The Wellington Phoenix are ready to capitalise on their momentum.
After an impressive win over Melbourne Victory first time out, the Nix take on Central Coast Mariners at home on Sunday.
Head coach Chris Greenacre has wiped the slate clean for this weekend.
“We go back to basics,” he told media pre-match. It’s a cliché, but it is literally every game step by step. That’s all we can do.
“The Melbourne Victory game doesn’t mean a thing now to us, we have to focus on the Mariners.
“They had a solid start against the premiers, and I’m a big fan of Hutch [Mariners head coach John Hutchinson], respect what he’s done as a player but also as a coach.”
Both teams were largely written off in pre-season, but earned results in matchweek 1, the Mariners grabbing a 2-2 draw with F3 rivals Newcastle Jets.
“Similar to us, no-one’s giving them a chance, and they’ll cause us problems at the weekend. It’s just how we manage that.
“I expect a really tough game. They’ve got some quality, especially in transition. We just have to focus on what we can control.
“They’ve got some good footballers in the midfield that support them with the ball.”
The Nix have never won their opening two games of a season, and changing that record would be a statement of intent.
“I’ll be honest, that wasn’t a stat I was aware of, that’s how focused we are on each game.
“If you’d have asked me six weeks ago if I could put us in this position, would I have taken it? Absolutely.
“Hopefully it’s the icing on the cake when we get the results, but it’s about the process and performance that means more for us long-term.
The matchweek 2 A-League Men’s match between the Wellington Phoenix and Central Coast Mariners is scheduled to kick-off at Hnry Stadium at 3pm (1pm AEDT) on Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 2 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 21 December 2025 – Wellington Phoenix 3 Central Coast Mariners 1
All-time A-League head to head: Phoenix 21W, Mariners 19W, 12D
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 5. Walter SCOTT, 7. Bryce DUKE, 8. Max ANDERSON, 9. Rafael DURÁN, 11. Riley BIDOIS, 13. Henry GRAY (gk), 14. Alex RUFER (c), 17. Nathan WALKER, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 23. James MCGARRY, 24. Xuan LOKE, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matthew SHERIDAN, 28. Bill TUILOMA, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 32. Ben TRENBERTH, 34. Dylan GARDINER, 35. Luke MITCHELL, 37. Anaru CASSIDY, 99. Corban PIPER.
Unavailable: 6. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 15. Isaac HUGHES, 39. Jayden SMITH.
Central Coast Mariners squad (two to be omitted): 3. Diesel HERRINGTON, 5. Lucas MAURAGIS, 6. Haine EAMES, 8. Chris DONNELL, 9. Oli LAVALE, 12. Noah MCCANN, 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Harry STEELE, 17. Presley ORTIZ, 22. Arthur DE LIMA, 30. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 37. Bailey BRANDTMAN, 39. Alex BOLTON, 41. Shumba MUTOKOYI, 42. Max NAYLOR, 43. Luke BECVINOVSKI, 45. Jesse MANTELL, 46. Callum MCCASKEY, 50. Jai AJANOVIC (GK), 51. Ty MCKIBBIN, 72. Ali AUGLAH.
Unavailable: 4. Trent SAINSBURY (injured), 23. Taiyo HISAMATSU (awaiting visa).
