Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Jared Adamson/Palm Beach Sharks

They are yet to beat Olympic FC this season, but Palm Beach Sharks captain Justyn McKay says his team have nothing to prove in Friday’s NPL Queensland Grand Final.

Sharks were the stand-out side of the home-and-away season, leading the competition since April and claiming the Premiership title with a resounding seven point margin.

However, McKay dismissed suggestions that the failure to vanquish last year’s Champions so far this season was a motivating factor in Friday night’s decider.

“From my point of view the league’s the biggest one because that shows we’re the most consistent team throughout the whole season,” McKay explained.

“The Grand Final will just be the icing on the cake. To beat last year’s Grand Final winners would make it even better, but it’s not a case of us having to prove anything to anyone.”

McKay said he expected a close contest despite Olympic netting nine goals against an understrength Sharks last week - a match that McKay did not play.

“Due to circumstances we didn’t put a full team out in the second game against Olympic, but the first match was pretty close and it probably will be again in the Grand Final.”

McKay said his side’s back four, led by veteran centre-halves Kristian Rees and Karl Dodd, will prove crucial to their fortunes against the Brisbane club.

“When you look at our defensive record this year, it has been the platform for our success,” he explained.

“I think Olympic’s front four are quality players so that will be the biggest battle. If we can nullify their attack then we’re always confident of getting goals going forward.”

Sharks could field as many as nine players under the age of 21 in the decider, however McKay said he wasn’t worried about nerves getting the better of his younger team mates.

“We’ve had a few high pressure games with the FFA Cup and last week’s Semi Final against Brisbane Strikers. They all stepped up and the intensity of those games was really high” McKay explained.

“I know there will be a few nerves initially but I think once they settle they will be more excited about the occasion and give it one hundred and ten per cent.”

Regardless of the result in the Grand Final, Sharks will represent Queensland in the National Premier Leagues Finals Series next weekend against Northern New South Wales qualifiers Weston Workers Bears.

However, McKay said that match and their impending Westfield FFA Cup tie against South Springvale will not distract Sharks from the task currently at hand.

“It’s just one game at a time and that’s how we have got to where we are,” McKay concluded.