Newcastle Jets vs Macarthur FC Tips & Predictions - Defending champions Macarthur to return to semi-finals

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Thu 21 Aug 2025 06:29

Andrew Hendrie 21 Aug 2025

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Newcastle Jets vs Macarthur FC predictions for Sunday's Australia Cup quarter-final game
Macarthur have won 12 of their last 13 Australia Cup games
Macarthur were 4-3 winners over the Jets in the Australia Cup R16 in 2024
Macarthur emerged 3-1 winners in their most-recent trip to Newcastle last season
The match is scheduled for kick off at 4.00pm AEST on Sunday August 23

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Newcastle and Macarthur clash on Sunday (Photo by Getty Images)

Newcastle Jets vs Macarthur FC Tips & Predictions

Newcastle Jets and Macarthur FC square off in the Australia Cup for the second year running, with the winner of Sunday's clash at Maitland Regional Sportsground advancing into the semi-finals.

Newcastle Jets vs Macarthur FC Tips & Predictions
Head To Head
Newcastle Jets Form
Macarthur FC Form

Macarthur of course emerged victorious in last year's R16 showdown with the Jets, coming back from 2-0 down at half-time to prevail 4-3, with Valere Germain and Marin Jakolis both scoring doubles - although the pair have since departed the Bulls. Macarthur went on to secure their second Australia Cup trophy in the last three years, upsetting Melbourne Victory in the final, while Newcastle are still waiting to progress to the semi-finals of the cup competition.

It's tough to split the two teams after they each dispatched NPL sides in the previous round, but Macarthur's experience deep into this competition could prove the difference. The Jets have only made the quarter-finals of the Australia Cup once and never gone beyond, so the pressure is on. I'm backing a repeat result of last year, with Macarthur returning to the final four to face Avondale FC.

Head To Head

These two teams played a total of four times last season. As mentioned, Macarthur won 4-3 in the Australia Cup R16 before the Jets returned serve with a 2-1 victory in Round 2 of the A-League.

Macarthur bounced back with a dominant 3-1 win at McDonald Jones Stadium in Round 13 before a thrilling 3-3 draw in Round 24, with former Jets striker Harry Sawyer equalising for Macarthur in the 95th minute.

Newcastle Jets Form

New Jets coach Mark Milligan is a perfect 2-0 in competitive games since taking over from Rob Stanton at the end of last season.

Stanton did an excellent job with the resources available at cash-strapped Newcastle and now Milligan is aiming to take the club to greater heights in 2025/26 - starting with potentially making their very first Australia Cup semi-final.

The Jets produced a superb showing to come from behind and beat Adelaide United 2-1 in their R32 clash before cruising past Northern NSW Premier League side Cooks Hill United 5-0 to make the last eight for just the second time (first since 2019).

Daniel Wilmering scored an unlikely double in the R16 win over Cooks Hill, with Kota Mizunuma, Ben Gibson and Xavier Bertoncello also getting on the scoresheet.

Macarthur FC Form

It was a disappointing end to the A-League season for Macarthur, who saw their attacking stocks depleted in the summer transfer window, with the team swiftly falling outside of the top six.

Now, Macarthur are targeting more Australia Cup success after lifting the silverware in 2022 (def. Sydney United) and 2024 (def. Melbourne Victory).

Macarthur have received an extremely favourable draw to make it back to the final, with the Jets the only A-League team they would face.

Mile Sterjovski's side eased past SD Raiders 5-0 in their opening game before a 2-0 triumph over MetroStars in the R16, with Bernardo and Chris Ikonomidis finding the back of the net.

Verdict

Newcastle Jets v Macarthur FC

It promises to be a close contest, but Macarthur's history of success in this competition gives them the slight edge, with both teams expected to find the back of the net.