The PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland Premiership race will come down to the final match of the regular season for Moreton Bay United with full back Jayke Cuschieri hopeful his international experience with Malta will help his Jets win the silverware.
The league-leading Jets have the advantage going into this weekend’s catch-up fixtures ahead of rivals Brisbane Strikers on goal difference and lining up against last-placed SWQ Thunder, who are yet to win a game in two seasons of PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland.
However, the Strikers have the advantage of a later kick-off and will know precisely how many goals they need against Northern Fury if they are to win their first silverware in the competition.
United fullback Jayke Cuschieri, 21, said despite being considered favourites for their first ever title, he and his teammates will take nothing for granted against Thunder.
“To us it’s really just another game that we have to go out and show why we deserve to be the Premiers,” Cuschieri explained.
“It’s going to be hard game because Thunder have just come off the back of a flogging and the only way they can go out on a high is to get a win or a draw against the top team in the league.”
Cuschieri conceded that while there will undoubtedly be pressure that he has the experience to deal with it - including his recent debut run with the Malta Under 21 national team.
“Maybe a year ago, when I hadn’t had that experience, I might not be able to deal with the pressure as well,” he said.
“But in one of the fixtures I was involved with we played in front over 20,000 people watching us [against Poland]. It is very intimidating but obviously the NPL doesn’t have that sort of attendance figures.”
With Jets only in their third year of operation, Cuschieri suggested that this season’s success may be the start of a long reign at the top for the club.
“The atmosphere around the club at late has been out of this world. It’s a really good place to be and I think having that trophy at the end of the day will make everything just that much better.”
“Moreton Bay is a club that’s really going to go somewhere in the next few years. Not only with the seniors but with the juniors as well,” he
said.
The winner of the Premiership title will advance to the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Finals Series, with the first match scheduled against the PlayStation 4 NPL Northern New South Wales Premiers Edgeworth Eagles.
Fixture details:
SWQ Thunder FC v Moreton Bay United FC Commonwealth Oval, Toowoomba
Saturday, August 29 Kick-off at 5:00PM
Brisbane Strikers FC v Northern Fury FC Perry Park, Brisbane Saturday,
August 29 Kick-off at 6:00PM *This match will be LIVE STREAMED at
www.nplqld.com.au
PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Finals Series PlayStation 4 NPL
Queensland Premiers v PlayStation 4 NPL Northern New South Wales
Premiers QSAC, Brisbane Saturday, September 19 Kick-off at TBA *This
match will be LIVE STREAMED at
www.nplqld.com.au