The seventh edition of the New Zealand Derby takes place this weekend as Auckland FC host Wellington Phoenix at Go Media Stadium.
The first six editions of this fixture have all resulted in wins for Auckland FC but Wellington Phoenix head into the derby in red-hot form having won all three of their games so far.
Adding an extra bit of spice to the game at Go Media Stadium is the fact two brothers will go head-to-head on the pitch.
Born and raised in Tauranga, New Zealand, the Bidois brothers; Riley, who plays for Wellington Phoenix, and Auckland FC striker Jonty, will play against one another for the first time in their lives, and it just happens the meeting will take place in one of the A-League Men’s most ferocious fixtures.
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The brothers joined host James Dodd on a special episode of A-Leagues: On the Whistle.
“We’re excited,” said older brother Riley, who’s Phoenix side travel to Go Media Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
“I mean it’s gonna be a big occasion and all our family and friends are gonna be there. It’ll be the first time we’ve kind of played each other competitively on this sort of level so it’ll be pretty pretty cool and I’m definitely looking forward to it. So we’ll see!”
Auckland FC striker Jonty added: “Yeah, we always talked about playing together one day, but I’m not gonna lie, I don’t think we’ve said like what happens if we play against each other!”
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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – OCTOBER 18: Riley Bidois of the Phoenix celebrates after scoring a goal during the round one A-League Men match between Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory at Hnry Stadium, on October 18, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
The lead up to the game has been dominated by messages from friends and extended family enquiring about tickets for the must-watch match at Go Media Stadium, with tickets for the game selling quickly.
But while people from outside have been buzzing around the Bidois brothers ahead of the game, the same can’t be said from within the family home.
“It’s been pretty quiet, to be honest, I feel like this is the quietest it’s been,” Riley laughed when asked if the family WhatsApp chat has been busy.
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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 30: Jonty Bidois of Auckland FC in action during the round three A-League Men match between Brisbane Roar and Auckland FC at Suncorp Stadium, on October 30, 2026, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
“I feel like we’re both kinda just trying to keep our cards [close] to our chest and and see how it goes on the weekend. I think we’re both quietly hoping we can get it done and we’ll see, but yeah, there’s not a lot been going on!”
Asked who the family will be cheering for, Jonty said: “I think they’re pretty neutral to be honest!
“I don’t know, maybe secretly they’ve got their favourites, but I think for us they’re just trying to be neutral!”
On loan at the Phoenix from US Central League club Monterey Bay, Riley Bidois grabbed the headlines in Matchweek 1 of the 2026/27 A-League Men season after coming off the bench and scoring with his first touch to help the Nix defeat Melbourne Victory 2-1.
As for Jonty, whilst older brother Riley has been stateside the younger brother of the two has been busy establishing himself as a central figure in an Auckland FC squad that clinched the 2025/26 A-League Men Championship.
“We’re both obviously very passionate about it [football] and we’re the same position and we have the same sort of like ambitions,” Riley said when asked if they try and seperate the rivalry.
“So I think it’s easy, like me and Jonty get along well off the field as well as on it.
“We train a lot together during like our off -seasons and stuff, we always try and help each other as much as possible and you know it kinda just goes naturally.”
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Jonty added: “I would always challenge him to like little challenges that I’d probably likely lose when I was bit younger.
“But I never gave up! We always had little games going on, especially when we were a bit younger, even at school and stuff like that, when we were at the same school, it was it was good.”
Growing up in Tauranga, the Bidois brothers were far closer to the city of Auckland than they were to the Kiwi capital of Wellington.
But with the two brothers being hooked on football from a young age and with just one professional team to choose from in New Zealand at the time, it was Wellington Phoenix who helped the Bidois brothers fall in love with the beautiful game.
“Me and Jonty spoke about this the other day,” Riley said when asked if they were both Phoenix fans as kids.
“Wellington was the only club in New Zealand, we both kind of always watched Wellington.
“Mum brought it up the other day. For my 13th birthday or something like that, Mum and Dad shouted tickets to come down and watch the Phoenix play.
“It’s pretty strange sitting here now when we’re both playing for the two clubs in this country. It’s pretty cool.
“Like we were both absolutely fizzing just to come down and just watch football in this country and now we’re playing in arguably the biggest game this country has against two big clubs.
“So I think it’s pretty crazy how it’s kinda panned out.”
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