Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Palm Beach SC

Palm Beach SC have unveiled three new recruits as they seek to adjust their game plan ahead of their PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland title defence.

Defenders Tim Jackson and Matthew Jones join the Sharks from Brisbane-based community clubs, while Queensland Academy of Sport product Joshua Riis joins the side after a year in England.

Centre-half Jackson, 24, comes to Sharks from Brisbane Premier League powerhouse Lions FC after his work commitments prompted a move to the Gold Coast.

Originally from Coffs Harbour, Jackson was a Northern New South Wales junior representative and previously enjoyed stints at Taringa Rovers and Wolves FC.

He will be joined in the Sharks backline by fullback Jones, 21, a former youth and reserves player with Sharks sides in Gold Coast community competition, but who played the past two seasons at Wolves FC.

Sharks coach Grae Piddick said the two defensive additions will be crucial to replicating the club’s league-best defensive record from 2014, leaking a miserly 29 goals.

“With Karl Dodd retiring we needed to add some defenders to the line-up,” Piddick said.

“You need to have a team that’s not conceding goals to win competitions. Obviously we’ll have some new players but we’ll look to keep that mentality of making sure we don’t give away cheap goals.”

With the backline strengthened, Piddick said 19-year old Riis, who spent last year with English Conference Premier side Kidderminster Harriers, will provide further options in the front third of the pitch.

“Josh played NPL in the first season with QAS and is an attacking player, and he can play striker, attacking midfielder or as a winger,” Piddick said.

“Our style of play will undoubtedly be a little bit different. With the players we’ve got having that flexibility to interchange positions that will become a feature of our game.”

As such, Piddick conceded his team could no longer fly under the radar  after winning the the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Premiership and Grand Final, as well as delivering a Queensland-best Quarter Final run in the inaugural Westfield FFA Cup.

“There were a few comments about how predictable our style of play was last year, but you’ve still got to be able to stop which obviously teams weren’t able to do."

“Obviously if we can have more than one route to goal it will make us that much harder to close down,” he concluded.

The trio take the number of confirmed signings at Sharks to 13 for their title defence, with Piddick suggesting that further announcements should be expected prior to Christmas.