Central Coast Mariners vs Newcastle Jets Tips & Predictions - Jets to open season with a F3 derby triumph

How quickly things can change. The Mariners were absolutely flying with back-to-back A-League Grand Final triumphs, but now they look set for another dark period, with Mark Jackson departing on the eve of the new season and replaced by interim coach Warren Moon. Central Coast finished in 10th spot last season and haven't really made a mark in the transfer window, so tough to see how they turn things around here. Meanwhile, the Jets are in the midst of their brightest spot in years, coming off a brilliant Australia Cup triumph, which was their first piece of silverware since the 2008 GF.

Newcastle also went unbeaten in 10 of their last 14 games of last season, so there's sustained form and improvement on the board, while Mark Milligan couldn't have hoped for a better start to his tenure as Jets manager. Newcastle absolutely throttled Central Coast 6-0 towards the end of last term and they're expected to come away from Gosford with all three points again.

Central Coast were dominating Newcastle during their premiership-winning seasons, winning six straight meetings, but the Jets turned the tables last term - including that most-recent 6-0 crushing, which saw Eli Adams score a double.

Honestly, the Mariners couldn't be in a worse position to start the season after their disappointing 10th-place finish as reigning premiers last term.

Jackson has gone, the off-field drama has returned and the signings of Andrew Redmayne, James Donachie and Will Kennedy don't exactly inspire confidence - especially with the departures of Alou Kuol, Brian Kaltek and Mikael Doka.

Central Coast have only won one of their last 16 competitive games and didn't even qualify for the Australia Cup proper, going down in the preliminary round to Perth.

No real injury concerns for the Mariners - the immediate rise of young guns Haine Eames and Arthur De Lima could be pivotal to any success going forward this season.

Central Coast Mariners squad: Andrew REDMAYNE, James DONACHIE, Lucas MAURAGIS, Nathan PAULL, Storm ROUX, Will KENNEDY, Shumba MUTOKOYI, Alfie MCALMONT, Sabit NGOR, Bailey BRANDTMAN, Bradley TAPP, Haine EAMES, Harry STEELE, Ryan EDMONDSON, Miguel DI PIZIO, Abdul FAISAL, Arthur DE LIMA, Christian THEOHAROUS, Nico DUARTE, Dylan PERIAC-CULLEN

The Jets enter the 2025/26 A-League season full of confidence and hopes of making the finals for just the second time since 2008.

After a great finish to last term, Newcastle continued their positive form and momentum into the offseason, putting together a magical Australia Cup run to lift the trophy.

The Jets took care of defending champions Macarthur FC 3-0 in the quarter-finals before edging out Heidelberg 3-1 in extra-time in the final, with Max Burgess, Oscar Fryer and Ben Gibson getting on the scoresheet.

Milligan appears to have the perfect blend of youth and experience in this squad, with Fryer, Gibson, Eli Adams, Alex Badolato, Will Dobson and Xavier Bertoncello all players to keep an eye on.

Some injury concerns for the Jets ahead of this opening fixture, with Japanese star Kota Mizunuma suffering a knock during the week and ruled out.

Captain Kosta Grozos is also out due to suspension, while Noah James and Clayton Taylor are also unavailable.

Newcastle Jets squad: 1. James DELIANOV, 5. Joe SHAUGHNESSY, 7. Eli ADAMS, 8. Lachlan BAYLISS, 9. Lachlan ROSE, 11. Ben GIBSON, 14. Max BURGESS, 15. Aleksandar ŠUŠNJAR, 19. Alex BADOLATO, 22. Joel BERTOLISSIO, 23. Daniel WILMERING, 24. Alex NUNES, 25. Oscar FRYER, 28. Will DOBSON, 33. Mark NATTA, 39. Thomas AQUILINA, 40. Jordan BAYLIS, 42. Max COOPER, 43. Xavier BERTONCELLO, 45. Christian BRACCO