Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Albert Perez

Moreton Bay United concede they will need to improve if they are to become the first club to win back-to-back titles in PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland competition.

The Jets have confirmed a 21 player squad that will seek to defend their Premiership and Championship silverware in 2016 – with a raft of personnel changes from last year.

Jets Technical Director Adam Piddick said while he believes Jets can again challenge for honours he believes the competition's fourth season will be the most highly contested yet.

“As a club and a coaching staff we are pretty happy with the squad we’ve got and again we’ve got high aspirations - we want to be the first club to go back-to-back but we’re also under no illusions and it won’t be easy to do,” Piddick explained.

“I think the league as a whole will be a lot stronger this year with far better players and deeper squads than we have seen in the past.”

“But that’s part of the challenge – for the coaches and the players to overcome that and find a way. It’s going to be difficult but everything we have done so far in pre-season has hopefully put us in good stead.”

Amongst the returnees for Jets are fan favourites and proven performers Royce Brownlie, Scott Stewart, Jordan Farina, Jackson Hall and Matt Capelo, however several stand-out members of Jets 2015 squad have departed.

Attacker Stephen Green has switched to Redlands United, goalkeeper Luke Borean moved to SWQ Thunder, fullback Jayke Cuschieri returned to former club Brisbane City and super-sub Joseph Champness advanced to Brisbane Roar Youth in the Foxtel National Youth League over the summer.

Also exiting is Frenchman Charles Mendy, who opted to link up with former Jets coach Terry Kirkham at Peninsula Power in the third tier.

In response, Jets lured a number of key players from rival PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues clubs to Wolter Park – including defender Matthew Byrne from Olympic FC and goalkeeper Matthew Stein Brisbane City.

Three players also join from Sunshine Coast FC including Fire’s 2015 captain Reyze Kelly, promising young attacker Jacob Fulluck and defender Ray Schultz.

While Brisbane Premier League stand-outs Alex Janovsky from Lions FC, Jonathan Marraiya from Peninsula Power and Taiga Ishikura from Ipswich Knights have also joined Jets in the national second tier.

Piddick explained that his club’s off-season recruitment policy remains true to the team culture that saw Jets represent Queensland in last year’s PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Finals Series.

“One thing we set last year was a good work ethic and a good team environment. We were again looking for that aspect in a player but also you want that quality in terms of technical ability.”

“That means we have looked a little bit more to the technical side of the players rather than physical attributes but we also wanted that same mentality and attitude we had last year.”

Piddick said despite the high turnover there will not be a marked change in the approach that served Jets so well in 2015, but did identify a greater focus on possession-based football.

“There’s room for improvement in every aspect but through the middle of the park I think we can control the game a little bit more in possession.”

“Last year there was no hiding that we were pretty good on the counter attack and we transitioned quite quickly both ways, but this year we want to look to create a little bit more by holding on to possession.”

He concluded, “I wouldn’t say we’re going to change but we are going to evolve how we play.”

Moreton Bay United FC 2016 Squad – PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues

Matthew STEIN, Reyze KELLY, Scott STEWART, Matthew BYRNE, Ray SCHULTZ, Liam PREVITERA, Jordan FARINA, Matthew CAPELO, Royce BROWNLIE, Joey MASUDA (visa player), Jackson HALL, Sam DICKINSON, Finn BEAKHURST, Alex JANOVSKY, Taiga ISHIKURA (visa player), Jacob FULLUCK, Liam FAIRGREAVES, Jonathan MARRAIYA, Jacob MITCHELL, Gregory TORTORIELLO, Sebastian KALOS