New kids on the block North Shore Mariners have been busily preparing for what will be a massive 2020 season as the recently promoted side sets its sights on establishing themselves as a top National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s side.
Coached by the ever-experienced Joe Haywood, the Mariners have slowly stepped up the pace with a number of fresh new faces donning the North Shore kit during pre-season training.
Emmanuel Peters, Danial Dias, Keanu Ismic and Charlie Cox have all penned deals with the club while the biggest coup of the lot has been that of former NPL NSW Men’s Player of the Year Panny Nikas.
The signing of Nikas has certainly raised the profile of the club as the mercurial attacker hopes he can add his NPL experience as well as stamp his influence on the newly promoted club after a stuttering time at the Rockdale City Suns in 2019.
Haywood has managed to re-sign a number of his 2019 NPL 2 NSW Men’s Premiership winning squad as Ryan Wood, Joel Tinker, Jesse Piriz, Rainer Smahel, Chris Lindsay, Hugo Forlico, Daniel Saric, Brian Jamba, Sean Eve, Marquin Smith, Mitch Smith, Braden Cheng and Damir Prodanovic have all agreed to terms as has Tristan van Rhoon who played in the club’s 20’s squad.
A big loss for the Mariners however has been that of long serving stalwart and captain Ricky Woodward as after nine solid years has parted company with the club while Nathan Separovic, Harry Quirk, James Scott and Tadhg Purcell will all be playing for different clubs in 2020.
It’s going to be a baptism of fire for the new boys as they kick off its 2020 NPL NSW Men’s season with a clash against 2019 Champions APIA Leichhardt Tigers at Lambert Park on Saturday 29th of February.
North Shore Mariners 2020: Ryan Wood, Joel Tinker, Jesse Piriz, Rainer Smahel, Chris Lindsay, Hugo Forlico, Daniel Saric, Brian Jamba, Sean Eve, Marquin Smith, Mitch Smith, Braden Cheng, Damir Prodanovic, Emmanuel Peters, Danial Dias, Keanu Ismic, Charlie Cox, Panny Nikas
