Match of the Round
Newcastle Croatia FC v South Cardiff FC
Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility 3, Saturday 5pm
Newcastle Croatia head coach Joshua Popescu says his side is focused on maintaining its own identity as they prepare for their debut in the HIT106.9 Northern League One against South Cardiff FC at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday.
Newcastle Croatia enter Northern NSW Football’s second-tier men’s competition after securing promotion in 2025 by finishing eight points clear of Newcastle Suns in Zone Football League One.
It was their second promotion in as many years after being promoted to Zone League One for the 2025 season, after they topped the Zone League Two table the year prior.
Despite the step up in divisions, Popescu is confident that the brand of football that earned them promotion will stand up against higher-grade opposition.
“I try not to focus too much on other teams. I try to focus on what Croatia does best,” Popescu said.
“I’m pretty confident in our ability, but the biggest challenge will likely be the pace of the league and the fitness side of things.
“The boys have been training hard though and are ready to go.
“I've only lost a few players out of the original side, so we've kept a similar team.
“We have a lot of depth now, which we probably didn't have last year, with a lot of younger players coming through as well.”
The match will be held at Croatia’s new home for the 2026 season, Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, a move Popescu believes will benefit his side’s style of play.
“It will be good to play on a great pitch. It will suit our style of football,” Popescu said.
“Every time we have played out at Lake Macquarie in the past, we have played good football there.
“If our boys are on fire, then it is going to be a challenge for the opposition.”
Croatia will face a South Cardiff outfit entering their first full season under head coach Keelan Hamilton, with a squad featuring several new faces.
South Cardiff will lean on their league experience to test the newcomers early and spoil Croatia’s league debut party.
After a 2025 campaign that came down to a nail-biting final round, Hamilton’s arrival late last season helped the Gunners escape from relegation.
With that survival mission now behind them, Hamilton said that the senior group has seen notable changes, with 15 new players joining the club during the off-season.
“The squad’s refreshed a little bit and it’s been nice as a coach just to have more time to get to know the players and work with them,” Hamilton said.
“We’ve really focused on trying to be the best version of ourselves as a group and hopefully the results will take care of themselves off the back of that.”
Hamilton is aware of the challenge posed by the newcomers, acknowledging the talk surrounding Croatia's entry into the league.
“They’ve definitely got some credentialed and experienced players in their lineup,” Hamilton said.
“They’re coming in with a lot of confidence because they’ve been successful in getting those promotions.
“It’s a tough match for us first up, but it’s an exciting one.”
West Wallsend SFC v Lake Macquarie City FC
Johnston Park, Friday 8pm
Lake Macquarie City FC head coach Michael Body says he expects a hard-fought season opener when they travel to Johnston Park to face West Wallsend SFC on Friday night.
The Roosters enter the 2026 campaign following a busy off-season that saw an influx of experience to complement their existing young talent.
Despite his excitement surrounding the new squad, Body is determined to keep his side grounded by focusing on one game at a time.
“We’ve brought in some much-needed experience into our squad, which is going to help the young players we've held on to,” Body said.
“We’ve got goals in us, but being the competition is only 18 games long, if you look too far ahead, it’s a risk.
“So really, for us, it's just taking it game by game.”
Body is focused on the task at hand but remains wary of the threat posed by West Wallsend this Friday.
“You probably have to regard West Wallsend as one of the favourites, if not the favourite,” Body said.
“They made the [promotion/relegation] play-off final last year and have some really good, experienced players that we need to be mindful of.
“Both teams have got really good attacking players. It will probably be decided at the front of the pitch.”
West Wallsend will be determined to move past the heartbreak of last year's promotion play-off loss to Valentine FC.
The Bluebells were one of most clinical side in the league in 2025, finishing third on the ladder with 35 goals.
They’ve further strengthened their attacking stocks with the signing of last season's leading goalscorer Jarrod Purcell from Toronto Awaba FC.
Securing an early result at Johnston Park will be a priority for the home side as they look to justify their status as a title contender.
Toronto Awaba FC v Dudley Redhead United
Lyall Peacock Oval, Saturday 5pm
Toronto Awaba FC will welcome Dudley Redhead United to Lyall Peacock Oval on Saturday in a battle between two of last season's top-performing sides.
Toronto finished its 2025 campaign in second place after scoring 47 goals across 18 matches.
The attacking record establishes the Stags, as one of the benchmarks for the upcoming season.
After a consistent showing last year, the squad enters 2026 with the goal of maintaining its high standards right from the opening whistle.
Dudley Redhead exceeded many expectations in 2025 as a newly promoted side, entering the competition for the first time since 2010.
They secured fifth place and only missed the promotion/relegation play-off spots on goal difference. Just missing out on fourth highlighted the team’s struggles in front of goal, scoring only 23 goals across the season, the second lowest of any side.
Both Toronto and Dudley will look to build on their respective second and fifth-place finishes, making Saturday’s clash a significant early test for both sides.
New Lambton FC v Wallsend FC
Alder Park, Saturday 7pm
New Lambton FC will mark their return to HIT106.9 Northern League One following their relegation from the NPL Men’s NNSW competition last season when they face Wallsend FC at Alder Park on Saturday night.
The Golden Eagles are expected to be one of the benchmarks for the competition, boasting top-flight experience.
They face a Wallsend FC side that finished sixth in 2025, marking a positive return to form from recent years.
The Red Devils have further strengthened their squad during the off-season by adding NPL NNSW experience.
They secured the signings of Mason King from Edgeworth Eagles and Kye Abrahams from Belmont Swansea United.
Wallsend will look to these additions to maintain the momentum they established late last season.
The Red Devils were at the centre of several entertaining encounters last season, most notably a high-stakes final round win over Thornton Redbacks, which secured their position in the division.
For the visitors, maintaining defensive composure in the opening stages will be key to settling into the game and containing the home side’s pressure.
New Lambton will be eager to start their campaign with a strong performance at Alder Park as they look to build immediate momentum toward their goal of returning to the NPL Men’s NNSW.
Cessnock City Hornets v Singleton Strikers
Turner Park, Sunday 5pm
Cessnock City Hornets and Singleton Strikers will close out the opening round when they go head-to-head at Turner Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Hornets enter 2026 looking to lay a fresh foundation after a 2025 campaign that showed glimpses of quality but lacked consistent results.
They host a Strikers side entering a new chapter under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Jason Brewer and a refreshed coaching staff.
The Strikers finished in the top four last year on the back of the league’s third most disciplined defensive record.
They fell just short of promotion after a hard-fought, two-legged promotion/relegation play-off series with NPL Men’s NNSW side Valentine FC.
Having come so close to the top flight, Singleton will be keen to maintain its status as one of the league’s toughest opponents to beat.
For the Hornets, a positive result against one of last year's top four sides would provide a solid platform to start their climb up the table and set the tone for the season ahead.