Newcastle Jets mentor Rob Stanton loves a challenge.

And, this A-League Men’s (ALM) season, they don’t come much bigger than tackling Auckland FC in New Zealand.

The competition newcomers, under the guidance of Steve Corica, sit atop of the ladder following four consecutive victories from as many appearances.

In fact, the outfit is yet to concede a goal, while enjoying massive support at home.

At the other end of the ledger, Newcastle is positioned in 11th courtesy of a solitary win.

So, Stanton’s keen to embrace the underdog tag.

“These are the matches you look forward to as a player and a coach,” he said.

“I love playing the big teams or the sides that have big crowds and are expected to win because it means you’re being tested.

“I think, with this group, we need to keep challenging them every day, otherwise we’re not going to know our limits or what we need to do to reach the top.

“So, I like being under pressure in that sense as it brings out the best in all of us.

“Having the chance to be the first club to knock them off over there is motivation, too.

“Honestly, I’d rather face the hardest teams every week… you improve quicker when you do.

“And, it’s not as if we can’t go away and win games against tough opposition.

“The evidence is there that we’ve done it in the past.

“So, I’m confident… I’m confident every time we play.

“It’s just a matter of being on point with everything; if we’re not, we seem to suffer.

“Auckland follows this clash with a NZ derby, so hopefully their minds will be on their next game, not our match.”

The previous outing Stanton referred to is the Jets’ thrashing of the Wellington Phoenix in 2023/24.

At the time of the encounter, the Kiwi organisation was also undefeated.

However, Newcastle came away with a 3-0 triumph at Sky Stadium.

“It’s funny, we seem to do really well when we travel,” he said.

“I think the players just get a bit closer and you spend more time with them… and they enjoy each other’s company.

“So, it’s beneficial.

“When you’re a player or a coach, you must manage expectation and pressure.

“And, the boys do it better when they’re away; they don’t feel it as much.

“Over time, they’ll get more comfortable with dealing with it at home.

“So, this away fixture is probably a good match for us.

“We did play them in the pre-season while both teams were still building.

“But, it was a good hit-out that ended in a draw.

“We’ll just focus on what we’ve been working on, trying to make little improvements in areas where we’re falling a little bit short at times.

“Overall, I think we’re getting closer and closer with this young group.

“We’ve just got to keep pushing and stay positive.”

However, there are chinks in Black Knights’ armour, according to Stanton as the Jets prepare for the encounter at Go Media Stadium on Saturday 30 November.

“If you score early, it might shock them a little bit,” he said.

“I’ve watched them closely, they’re a good team.

“I think with all the hype and support they’ve received, they’ve elevated themselves very quickly, especially with the excitement of a new franchise.

“But, the games they’ve played have all been quite tight; they’ve gone to the wire.

“They are well-organised and have gotten home through their persistence and resilience, which is not surprising given Steve’s their coach.

“They’re willing to do the little things well, the one percenters, chase back, get compact, put pressure on the ball, remain focused.

“So, we’ll need to match that duelling well and manage the situations, whether we have the ball or not.

“Then, if they make a mistake, we can capitalise.”

For Stanton himself, the battle with Corica is just as interesting.

Both spent many years at Sydney FC.

In fact, it was Corica who promoted Stanton to be his assistant in 2019.

He then hailed his “apprentice’s” influence, which included helping the Sky Blues to back-to-back ALM championships and the double in 2019 and 2020.

“I’m happy for Steve the way Auckland FC is going,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.

“He did a terrific job at Sydney FC.

“I worked with him for a long time… he certainly influenced me as a coach and as a person.

“He’s put that squad together quickly and they’re flying at the moment.

“That’s good for the game and the A-League, considering they’re undefeated and haven’t conceded.

“However, Steve’s a rival this weekend.

“Coming away with the three competition points is all that matters.”

Stanton admitted a triumph, or a great performance, at the expense of the Black Knights was essential leading into Newcastle’s next fixture at McDonald Jones Stadium.

The Jets tackle Adelaide United on Saturday 7 December.

“We definitely want to keep the fans happy,” he said.

“We’d love to get the crowd back from round one… that was a terrific atmosphere.

“We want to make the Newcastle supporters proud of the side.

“And, there’s two ways of doing that… winning and putting in a big effort.

“Winning’s clearly at the top but we want people to see our effort on the field.

“Those two things are non-negotiable.

“We want our fans to see the boys working hard, their never-say-die attitude, and be glad they’re representing the Hunter.”

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