Breaking a 17-year trophy drought should just be the start of Newcastle’s renaissance, says new coach Mark Milligan.
The Jets delivered the region a massive sporting boost at Lakeside Stadium on Saturday 4 October when they lifted the Australia Cup following a 3-1 extra-time victory over Heidelberg United.
An extraordinary strike from teenager Oscar Fryer in the 96th minute set up the thrilling win, iced by another youngster Ben Gibson soon after.
Midfielder Max Burgess picked up the Mark Viduka Medal for his man-of-the-match effort, too.
“For me, it’s for the fans,” Milligan said.
“They’ve waited a long time for silverware, waited a long time to be in finals.
“It’s never easy.
“It’s extremely difficult to make finals.
“There are players, fantastic players, who go through their careers without making one.
“However, we’ve spoken a lot since I’ve come in that we want the support of the fans but we must show who we are.
“Some made a 14-hour bus trip [to Melbourne] on Saturday, that’s dedication.
“So, we need to show every day who we are, show every game who we are and what we’re becoming.
“It’s up to us to repay them.
“It is a nice start but it’s also a reward for the work that these boys have put in during pre-season.
“We’re trying to implement a new way of doing things here.
“As I said, I ask a lot of them from a physical point of view from. A footballing point of view.
“It just helps me with this process that we’re going through.
“I mean, make no mistake where I see us in future, we’re nowhere near that.”
Heidelberg fired a warning shot in the eighth minute when Asahi Yokokawa swung a free kick past the back post where Bergers skipper Ben Collins headed the ball across goal for fellow centre-back Ryan Lethlean to nod home.
Newcastle equalised in the 21st.
Thomas Aquilina cut the ball back for Burgess, whose sweet first-time shot beat Yaren Sozer.
But, when Fryer beat Fletcher Fulton, stormed into the box then whipped a left-footed strike home, the travelling Jets fans went into party mode.
Heidelberg appealed for a penalty when defender Aleksander Susnjar out-bodied Akiel Raffie, but their pleas were waved away.
Newcastle skipper Kosta Grozos was sent off for a second yellow card in the 113th minute and rival substitute Johnny Apostolopoulos received a straight red card shortly after.
Then, Nunes teed up Gibson to put the issue beyond doubt.
As a result, the Jets claimed a $50,000 prize purse and a berth in the Asian Champions League (ACL) Two competition next year.
With qualification comes a lucrative payday.
Newcastle could pocket $450,000 for just qualifying for the group stages, like Sydney FC and Macarthur Bulls have netted previously.
- Meanwhile, the club’s Australia Cup winning team will be at the Queens Wharf Hotel between 11am and 1pm on Monday 6 October.
It’s a chance for fans to meet the players, grab a photo with the trophy and celebrate with the squad.
For more sports stories:
- Knights Old Boys keep spirit alive in Newcastle
- High-flying Jets down Heidelberg to win Australia Cup
- Newcastle athlete wins second silver at World Para Championships
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