The Team Wellington Gazette
Player ratings7 Dec 2026
Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues was unplayable
Successful dribbles: 44. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
Player ratings7 Dec 2026
No sign of nerves from Chris Sutton at 14 — 7.88
The hardest thing about being 14 in a senior side is that nobody makes allowances. Chris Sutton did not need any: 7.88, and he looked the most comfortable man on the pitch.
Squad7 Dec 2026
Tommy Tuiloma signs on for more
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Tommy Tuiloma and Team Wellington agree another 3 years.
Squad7 Dec 2026
Tempers go at Team Wellington
Steven Lustica was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
The dugout7 Dec 2026
No hiding place for Tommy Tuiloma
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Tommy Tuiloma, and the manager let it.
Looking ahead7 Dec 2026
The big one: Auckland City come into view
Two sides from the top of the table, one afternoon, and a month of talk decided in ninety minutes. Team Wellington will not use the word title this week and will not stop thinking it.
Squad7 Dec 2026
A month that belonged to Michael Waine
The young player of the month award goes to a 16-year-old at Team Wellington who has looked like the finished article for four weekends running. The next four are the ones that decide whether he is.
Match7 Dec 2026
The half-term report on Team Wellington
Position 2, 12 points, and every result so far reduced to one line. The second half of the season starts with the same squad and a different set of expectations.
Match5 Dec 2026
Two points walk out of the ground
Level with 88 minutes on the clock, after an afternoon Team Wellington had all but put away. Waitakere United will call it a point earned; the home dressing room will call it two given away, and both of them are right.
In brief
- Squad Team Wellington lose Chris Sutton
- Match Honours even between Team Wellington and Waitakere United
- The dugout Half-satisfied: Callum Van Hattum on the draw