Words: Matt Dorman
Image: Steven Gibson Photography

Two of PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland Women’s brightest stars agree Saturday night’s Grand Final will be the culmination of a promising inaugural season for the competition.

Palm Beach SC Women’s striker Lauren Brown and The Gap Women’s forward Gabe Marzano will line up at opposite ends of the pitch at Corporate Travel Management Stadium, but share common ground on the standard of football in 2015.

Sharks co-captain Brown, who has notched 21 goals to date, is excited by the potential of the league.

“I’ve been really impressed. It’s been such a good standard,” the former Brisbane Roar and Newcastle Jets player said.

“There’s been at least a top six or seven teams that have been really competitive compared to three or four teams in previous seasons. I hope it grows in the future, it’s been amazing.”

Of immediate concern for Brown is being crowned Champions in what will be a first Grand Final together for Sharks’ current squad.

The Gold Coast local has full belief in her side’s ability to cause an upset.

“We’ve played them a fair bit so we know their players, we know how they play and their formation,” Brown said.

“It’s just a matter of winning our one-on-one battles on the field, breaking them down and getting the win. It’s going to be a fairly even battle but I feel our attack will be able to overpower them.

“We just want to work as hard as we can and make sure we’re at our best on the day, put everything on the field and know that we couldn’t have done anything more.”

Marzano missed out on participating in post-season with Gators last year as she made the made move to join Perth Glory in the Westfield W-League.

That adventure was ultimately rewarded with an appearance in the national decider late last year, and the attacker says she is every bit as excited for the challenge of this showpiece match.

“The hype is certainly comparable just on a different sort of level,” Marzano said.

“You’re affiliated to the same sort of team environment. Everyone wants to get around each other and be successful on the day.

“I absolutely love every game I play with The Gap.”

Now training with Brisbane Roar in pre-season, the 23-year-old echoed Brown’s belief in the competition as providing a perfect proving ground for the Westfield W-League.

“The NPL overall is a very good standard,” she said.

“I think if you took some of the better teams they would match up to some of the W-League teams. Playing in the NPL is a good precursor to the W-League, it keeps us fit all year round and the competition is good.”

PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2015 Women's Grand Final

The Gap FC Women v Palm Beach SC Women
Corporate Travel Management Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Kick-off at 6:30PM