Words: Steve Pitman
Image: Michele Pitman

16-year-old Brisbane Strikers attacker Dauntae Mariner is the latest success story of Queensland's elite player pathway - accepting scholarship with Blackburn Rovers Academy.

Mariner, who joined Strikers junior ranks in 2013, trialled with the English Championship club earlier this year and after impressing their coaching staff, will return next month to the Lancashire-based club for a two year spell.

Following three full seasons under the tutelage of Strikers' coaching staff, Mariner expressed his delight at taking the next step towards his dream of a professional playing career.

“I was just glad to get the chance to go over there and trial. I wasn’t expecting to get the offer that I did,” Mariner said.

“To know that I’m going to be over there for two years in one of the best academy environments is unbelievable and I feel incredibly humbled.”

Mariner moved from Sydney to the Gold Coast three years ago and joined Strikers’ Under-13s squad for the inaugural season of PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues.

”Coming from a different state, to where no-one knew who I was, the main goal at the time was to just get into the Strikers team and really make an impact,” Mariner explained.

“My parents were really on to me and saying just open your mind up, listen to what all your coaches are saying and really just work hard – and I think that’s what I did a lot of the time.”

Mariner’s former Under 14’s coach, John Reid, said he saw plenty of spark in the youngster after pushing him into the central striking role.

“On one occasion he scored a quite unbelievable goal at Western Pride on a Wednesday night. In a place he shouldn’t really shoot he’s just pulled this left foot shot out and put the ball into the top corner across the goalkeeper and there was just stunned silence.”

“Nobody could believe what they’d just seen. He’s got that sort of factor in a game – that he can produce a goal out of nothing.”

Mariner joins Eoin Ashton (West Bromwich Albion), Matthew Green (Sydney FC), and Shelford Dais (Central Coast Mariners) as Strikers players who have linked up with development programs at fully professional clubs in recent times.