.
“Swanny is very good around detail and plans. He’s pretty passionate about the club and the way he’s gone about it is working.”
The Dolphins stormed into the 2002-03 finals on the back of a long winning streak but Muller said momentum wasn’t everything.
“If the bowlers do their job and bowl to the plans they’re given, and believe you can do it well, you’re a good chance of a win (in finals),” he said.
“(The premiership) was very unexpected. We only just qualified by less than a point when we won it and once you’re in a semi anything can happen.
“I think we’d won about 5-6 straight from just before Christmas right through (to finals). I think bowling is the key, if you don’t finish 1-2, your bowlers have got to go particularly well to get you through.
“Each club generally has two or three game-changing players and if you can control them (that’s vital). Pressure does funny things to people.”