Storm Roux is focussed on finishing the season strong but the 24-year-old defender has affirmed himself as one of the exciting young players who wants to stay with the club beyond June 2017.
Roux arrived at the Central Coast Mariners in 2013 and has become a fan favourite in Yellow & Navy. The young, yet experienced right-back comes off contract at the end of the current Hyundai A-League campaign but hinted that he is not looking to make an off-season move.
That can be largely credited to Head Coach, Paul Okon.
“At the moment the focus is about finishing off the season well and getting the results,” Roux said. “In saying that, within this group there are exciting times ahead because Paolo has come in and is changing things around.
“A lot of players are keen to sign contract extensions to be a part of next season and I’m one of them. We will wait and see but Paolo is a great coach and I enjoy playing under him,” Roux said.
After Saturday’s loss against Adelaide United, Roux spoke with a sense of disappointment that his side could not take a crucial three points away from the in-form Adelaide United after taking a first half lead. Roux created the goal with a pinpoint cross that landed on the head of Kwabena Appiah, giving the Mariners a 1-0 lead just before the break.
“We are very disappointed,” Roux said. “Our goal was to make the top six and we went through a stage there where we were confident we would do that with some good results but it was heartbreaking to lose that game against Adelaide especially because we felt like it’s a game we should have won.
“The first half we dominated then just got rattled with three quick goals but we look forward to the rest of our games and putting on a show for our fans,” Roux said.
The Mariners were missing Jacob Poscoliero through injury on Saturday night who will be pushing for fitness ahead of Sunday’s match but regardless of who lines up in the back four – all eyes will need to be on the Roar’s danger man, Jamie Maclaren.
“Posco has been doing really well,” Roux said. “He missed the start of the season through injury but has come back in and really cemented his spot, took his opportunity and he would be one of the first names on the team sheet every week so it’s hard without him but it’s up to us other boys to step up and take that opportunity.
“The hard thing about defending Jamie Maclaren is that he always seems to be in the right place at the right time which means that the back four will need to be focussed and always know where he is. He’s been hard to stop this season, that’s what good strikers do – they score goals so we’re going to have to try and find a way to stop that,” Roux said.
With three matches remaining against Brisbane Roar, Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory the Mariners are motivated to make a late surge up the ladder.
“We’re confident that we won’t finish bottom,” Roux said. “The way we’ve been playing this season we don’t deserve it and the gap is nowhere near where it was last season.
“This season we’ve shown signs, Paolo has come in and done a great job and we will give it all we’ve got to pick up as many points as we can during these final games.
“As a defensive unit we’ve grown this season, the whole team has grown. Defence has been a main focus this season, we’ve tightened up at the back and we’ve been improving each week.
“Next season we will be even better and hopefully we can break into the top six,” Roux said.
Match Details
Sunday 2 April 2017
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Hyundai A-League 2016/17 – Round 25
Brisbane Roar vs. Central Coast Mariners
Kick-off: 7:00pm
Official hash-tags: #BRIvCCM #CCMFC
TV Broadcast: Fox Sports 505
Radio Broadcast: 96.3 Coast FM
