SEASON PREVIEW: PORT KEMBLA
2016 was a disappointing year at Wetherall Park, with Port Kembla spending a large chunk of the season looking over their shoulders at potential relegation. A final flourish saw the black and white stripes not far off achieving an unlikely Finals berth, with four wins from their last six matches.
It’s all change for 2017 with the departure of longstanding coach Stuart Beedie and the arrival of Noel Spencer, who steered a Fury team to the top of the IPL ladder in 2015. In the pre-season Fraternity Cup, Port have been an exciting side to watch, coming through the toughest group in the competition to make the semi-finals, where they just fell to Corrimal on penalties. There are lots of positives going into the new campaign, though.
Players to watch
Spencer has made some interesting new signings for 2017. In from Wollongong Wolves come Ben Zucco, Blake McGinn and Justin Ivanovic (under-20s), and this trio have already made an impact in the pre-season Cup. Kody Maude has past NPL experience with Rockdale City Suns and Sutherland Sharks. And there are a few familiar faces more locally with Kyle Hazebroek-Southgate coming in from Wollongong Olympic, Brad Jardine between the sticks, and journeyman centre forward Chris Smith now at Wetherall Park, after a relatively quiet year at Warilla. Sandy Lowcock rose up from youth grade to become Port’s top scorer in 2016, so he’ll be one to watch up front, and Joe Lavalle has stayed for a second year.
Don’t look for Peter Richardson at the back this year, though. Last season’s captain is taking a year out.
Season expectation
Port Kembla will be on many people’s list for a Finals slot at the end of the regular season. Noel Spencer certainly has the guile and pedigree to steer a side successfully at this level and his new signings will make this one of the entertaining teams to watch for the neutral. There’s a lot of competition for those top five places this year, though, and my prediction is that Port will just miss out, in 6th spot. It’s another team that could easily prove me wrong, though!
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