Kemblawarra Fury FC

The new boys in the Illawarra Premier League for 2016 were formed from the merger at the end of last season of Kemblawarra FC with Dapto Dandaloo Fury. Many of the familiar faces from the Fury squad have returned in the team’s new colours, but with a new head coach: Luke Maguire, who took Tarrawanna so close to a Finals spot in 2015.

Maguire has brought in some exciting new talent to the Fury squad and they’ve already been making their mark in the pre-season. The loss of Vaughan Patterson from the heart of the Fury defence might make them struggle to keep as many clean sheets this time around (9 out of 22 in 2015). But Fury’s fire power up front will make them formidable opponents for any side in the Premier League, and any team with veteran Alvin Ceccoli in it is going to be hard to beat.

That said, Fury have already been beaten this season, in the Fraternity Cup Final at the hands of Wollongong United. So Maguire’s main task through the next six months must be to work out how to beat their main rivals at the Finals stage of IPL competitions.

Players to watch

Matthew McNab is the new import from Queensland. He has shown in pre-season competition that he is a real centre forward who knows where the goal is. Alongside Robbie Shields, this is a dynamic duo up front that will be hard to match. Irishman Shane Murray has also moved inter-state to join the Fury. David Poeira is the new man in goal, a good signing from Port Kembla. Alvin Ceccoli’s ball play is always a pleasure to watch. Sam Munro and David Hartas were consistently good in 2015 and we can expect more of the same from them. And watch out for Blake Friedrich, moving up to senior First Grade from Fury’s Grand Final Youth Grade team in 2015. To sure up their defence, the Fury have also brought in bothers Tyson and Brenton Rhodes whose size alone is enough to intimidate opponents. Both players have a wealth of NPL1 experience with Tyson coming from Apia Leichhardt and Brenton from the now relegated Marconi.

Season expectation

I fully expect Kemblawarra Fury to take out the IPL title in 2016. With the influx of new talent already showing signs of blending in well with established players from last season’s Fury squad, Maguire has the kind of squad he needs to win consistently over 22 weeks. And what of the FFA Cup prospects for the Fury? They’ve already demolished one Association side 10-0; they should come through the next round easily enough. And after that…it’s a cup tie not to be missed, against our own Wollongong Wolves. I think they’ll soon put that Fraternity Cup defeat behind them…

By Simon Duffin