Newcastle boss Mark Milligan insists the Jets’ high standards from season 2025-26 won’t drop this coming campaign despite an off-season of change that’s seen plenty of players depart the reigning Australia Cup and Isuzu UTE A-League Premiers.
The Jets are back on the training pitch ahead of their 2026 Australia Cup defence which will see them face NPL Victoria side Preston Lions on Tuesday, July 21.
Milligan’s side broke records galore in season 2025-26 as they went on to clinch a first ever Premiers Plate before falling to Sydney FC in the semi-finals.
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Following the end of what was an incredibly successful season the likes of Clayton Taylor, Lachie Rose, Mark Natta, Kota Mizunuma, Lachlan Bayliss and Eli Adams all left the club for pastures new.
The Jets have been busy signing replacements though, with former Melbourne Victory striker Nikos Vergos and Sydney FC ace Joe Lolley among five players to have joined.
However, despite losing plenty of firepower and talent from last season’s squad, Milligan says nothing major will change, especially with regards to the high standards that have already been set.
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“Of course, it’s a definite adjustment in terms of the way that we we want to do things,” Milligan said, when speaking to media on Monday.
“And you know, one good thing is all the boys that have come in come from very good pedigree in terms of where they’ve been, what they’ve experienced.
“So we expect them to catch on quite quickly, and it’s a responsibility of the group that was here, the core of the group as well, to make sure that the new ones have a good understanding of of those expectations.
“We know it’s an extension of last year in terms of the players. They drive their standards. We just we just hold them to those, and so far it’s been fantastic.”
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Arguably the most eye-catching signing of the off-season so far has been the Jets’ decision to hand ex-Sydney star Lolley a two-year deal following his Sky Blues release, with Milligan believing the 34-year-old will play a vital role in a season where the Jets will play in three competitions.
“Look, he’s arriving closer to the end of the month. But again, he’s extremely excited to get in, and look, I’m extremely happy that we’re able to get Joe.
“I think he brings a great deal of experience. He brings a great deal of quality as well.
“I spoke about it a lot last year. Whatever we give as a coaching staff, I still feel that there’s such a great effect from the ones that these young ones have in the changing room with them.
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“Obviously, we’ve had changes, and you know it’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to sort of keep Kota (Mizunuma) on because of the effect that he has on the young players coming through. We we saw that firsthand, and you know Joe’s one of those players as well.”
Season 2026-27 represents an exciting challenge for the Jets as they not only prepare to defend their Australia Cup and Isuzu UTE A-League Premiership crowns, but they’ll also be competing in the lucrative AFC Champions League Elite.
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With that in mind, Milligan says the club’s off-season recruitment has been aimed at adding both young talent and experience to the squad, whilst confirming the club is still in the market to sign a few more players.
“So yeah, look, it’s a good challenge. As I said, the multiple competitions for us, and not only how they manage the football that they’re going to face, but but how they manage their bodies as well, and the challenges that it brings physically.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MAY 09: Mark Milligan, coach of the Newcastle Jets looks on during leg one of the A-League Men Semi Final series between Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets at Allianz Stadium, on May 09, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
“We went through a lot of firsts last year with this group, and I think we have the opportunity again to do that.
“We’re still looking at a center back role and potentially an attacking midfield, a wide sort of player, and we want that younger sort of player as well.
“So the profile hasn’t changed. What’s changed is three competitions. We need a little bit of experience, and I think as well, if you look at losing players like Mark Natta, who’d been in the league for a very long time, had a lot of experience to to give to the younger ones.
“Kota, you know, was our eldest player, but had a lot of experience. So it it hasn’t changed the dynamic of the squad.”
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MAY 09: Kota Mizunuma of Newcastle Jets acknowledges the fans after leg one of the A-League Men Semi Final series between Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets at Allianz Stadium, on May 09, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
