You can’t deny Albion Park White Eagles deserved to win Sunday’s grand final.
- Jacob Timpano
You can’t deny Albion Park White Eagles deserved to win Sunday’s grand final.
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Park were simply outstanding on the biggest stage in the Illawarra Premier League and were a class above Kemblawarra Fury.
Led by Japanese trio Shohei Okuno, Riku Iwauchi and Kotaro Higashi, Park were at their brilliant attacking best all afternoon.
Their contribution real told and was probably the main factor which tipped the ledger in the White Eagles’ favour.
Man-of-the-match Okuno was the clear standout.
He was truly awesome against a very good Fury side.
Obviously he has been one of the best players in the league all season, but to turn up the way he did when his team needed him to shows the mark of a high quality player.
At 26, he is in his prime and by the look of things, he would be more than capable of playing at a higher level.
Of course as a club, guys like him are players we at the Wolves like to keep on our radar as we build a squad for next season.
He plays an exciting brand of football which I am sure everyone in the local competition has enjoyed watching this season.
That can also be said about the football White Eagles coach Jeff Allport had his side play in 2016.
He deserves a lot of credit for what Park have achieved.
In his first year at the helm of the club, he has overseen the White Eagles play an attacking brand of football which got results.
The biggest of those came on grand final day against the League Champions.
With all that said, Kemblawarra Fury can still hold their heads high.
If you had told them at the beginning of the campaign they’d win the League Championship title and make another grand final appearance, they probably would have taken it.
Obviously in Australian sport, the winners of the grand final get a lot of the accolades.
But for the purests, winning that first past the post title is a bigger deal.
Either way, I’ve got no doubts the Fury will be knocking on the door of both titles when next season kicks off.
Until then, enjoy the off-season.
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