Teddy a gift for Surfers

Apollo land White Knight as goalscoring saviour

SURFERS Paradise have pulled off arguably the biggest recruitment coup of the Gold Coast Premier League offseason with the addition of Gold Coast Knights attacker Teddy Watson.

A former NPL star at Palm Beach before a two-year stint with the Gold Coast Knights, Englishman Watson has agreed to reunite with coach Alex Morrison at Apollo.

The pair first joined forces at the Knights in their run to the 2017 Premier League crown, before Morrison made way for Grae Piddick this year.

Watson, 31, spent majority of his time under Piddick in 2018 on the wing, but his eagerness to play up front – as well as the extra demands of life in the NPL – has helped deliver him to Surfers.

Apollo struggled for impact in front of goal this year despite reaching the preliminary final, with the crisis eventually leading Morrison to summon Premier League legend Chris Broadfoot out of retirement.

Watson said it was a situation he was keen to rectify.

“I want to play up front, I don’t want to play on the wing anymore. I’ve never really played on the wing before but I did a job for the manager (this year),” said Watson (pictured).

“The NPL was going to be a lot of time (to commit).

“I’d be on and off the bench and going up and down Queensland and it would be a lot of time away from my (twoyear-old) daughter.

“There was an option (to stay at the Knights) but it would’ve been fighting for your spot, maybe getting 20 minutes and playing on the wing (so it wasn’t worth it).

“I had a great two years there. It’s probably one of the best clubs I’ve ever played at with the way you’re treated.”

Having already taken part in a handful of light pre-season sessions at Surfers, Watson said he hoped to thrive under Morrison’s guidance.

“He’s been on the phone to me for quite a while. Alex brought me in (at the Knights) and he seemed to get the best out of me.

“He’s played at a high level so he knows what he’s talking about. There’s a good core group of players who will be coming back as well.

“I think it will be a good, strong league next year.”