The return of the HMRI Charity Shield will kick off the 2025 NNSW premier competition season at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Friday night.
The double header will see NPL Women’s NNSW champions Charlestown Azzurri go head-to-head with Women’s State Cup winners Newcastle Olympic, before reigning NPL Men’s NNSW premiers and champions Broadmeadow Magic take on Men’s State Cup winners Lambton Jaffas.
NPL Women’s NNSW
Charlestown Azzurri v Newcastle Olympic
Jack McLaughlan Oval, Friday 6.15pm
Newcastle Olympic coach Craig Atkins said his team will do everything possible to win the HMRI Charity Shield against Charlestown Azzurri on Friday.
The two teams met in last year’s NPL Women’s NNSW grand final but have had plenty of squad changes to shake up the contest when they meet again at Jack McLaughlan Oval.
Atkins said his side had moved on from their heartbreaking grand final loss and were focused on starting 2025 with some silverware.
“We haven’t spoken about [the 2024 grand final]. Our focus is on ourselves,” Atkins said
“We have a game plan and we have to stick to it and play a really intense game if we want to win.
“We know Azzurri will be really strong and a good opposition to play against.
“Everyone wants to win a trophy and the aim is to go out and win first and foremost. We will be doing everything we can.”
Olympic have added former A-League and Matildas attacker Rhali Dobson to its squad, while former captain Laura Hall returns from a season off. Both will feature on Friday night.
But Olympic will be without star striker Jemma House (away), Sophie Walmsley (injured) and former Newcastle Jets, Western Sydney Wanderers and Napoli defender Alex Huynh (away).
But Atkins was confident that his side have enough depth to put in a good performance against Azzurri.
“I cannot fault the effort of the girls. They have been training really hard. We have brought in new players and have been getting combinations right,” Atkins said.
“There is a lot of experience brought back into the side with a couple missing on Friday night. But I have confidence in the side and will promote a few younger players.
“It is always good to play in these types of games. It will give us a good gauge of where we are at.
“We are looking forward to Friday night. The girls are keen and are looking forward to getting back to it.”
Young goalkeeper Tallon Convery, who suffered a serious broken leg at the end of last season, will feature as the number one goalkeeper for Olympic.
Atkins said Convery was back and ready to sink her teeth into first grade football.
“Tallon is a great young goalkeeper and she will only get better,” Atkins said.
“It was a long recovery but she has a couple of games under her belt and is excited for this opportunity.”
Reigning NPL NNSW Women’s champions Charlestown Azzurri have also had some major changes to its squad, losing Joey Peters Medal winner Ella Joyce, 2023 van Egmond Medal winner Cassie Corder (Magic), Taylor Gray and defender Maddison Thornton (Lake Macquarie City FC).
But the Blues will have a little spark of magic this year as several players including captain Kalista Hunter, Madi Gallegos and Chelsea Lucas have jumped ship from Broadmeadow.
Azzurri have also recruited defender Sara Knowles (Newcastle Jets) and attacker Brianna Willams to bolster the squad further.
Gallegos and Lucas will be unavailable for Friday’s match due to injury but coach Heath Whyte looked forward to seeing how his new-look squad would shape up against Olympic.
“It’s been fantastic to see how the girls have fitted straight into the squad. The space is a very positive environment,” Whyte said.
“We will continue to work on our combinations and see how training translates onto the pitch. Some combinations are looking good but we are struggling a bit with the consistency of players with injuries.
“We had good momentum right at the end of the season but it is a new season.”
The reigning champions flew under the radar last year before they impressed in the finals series.
Whyte said he looked forward to having a bigger spotlight on his side as they head into 2025 and was confident they could continue their momentum on Friday night.
“I think everyone likes to beat Azzurri and I think most teams like to stick it to us,” Whyte said.
“But our focus is more on the football and if we focus on that the results will come.
“We are always going to approach every game very seriously and we want to win.
“It would be nice to secure the win and then head into the season next week.”
NPL Men’s NNSW
Broadmeadow Magic v Lambton Jaffas
Jack McLaughlan Oval, Friday 8.15pm
Lambton Jaffas captain Ben Kennedy is eager to “put one over” rivals Broadmeadow Magic when they go head-to-head in the HMRI Charity Shield at Jack McLaughlan Oval on Friday.
Jaffas and Magic met last year at the inaugural Charity Shield where Broadmeadow snatched the win, setting up what would be a successful year for the club.
But Kennedy was confident that his side could get the job done on Friday night.
“It is always great to have a competitive game before the season starts. Competitive games are better than trial games,” Kennedy said.
“Magic is a rivalry game and I have heard all is not well over there so it would be good to put one over them.
“We are looking forward to it.”
Jaffas had a disappointing end to their season last year after being the hot favourites to win back-to-back doubles but bowed out early in the finals.
Kennedy believed his side could put last season behind them and come out with a bang in 2025.
“Last year the way it ended wasn’t great but last year is last year and now we have a new squad and we can focus on this year,” Kennedy said.
Lambton have seen a lot of changes amongst their squad losing a significant number of players but also recruiting Joey Langlois, Lachlan Griffiths (Newcastle Olympic), Lachlan Graham (Newcastle Jets) and Shusuke Kirihara (Yokohama F. Marionos Youth).
But Kennedy believed their new-look squad was a good combination and would surprise people.
“We have eight or nine new players this year so to get everyone into the squad and see how we gel. So far so good so we will see how we go on Friday,” Kennedy said.
“It has been good because a lot of them have played together before. We are a lot younger this year. I think there are only four of us over 30 now.
“We have speed, pace, youth. We have Joey Langlois in the middle who is just a machine. We have a good mix of everything now.
“I think we might surprise people. I think people might have written us off with the players that have left and the players that have come but I think overall we have a lot of depth in the squad.”
Broadmeadow Magic captain Jeremy Wilson wanted his side to pick up where they left off, as the reigning premiers and champions of the NPL Men’s NNSW and the 2024 HRMI Charity Shield winners.
“We always want to win,” Wilson said.
“When there is a trophy on offer, you always want to win as many as you can. That’s the point of playing really other than fun.
“We enjoy the rivalry and will put our best foot forward to beat them again.
“I think that it is very important for us to win the shield.”
Magic’s men have had limited changes within the squad but will be without their star midfielder Bailey Wells as he trials for A-League club Brisbane Roar.
To bolster the group, Magic coach Jim Cresnar has recruited Ezra Palombini (Manly United), Jack Simmons (Sydney Olympic), Taylor Pate (Maitland) and Seo Ram Lee (WSG Tirol).
Wilson believed that retaining the core group of players would help them get over the line on Friday.
“It is virtually the same squad with a couple drop off and couple come in but it will be very similar to last year,” Wilson said.
“I think the start of the preseason we started off a bit slow but we have really ramped it up now and are on the ball ready to go.
“We will mainly focus on what we are going to do. We haven’t really spoken about Jaffas but are just focused on playing our game.”
2025 HMRI Charity Shield Match Day Information
WHEN: Friday 7 February
WHERE: Jack McLaughlan Oval, Edgeworth
KICK-OFF TIMES: NPL Women’s NNSW 6.15pm, NPL Men’s NNSW 8.15pm (champions will be decided by penalty kicks in the event of a draw.)
GATES OPEN: 5.15pm
PARKING: Supporters are advised to arrive early and leave plenty of time to enter the venue due to limited parking and with a large crowd expected.
TICKETS: $5 adults and concession, FREE 16-years and under. Tickets will be available at the gate only with contactless payment preferred. Limited change will be available, with correct cash appreciated. All proceeds from gate entry will go to HMRI.
Additional Information: Animals and pets (other than assistance dogs) are not permitted to enter the venue.
