The Wellington Phoenix Gazette
Market19 Feb 2029
Joshua Laws puts it in writing
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Wellington Phoenix, and it is not being withdrawn.
Player ratings19 Feb 2029
Isaac Hughes goes up and wins it — 7.49
A defender on the scoresheet, which happens rarely enough that everybody in the ground remembers who took the corner. 1 for him, and a mark of 7.49 for the rest of it.
Transfer targets19 Feb 2029
Wellington Phoenix rebuffed over Alem Omerinović
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Haugesund have kept their man, and Wellington Phoenix go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
Match17 Feb 2029
Isaac Hughes’s goal not enough for Wellington Phoenix
Isaac Hughes scored, and precious little else went right: 1‑2 to Central Coast Mariners, and a quiet walk to the dressing room.
Squad19 Feb 2029
A falling-out at Wellington Phoenix
Jordan Lauton and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
The dugout19 Feb 2029
No hiding place for Alby Kelly-Heald
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Alby Kelly-Heald, and the manager let it.
Squad19 Feb 2029
Words at Wellington Phoenix training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Corban Piper is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Squad19 Feb 2029
Reece Walker signs a new deal
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Reece Walker commits to Wellington Phoenix for another 3 years.
The dugout19 Feb 2029
Oliver Hunter: “No excuses”
“I could talk about decisions and I could talk about luck. I will not. We lost.” The manager, 1‑2, and a press conference that lasted four minutes.
In brief
- The dugout The team sheet said everything about Joshua Laws
- The dugout Corban Piper dropped after a run of poor form
- Squad Bookings catch up with Matthew Scarcella