Wellington Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman is seeking further growth from her side over the remainder of the Ninja A-League season.
The Phoenix are visiting Newcastle Jets in the final match of the weekend, seeking a club record third road win of the season.
“We want to be a club of firsts and that’s a great stat to chase,” Priestman told media after training on Friday before the team’s trip to Newcastle. “I really set a challenge to this group of going on this campaign to pick up as many points as we can and be better every single week that we can be.
“If we are better than we were last week we can certainly go away and get points on the road now against Newcastle.
“We just have to do what we do, do it well but also take care of all of the little details when we go on the road.”
Priestman says the players have been dialled in this week and they’re ready.
“I’ve seen this week a real focus. Great result against Adelaide, we are where we want to be, but there’s a history that has happened to this team…where the backend of the season where some fatigue has set in or standards, I don’t know the detail behind it, but I’m all out to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“Keep the standards high and grow every week. The best teams grow across a season, and we’ve certainly got some areas to grow in and that’s what I’m pushing day-in, day-out in training.”
The team’s starts and attacking fluidity are two growth areas.
“Uncharacteristically we’ve started some games poorly. If you look at the front end of the seaso, we started games strong and it was our x-factor, so there’s something around how we start games.
“I also think that with the ball, because the partnerships haven’t been there, I’d like to see us retain the ball better than what we have.
“I’m hoping we start the game stronger than what we did in the last couple of games and then hopefully our attacking fluidity, with some consistency can really help.”
Bev Priestman has a settled squad to pick from with American striker Mackenzie Anthony having had a full week of training following her arrival last month.
“To get some consistency in the squad now is good. I’ve spoken to it a little bit about trying to get that chemistry and partnerships.
“Now we can move towards that with a really good bench and that’s always want you want to have, particularly on the road.
“I also think energy management now in this next two fixtures as we go to Newcastle and then have a tight turnaround into Perth.
“So, I’m starting to look at the bigger picture in terms of how we manage that because it’s two great games for us.”
Priestman has welcomed Tiana Jaber back for the first time this season after the defender missed the opening 11 matches with injury.
“It’s great Tiana will be back for this game. That back three have had some real big minutes in their legs, and they’ve done an unbelievable job I must say, but to have some freshness come into the squad and be able to rely on a bench now I think that’ll make a big difference.
“I’m over the moon for Tiana. She’s worked her socks off and the medical team here have done an unbelievable job getting her back.
“She’s a winner. Whether it’s a small-sided game or a passing pattern it doesn’t matter, she wants to win, she competitive and she has high standards.
“It’ll be about integrating her slowly. She’s not going to go out there and play 90 minutes in game one, but she’s trained really well for two weeks and I knew she’d be ready this week.”
The Phoenix played out a 1-1 draw with the Newcastle Jets at Porirua Park in round three.
Priestman believes both sides have “evolved quite a bit” since then.
“Newcastle have changed the way that they play from that game to what we’ve seen recently so it’s almost like a fresh game in many ways too.
“We’re a different team with a lot of new, different faces and tactically they look quite different as well so for us it’s about what we do well and we keep trying to improve what we’re doing and chase away game form.
“Newcastle are a very good team. You’ve seen they beat City, so we can underestimate them and we won’t. For us now we’ve got to match their energy and with that travel the whole squad will be needed to do that.”
The round 15 Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Newcastle Jets is scheduled to kick-off at No.2 Sportsground in Newcastle at 7pm (5pm AEDT) Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 3 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 16 November 2025 – Wellington Phoenix 1 Newcastle Jets 1
All-time A-League head to head: Phoenix 2W, Jets 5W, 1D.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 1. Victoria ESSON (gk), 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Ellie WALKER, 7. Grace JALE, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 14. Lucía LEÓN, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 17. Ela JEREZ, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL, 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 23. Brooke NUNN, 24. Pia VLOK, 27. Zoe BENSON, 30. Mackenzie ANTHONY, 31. Makala WOODS, 32. Emma PIJNENBURG.
Unavailable: 2. CJ BOTT (c) (pregnant), 6. Tessel MIDDAG (injured), 9. Sabitra BHANDARI (injured), 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (injured), 18. Ella MCCANN (injured).
Newcastle Jets squad (two to be omitted): 2. Josie WILSON, 3. Claudia CICCO, 4. Natasha PRIOR, 6. Cassidy DAVIS (c), 7. India BREIER, 8. Emma DUNDAS, 9. Haley JOHNSON, 10. Elizabeth COPUS-BROWN, 11. Charlotte LANCASTER, 12. Georgia RITCHIE (gk), 13. Lauren ALLAN, 14. Melina AYRES, 15. Emma BATES, 18. Sophie HOBAN, 24. Anna LEAT (gk), 26. Josie ALLAN, 30. Alexis COLLINS, 32. Claire ADAMS, 44. Kelli BROWN.
Unavailable: 5. Olivia PAGE, 35. Lily-Rose DUNBAR (gk), 50. Ally BOERTJE (gk).
Main image: Daisy Brazendale and Grace Jale in action during Wellington Phoenix training at NZCIS on Friday. Photo: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.
