A “crucial” two game home stand for the Wellington Phoenix in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
The Phoenix men play host to Newcastle Jets on Sunday afternoon before returning to Sky Stadium seven days later to play Central Coast Mariners.
It’ll be the team’s fifth and sixth home matches to start the new season before playing four of their following five matches across the Tasman, with trips to Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Newcastle.
The Nix are without seven first team squad members for tomorrow’s match against the Jets with Manjrekar James suspended, while fellow centre back Isaac Hughes is in doubt with a hamstring injury.
Head coach Giancarlo Italiano has stressed the importance of the team’s two home matches before Christmas.
“These two games are crucial, irrespective of who’s starting, not starting and players out,” Italiano told media after training on Thursday.
“If Hughesy is ruled out it becomes a little bit more complex in terms of the starting team. But it’s a good opportunity for a couple of the younger lads like Jayden Smith and Xuan [Loke] to make a play for the starting team.
“That’s not an excuse for performance. Whoever starts is going to play 100% and we’re going to try and win both games.
“It’s imperative that we do because winning these next two games will put us in a really good position on the table but also the fixtures away from home are going to be a little bit more difficult so we need every assistance that we can.”
Italiano got the response he wanted in Wellington’s last home game against Adelaide United a fortnight ago, with the Phoenix making a strong start and dominating the first half.
But he was disappointed with the opening to last week’s derby defeat.
“The group needs to understand it can’t just be for one match and then not the next match. It needs to be consistent for the whole season.
“For us to do well this season we need to start every game well, whether we’re home or away.
“I was very happy with the performance against Adelaide. We dropped off in the last 15-20 minutes which is something we addressed.
“I think what cost us on the weekend against Auckland was that first goal that we conceded after 10 minutes. We can’t start like that.
“We need to really be focussed, in the moment and making sure we capitalise.
“Sometimes it doesn’t work with the ball, so we need to be very good defending wise. We just need to maintain a good baseline of consistency and performance and the rest will happen.”
The Nix again trained at Sky Stadium on the eve of the match.
“I want to make it a regular thing. I think it’s very important that players appreciate their home, where they play and who they’re playing for.
“It’s been a big emphasis of mine over the past six weeks.”
The Jets sit two points behind the Phoenix on the A-League ladder, but Italiano says they’re a very good team.
“Their short combination and their rotations, specially building up in a 2-3, is very effective.
“We were very similar in the build-up shape in my first year. It’s a nice way to play, they’re very brave, they’re on the front foot and they punish teams.
“It’s going to be a game where if we don’t defend well and press well it’s going to be a long afternoon, so we go into the game respecting them.”
He believes they’re “more dangerous” than Adelaide.
“They’re quicker to throw numbers forward, they’re very expansive and they’ve been rewarded. They score some very good goals.
“It’s nice to play teams like this that take the front foot, very similar to us.
“In terms of a football contest it will be good. It’ll be two nice styles playing against each other.”
Because of the injuries and suspension, midfielder Fergus Gillion and centre back Mac Munro have been promoted to the extended matchday squad from the reserves.
Gillion, who represented New Zealand at this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, made two appearances for the Nix in the 2023-24 season, while Munro, 18, has yet to make his A-League bow.
The round eight Isuzu UTE A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Newcastle Jets is scheduled to kick-off at Sky Stadium in Wellington at 3pm Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 1 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 6 April 2025 – Newcastle Jets 1 Wellington Phoenix 2
All-time A-League head-to-head: Phoenix 27W, Jets 17W & 7D.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 7. Ifeanyi EZE, 11. Carlo ARMIENTO, 12. Dan EDWARDS, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE, 24. Xuan LOKE, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, Anaru CASSIDY, 39. Jayden SMITH, 40. Eamonn MCCARRON (gk), 42. Fergus GILLION, 48. Mac MUNRO.
Unavailable: 4. Manjrekar JAMES (suspended), 6. Tim PAYNE (injured), 8. Paulo RETRE (injured), 9. Hideki ISHIGE (injured), 10. Nikola MILEUSNIC (injured), 19. Nathan WALKER (injured),23. Luke SUPYK (injured).
Newcastle Jets squad (two to be omitted): 1. James DELIANOV (gk), 5. Joe SHAUGHNESSY, 7. Eli ADAMS, 8. Lachlan BAYLISS, 9. Lachlan ROSE, 11. Ben GIBSON, 13. Clayton TAYLOR, 14. Max BURGESS, 15. Aleksandar ŠUŠNJAR, 17. Kosta GROZOS, 19. Alex BADOLATO, 22. Joel BERTOLISSIO, 23. Daniel WILMERING, 28. Will DOBSON, 33. Mark NATTA, 37. Oli COCKLE, 39. Thomas AQUILINA, 40. Jordan BAYLIS (gk), 42. Max COOPER, 43. Xavier BERTONCELLO.
Unavailable: 18. Kota MIZUNUMA, 20. Alex NASSIEP, 24. Alexandro NUNES, 25. Oscar FRYER, 21. Noah JAMES, 41. Lucas SCICLUNA, 45. Christian BRACCO.
Main image: Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano addresses the players ahead of a training session at NZCIS. Photo: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.
