The Wellington Phoenix Gazette
Squad10 Aug 2026
Bill Tuiloma signs on for more
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Bill Tuiloma and Wellington Phoenix agree another 3 years.
Squad10 Aug 2026
Words exchanged at Wellington Phoenix
Bill Tuiloma and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Transfer targets10 Aug 2026
Wellington Phoenix rebuffed over Alessandro Lopane
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Melbourne City have kept their man, and Wellington Phoenix go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
Market10 Aug 2026
One of our own: Gavin Stewart joins the Wellington Phoenix first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Gavin Stewart is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market10 Aug 2026
One of our own: Declan Price joins the Wellington Phoenix first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Declan Price is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market10 Aug 2026
Wellington Phoenix promote Blake Murphy from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Blake Murphy has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market10 Aug 2026
Anthony Davies steps up from the Wellington Phoenix academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Anthony Davies has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
The dugout10 Aug 2026
James McGarry gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Squad10 Aug 2026
No place for Michael Ruhs in the new shape
He is not being dropped. There is simply nowhere in the formation Wellington Phoenix are playing to put a man who does what he does, which is a harder thing to be told than any team sheet.
In brief
- Squad Too much change too quickly at Wellington Phoenix
- The dugout Bill Tuiloma asks for a word with the manager