A “traditional six-pointer” for the Wellington Phoenix as they enter the second half of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season.
The Phoenix are visiting Central Coast Mariners on Sunday in the penultimate match of round 13.
The Nix entered the weekend in fifth place on 19 points, two clear of Central Coast, who sit seventh.
Just five points separated third from eighth and Phoenix head coach Paul Temple says at the moment most games feel pivotal for the sides vying for the top six.
“If you lose one, you’re out,” Temple told media after training on Friday. “If you win one, you’re clear. You put two or three wins in a row together and you just fly through.
“It’s tough [when] you go away and you play against your rivals to get into the six.
“They all feel like traditional six-pointers. It’s just so key.
“If you don’t lose I think you gain an advantage, especially when you’re playing away.
“But… the line every week is ‘how do we win this game’, It’s not ‘how do we draw’ or ‘how do we not lose’ it’s ‘how do we win the game’.
“So we’ll go in with the same mentality that we do every week to try and win the game, but the reality is with this game here a point would be a good point on the road [and] three points would be amazing on the road.
“We need to get a result against the Mariners because they’re chasing us, they’re a good side and we know they’re going to be in and around it (the top six) come the end of the season.”
This will be the first meeting between the two sides this season, but both coaching staff are well-acquainted.
“I get on pretty well with Emily Husband. We’ve talked a lot during the off-season, and we talk a bit outside of when we play each other.
“Amy’s [Shepherd] pretty good mates with the Central Coast crew because of that Sydney Uni connection.
“It’s weird we haven’t seen them yet, but when you create those bonds with other coaches in the league there’s definitely that element of you want to come out on top of the battle and have the bragging rights.
“The Mariners beat us twice last season so there’s still something there for me where we need to get over the line against this team.”
Temple is full of admiration for Husband and the job she has done with the Mariners.
“They’re so well-organised, well-drilled and so well-coached, and I think she really gets the best out of all of the players that she’s got.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for them and we’ll pay them that respect by preparing properly.
“But for sure we want to get out and win this game.”
The Nix have picked up seven points from their matches in Australia so far this season, more than they managed for the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign.
Paul Temple says continuity between home and away matches and “doing what we’re good at” are two lessons he’s learnt from last year.
“This season we’re more focussing on these are the things that make us good and make us a handful to deal with.
“How do we get the opposition to be worried about us? And not go over and think ‘how do we stop them?’ all the time.
“It’s a delicate balance because you’ve got to have that respect for your opponent but I feel we’re doing that better this year and we’re playing to our strengths more regularly, which I think is the most important thing.”
Temple has a near full-strength squad to pick from with December arrival Amelia Abbott starting to push for selection.
“This is her second full week. She’s been here four weeks and for two weeks she had a little niggle so she’s kind of two weeks into her season and the rest of the girls are 18 weeks in and they’ve played 12 games.
“You can imagine how hard it is to catch up that ground and be at that level of sharpness and match ability.
“She’s very self-aware of that…and she’s getting better every week with training, so I think very soon we’ll see her.
“But it’s about timing for her because you want it to be in the right moment for her and the team.
“There’s also the reality of the 16 that have been in there every week are doing well. We’re winning games and we’re in good form so it’s hard to get into the team.”
The round 13 Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Central Coast Mariners is scheduled to kick-off at Woy Woy Oval on the Central Coast at 7pm (5pm AEDT) Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 4 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ and 10 Play in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 12 January 2024 – Wellington Phoenix 1 Central Coast Mariners 2
All-time A-League head to head: Phoenix 0W, Mariners 2W, 0D
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Alivia KELLY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 8. Amelia ABBOTT, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 14. Mebae TANAKA, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 19. Liv INGHAM, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL, 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk).
Unavailable: 18. Ella MCCANN (injured), 23. Rebecca LAKE (injured).
Central Coast Mariners squad (two to be omitted): 1. Sarah LANGMAN (gk), 4. Jessika NASH, 5. Annabel MARTIN, 7. Jade PENNOCK, 8. Bianca GALIC (c), 10. Taylor RAY, 11. Annalise RASMUSSEN, 12. Tiana FULLER, 13. Sarah ROWE, 14. Greta KRASZULA, 16. Tess QUILLIGAN, 19. Leia PUXTY, 20. Chloe CARMICHAEL (gk), 21. Brooke NUNN, 22. Peta TRIMIS, 23. Lily MCMAHON, 24. Shay EVANS, 25. Blake HUGHES.
Main image: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.
