Words: Steve Pitman
Image: Keith Eigeland/Football Queensland

Brisbane Strikers’ defensive stocks for the 2015 PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland season have received a major boost, with the club signing former Sunshine Coast Fire skipper Greig Henslee.

Henslee, 31, was an an integral part of the miserly back line that provided the platform for Fire’s numerous successes in the Queensland State League between 2008 and 2012

He left the Sunshine Coast club after the 2013 campaign to join community club Peninsula Power, winning the Brisbane Premier League Premiership title with the club. 

The signing will see a reunion between Henslee and newly announced Strikers coach Kevin A’herne-Evans, who played alongside the defender at Fire before coaching him at the same club in the inaugural PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland season.

A’herne-Evans said he was delighted to have secured Henslee’s transfer to Perry Park for the upcoming campaign.

“Greig, in my opinion, is the best defender in Queensland. His experience and ability to defuse goal scoring opportunities are second to none,” A’herne-Evans said.

He is also a big game player who will thrive on playing the likes of Olympic, Palm Beach, FNQFC Heat and any crucial Westfield FFA Cup and finals series games. He will add that needed steel and determination to our team.”

A’herne-Evans added that the defenders already within the Strikers’ ranks would benefit from Henslee’s experience and hunger.

“Defensively we are looking very strong with Maher, Draper, Shade, Salin, Savage and Roby and a couple of very promising younger players,” he explained.

“Adding Greig to this list gives us depth and quality.  Put this back line in front of (goalkeeper) Michael Turnbull and it looks very promising.”

“More significantly, Greig comes to the Strikers hungry to achieve big things in the competition and to an environment where he is held in high regard.  Among the Strikers players, coaching staff and committee members, Greig is seen as the backbone to all of Sunshine Coast Fire’s success over the QSL years.”

Henslee said he was looking to add to an impressive list of personal football achievements that includes two premierships and three grand final victories with Fire, where he was thrice voted Player of the Year between 2010 to 2012.

“I had a little taste of the NPL in 2013 with the Fire and we came up a little bit short.  It’s just something that I haven’t won yet and, to be honest, it’s something that I really want to win”, Henslee said.

He added, “I thought that with the Brisbane Strikers coming forward, and Kevin being the coach, it was a good opportunity to change leagues and hopefully win an NPL.” 

Strikers and Fire boast a healthy rivalry that extends back to the QSL competition and Henslee reflected upon his previous experiences playing against his new club.

“I’ve played the Strikers many times in my five years in Australia and obviously we’ve played a few grand finals and a few very memorable premiership matches as well,” he said.

“I play football basically to win as many medals and trophies as possible. Obviously I was part of a squad that won a few trophies at the Fire over the years and, at this moment, Brisbane Strikers have a quality squad which over the next year can be a force to be reckoned with,” Henslee concluded.