NSW Super League Round 1 Preview

The trial games and pre-season friendlies are all behind us and the season now simply can?t come soon enough.
It is certainly an intriguing year to look forward to with three new clubs competing this season, two for the first time. Last year?s Division One champions Hills Brumbies and runner?s up Blacktown Spartans enter the Super League arena for the first time while West Sydney Berries drop down after relegation from the Premier League. And we bid goodbye to the departed FC Bossy Liverpool.
The Berries front up on Saturday night in one of four games to start off the season. They meet last year?s grand finalists St George in what should be a humdinger early on. The Saints have retained many of last season?s squad while welcoming back Mark Bariamis, James Kovas, George Lagoudakis and Peter Vassilis to the fold, all four having played with St George previously. In fact, Bariamis and Lagoudakis were with the Berries last season and so will be well primed for this encounter.
The Berries have recruited wisely, bringing in Nick Tantalos, Louis Duchesne and James Stubbs-Mills, all from Parramatta Eagles, while the experienced and well-travelled Ante Deur, joining from Blacktown City, also fronts up in the blue colours.
The Saints are led this time around by the successful Blacktown City Under 20s coach from last year, Kory Babington, following the decision by Nick Orlic not to continue. Babington will face off across the benches from Steve Karavatakis, who returns for another year at the Berries? helm. Both teams will be keen to start off the season on a winning note so Lidcombe Oval should see some fireworks on Saturday.
New boys Blacktown Spartans travel across town to Fraser Park. They have brought in a number of new players to complement those who have moved up from Division One. Tom Spencer from Northern Tigers is perhaps their most impressive signing, with him having scored eleven league goals for the championship-winning Tigers last season, though Mario Ghobrial, signed from Bonnyrigg White Eagles, also knows a thing or two about scoring at this level. They may surprise should these two hit the mark early on. Led again by coach Ben de Hann, they will be worth keeping an eye on. Fraser Park, meanwhile, retain a strong nucleus of last season?s team, though not Alex Smith who has moved on to Premier League, but they have also recruited well with Clive Delaney (from Sydney Uni) and David Wilson (FC Bossy) coming on board. While Fraser Park have had a tough time of it in the last couple of seasons, they look sure to give it a good go this year. Alex Augusto, after performing minor miracles at the tail end of last season, continues as coach.
It is a new look Dulwich Hill who travel to Christie Park to meet Spirit FC. Paul Carter has taken over the reins at Arlington Oval with the result that very few players remain from last year. Amongst many new faces, Matt Kasbarian and Matt Toogood have followed the coach from FC Bossy while Joseph Savor has joined from Sydney Uni. It may take a while for Carter to gel his team together although they have been busy in preseason games.
Spirit FC will be led by John McLafferty. There is a familiar look to their squad although they have recruited well too, especially with the signings of 2009 Silver Medal and Golden Boot winner Juan Chavez from St George, and Mathew Clowes from Parramatta Eagles. Spirit struggled a little last season, especially mid year, but came through with a late run to make the semi finals. Spirit can well be expected to be thereabouts again this season, especially with a strike force of Tim Simpson, Leo Papanicolaou and Chavez.
The fourth game on Saturday sees Macarthur Rams play host to Granville Rage. Macarthur have impressed in preseason games, and have added well to their playing roster. While they have lost last season?s leading striker, Sam Messam, and keeper Tom Romic to the Premier League, Eddie Georges and Shannon Hankin have joined from Mount Druitt Town while Josh Ford returns from FC Bossy. Again coached by Claudio Canosa, the Rams should do well again this season.
Granville Rage have decided to go with not one, but two, coaches this season with the duties being shared between the experienced Jason Holmes and Mauricio Islas. It will certainly be an interesting test for the accomplished players but Granville showed last season that they can be a force to be reckoned with. They have retained the majority of last year?s squad and if they can manage to keep their form throughout the whole year, they could well be challenging for the finals.
There are two games on Sunday with champions Northern Tigers travelling to meet Division One champions Hills Brumbies at Lily Homes Stadium (3pm). There could hardly be a sterner test for the new boys and this game will give them a good idea of the difference in standard between the two leagues. The Tigers have retained most of last season?s team with coach Jason Eagar once more leading the way. In fact, the Tigers have only lost two from last year?s successful squad, the previously mentioned Tom Spencer (to Blacktown Spartans) and Sungyun Park (to the Brisbane Premier League). They have signed three new players to add strength to an already impressive team, Luke Reading (from Manly United), Cameron White (Bankstown) and Adam Hett (Spirit FC) all joining the Mills Park outfit.
Hills Brumbies, with Mark Abi-Arrage in charge again, have brought in a number of new players to strength their squad, predominantly younger signings but with Premier League experience. It is a return to Super League though, for the Brumbies? Brendan Mitrovich, last seen at this level with Mount Druitt. He top scored for the Brumbies last season with thirteen goals, so no doubt Abi-Arrage will be hoping Mitrovich can repeat that performance this season. It was an impressive coaching debut season for Abi-Arrage last year, winning the competition in his first year at the post, so the Brumbies may again surprise. 
The last game of the weekend sees Central Coast travel down to Sydney University for a Sunday 7pm kick off. After the on again-off again drama with Hensley Field last year, the Students have again a home and can be expected to relish some home ground advantage at last. But, similarly to Dulwich Hill, there has been an almost complete change of playing staff. New coach John Calleja may need some time to sort out his team, although new signings such as keepers Trinity Allen, Michael Frost and midfielder Matt Demetriou all have strong experience at this level. Peter Preston again leads Central Coast and they showed last season they have what it takes, gaining some impressive victories over the top teams. No doubt, they will be looking to get their season off to a better start than they did last year, where it took until round six before gaining their first point. But the way the Coast performed during the second half of the season, shows what they can do.
There is a lot to look forward to then, this Super League season, with another even competition in store. Some new faces, some old names but plenty of quality across the board. It will be a fascinating six months, that?s for sure. 

Round 1 Fixtures
Saturday 12th March
Spirit FC v Dulwich Hill – Christie Park – 7pm
Fraser Park v Blacktown Spartans – Fraser Park – 7pm
West Sydney Berries v St George FC – Lidcombe Oval – 7pm
Macarthur Rams v Granville Rage – Lynwood Park – 7pm

Sunday 13th March
Hills Brumbies v Northern Tigers – Lily Homes Stadium – 3pm
Sydney University v Central Coast FC – Hensley Athletic Field – 7pm

 -By Peter Rowney