Top Ten Prospects In The Wellington Phoenix Academy For 2026
These are fascinating times for the Wellington Phoenix Academy. Having gone deep into their Development Club mindset a few seasons back, they immediately experienced the best-case-scenario of how that can work when Finn Surman, Alex Paulsen, and Ben Old helped steer the ALM side towards a record finish in the 2023-24 season. Then the three of them all left, drawing hefty transfer fees from overseas, and since then they’ve tasted the flipside trying to replace those guys. Meanwhile the female half of the Phoenix Academy has blossomed just in time for the ALW squad to hire an internationally renowned coach with immediate winning intentions leaving a very narrow bridge between the U20s and the ALW squad for the time being (though that’s not necessarily a bad thing – it means the academy grads who are featuring a lot, such Emma Main, Daisy Brazendale, and Manaia Elliott, are really having to earn it).
It’s a tale that’s been told before so we’ll stick to the basics: it took some freaky alignment to have Surman, Paulsen, and Old all emerge at once... and none of them emerged from nowhere. Those guys had all been around the first team for 2-3 years beforehand, training hard, honing their craft, and preparing for those breakthroughs. When they left, big minutes suddenly fell upon guys in their first or second years to step into that week to week A-League grind. Hence the 2024-25 season kinda sucked. And while the 2025-26 season has at least offered a little more encouragement, it’s been equally unsuccessful.
But that’s the thing: through good times and bad, the Phoenix Academy remains the bedrock for this football club (and in the past three years we’ve witnessed both ends of that scale). This is nothing unique or groundbreaking for the Phoenix to be doing. Not at a time when maturing academies and the lure of foreign transfer fees have the A-League to skewing younger than ever before. Believe it or not, the Nix only ranked fifth last season for minutes given to U21s players (Adelaide United were top of the pops there)... though that doesn’t make the approach any less viable. All it tells you is that everyone else has also agreed that this is the most sustainable and efficient way to operate.
This article isn’t specifically about young players, it’s about academy players and academy players stay academy players after their 21st birthdays. In fact, that’s when they become most useful. The best prospects are inevitably going to seek bigger and better things, that’s where transfer fees come into the equation, but you don’t want to sell them all, right? You want to see a few of them stick around long term, reinforcing that connection, and cracking on as key contributors. It’s a credit to the Nix’s commitment that even after losing that super trio of Surman/Old/Paulsen, all of whom were regular starters, the percentage of minutes given to academy players has only dropped by a small amount in the one-and-a-half seasons since...
| PLAYERS | MINS | MIN% | APPS | STARTS | M/DAY | DEBUTS | GOALS | ASSISTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 (Italiano) | 11 | 5579 | 31.48 | 87 | 61 | 134 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 2024-25 (Italiano) | 12 | 8890 | 34.54 | 141 | 98 | 149 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 2023-24 (Italiano) | 13 | 11231 | 38.75 | 183 | 116 | 249 | 7 | 6 | 12 |
| 2022-23 (Talay) | 6 | 4120 | 15.49 | 80 | 37 | 135 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| 2021-22 (Talay) | 12 | 8188 | 30.63 | 161 | 87 | 221 | 6 | 8 | 5 |
| 2020-21 (Talay) | 5 | 5170 | 20.16 | 80 | 57 | 96 | 1 | 9 | 7 |
| 2019-20 (Talay) | 5 | 3492 | 13.09 | 57 | 38 | 86 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 2018-19 (Rudan) | 7 | 6626 | 23.93 | 86 | 73 | 93 | 3 | 9 | 11 |
Fair play to Giancarlo Italiano because in the wake of his resignation, many of his failings from the past 1.5 seasons have been pushed into focus. But while there may be valid questions about whether these players developed as much as they could have over that, there’s no doubting that Chiefy gave young players a chance. During his 73 A-League games at the helm, he gave debuts to 15 Academy graduates: Lukas Kelly-Heald, Fin Roa Conchie, Fergus Gillion, Isaac Hughes, Matt Sheridan, Luke Supyk, Gabe Sloane-Rodrigues, Nathan Walker, Jayden Smith, Alby Kelly-Heald, Lachlan Candy, Xuan Loke, Anaru Cassidy, Eamonn McCarron, and Ryan Lee. He’s also picked several more in matchday squads without them getting on the pitch (Josh Rudland, Charlie Beale, Dublin Boon, Mac Munro, and Joe Chalabi). That’s a lot of names, not all of whom will have long careers at the Phoenix. Some have already left. Others it’s too soon to tell. But all of them got at least some kind of a foot in the door under the Chief.
And that’s why this article exists. Three years ago, the first of these yarns was produced, highlighting the (subjective) top five players from the men’s academy who’d yet to debut in the A-League. Isaac Hughes and Matt Sheridan were among the five and are now regular starters for Italiano’s team. The other three were Dan McKay (played professionally in Ireland, now doing the college thing in the USA), Charlie Beale (now a National League regular with Christchurch United and playing OPL with South Island United), and Noah Karunaratne (another National League standout, who played for Eastern Suburbs and Christchurch United last year).
Two years later the idea was revived with a look at both the men’s and women’s academy. This was only a year ago so it’s early days but Lachlan Candy and Anaru Cassidy have both gone on to play A-League. Lewis Partridge is with SIU in the OFC Pro League. Luke Flowerdew and Dylan Gardiner remain key players for the WeeNix reserves. Lily Brazendale made an ALW debut earlier this season. Alyssha Eglinton, Mackenzie Greene, and Katie Pugh have kept up their good work within the academy. And Rebekah Trewhitt left for a quick stint in America before joining Lewes FC in the English third tier where she’s been scoring bundles of goals.
There will be some overlap between last year’s picks and this year’s picks... if someone was that good then, they’re probably still that good now with a further twelve months of development under their belt. The restrictions are that none of these players have played A-League football or hold A-League contracts (including scholarship/amateur deals). We already know about those folks and this is about shining a light on the talent still hovering in the shadows. And, yes, there will be an Auckland FC focus to follow now that they’ve gotten their men’s reserves up and running - AFC have developed a unique youth system to fit their purposes and it’s worthy of deeper examination. But right now we’re talking Wellington Phoenix so here are the top five men and top five women Nix Academy as the 2026 domestic season rolls around the corner.
Welly Nix Men’s Academy
Luke Flowerdew
Striker – Born 2 June 2006
He was already on this list last year and has gone to new heights in the twelve months since. An obvious highlight was scoring the winner in the friendly against Wrexham but that was merely the icing on the cake. The Tawa product also scored six times during the Central League and then carried that form into some fine National League production with three goals and an assist in his ten appearances. Flowerdew is a great finisher with that striker’s knack for getting in the right place at the right time, somebody who makes smart runs and is beginning to flex a bit more of an ability to create for others as well. Next step is to enhance his hold-up stuff but there’s all the ingredients here for a pretty useful centre-forward... including that unteachable goal-scoring instinct.
Flowerdew’s been stuck behind Luke Supyk throughout his time in the Nix Academy. Supyk was singled out early for a senior contract and has featured several times in the A-League... Flowerdew’s never had those opportunities. Never made the cut for an age grade World Cup either, which makes him a bit of an underdog. Yet he and Supyk have played together a lot for the Reserves and have pretty similar scoring records in those games, so with Supyk about to come off contract having only played one minute this ALM season that makes this a pretty crucial year for Flowerdew too, his last as an U20s player.
Mac Munro
Central Defender – Not Sure of Birthdate
Dunno about the exact age but he’d be around 18-19yo. Munro is another of the youngsters to have gotten the Chiefy Seal of Approval, playing good minutes in the Wrexham friendly alongside guys with substantially more senior level experience. Munro hadn’t played National League at that point. He’d only sparingly played Central League. But after the Wrexham game he stuck around the first team for some preseason action and a couple of matchday squads in the Australia Cup, then took his place as a first eleven dude for the Reserves (overtaking Seth Karunaratne to form a commanding partnership with Dylan Gardiner and occasionally Jayden Smith when available).
Formerly of Island Bay United, Munro fits the club’s preferred centre-back profile as an aggressive defender with good athleticism and a confident touch. Not a towering fella like 1.90m tall Jayden Smith but every bit as imposing in his own way. He’ll benefit massively from the example of a guy like Bill Tuiloma hanging around – and with several current scholarship players scheduled to move up to senior deals next season, he’s at the top of the queue to benefit from the next wave of scholarships.
Dylan Gardiner
Central Defender – Born 10 July 2006
Another repeat from the 2025 list... Dylan Gardiner has been outstanding in the past two National Leagues without being rewarded with anything more than a single bench spot in an Aussie Cup game in 2024 and half a friendly game against Wrexham. Also, having started all three games at the U17 World Cup in 2023, he wasn’t even selected for the U20 World Cup last year. It would not be unfair to say that the Hamilton recruit (who, like Luke Brooke-Smith, came through Ricki Herbert’s academy) hasn’t progressed as quickly as coaches for both club and country might have wanted... at least that’s the impression that we’re being given by the trajectory of his career. But, again, he’s been superb on the National League stage and that’s gotta count for something. We’re talking about another sturdy, tall defender. Very good in the air with great leadership capabilities. If it’s not at the Nix, he’s still going to be a very handy player somewhere... and, like a few others on this list, what he does this year is going to go a long way towards determining where and at what level.
Jack Perniskie
Striker – Born 7 January 2008
Okay, here’s the guy you really need to know about. He did make three starts and a substitute appearance during the National League last year and scored a couple goals during Central League so he’s not a complete bolter. However, it’s his mahi at the U17 World Cup and in the younger academy teams where the scale of his potential becomes clear. Whereas previous centre-forwards like Flowerdew and Supyk (even Ben Waine) had styles build around their speed and movement, Perniskie’s power is his fundamental attribute. Really solid build, strong and assertive... but here’s the thing: his touch is also golden. That means he’s got an excellent hold-up game already and if he can get the goals flowing as he steps into the U20s more regularly then the Nix will have a very serious player on their hands. You can see a bit more of his overall game in this video (from their end of year U17s tour to Melbourne a few months ago) where he’s wearing the #65 jersey. Expect to see a whole lot more of Jack Perniskie for the Reserves this year.
Hayden Thomas
Midfielder – Born 4 March 2006
Debuts this season for Xuan Loke, Anaru Cassidy, Eamonn McCarron, and Ryan Lee have taken four certainties out of contention for this last spot... leaving a few candidates to slug it out. Luke Mitchell is a crafty attacking player. Kyle Koch looks like he’s got something about him as a fullback. Ryan Watson made the last NZ U20 World Cup squad. But Hayden Thomas gets the nod. Another typical Phoenix product – the only thing this academy likes more than tall centre-backs is well-rounded techincal midfielders. That’s Hayden Thomas for you – only Flowerdew and Lee made more starts during the National League phase than this bloke, who also scored a couple bangers in the 7-2 thrashing of Western Suburbs that concluded their fixture calendar.
Thomas fits into that silky WeeNix midfielder archetype alongside guys like Anaru Cassidy, Fin Roa Conchie, Dan McKay, Charlie Beale, and Fergus Gillion from the past couple years. Like Beale, Thomas hails from Tauranga (a real talent garden for footballers these days) having been born in the UK and joined the Nix Academy as a 15yo. His future probably lies elsewhere than in the A-League for the Phoenix, as like Flowerdew and Gardiner there are others in his position who’ve been hand-picked ahead of him, but his is a universal skill set that any team could benefit from.
Welly Nix Women’s Academy
Katie Pugh
Striker – Born 18 September 2008
Of last year’s quintet, three of them are still eligible and if it’s purely about their immediate abilities then Mackenzie Greene and Alyssha Eglington would still be here. Both are leaders in the U20s, influential players as the Nix Reserves made it to the Kate Sheppard Cup final and then produced their best ever National League finish... yet they got their spotlight last year so let’s try and mix it up a bit. Katie Pugh still has to be here though. Because Katie Pugh is the finest goal-scorer to have come through the WahiNix Academy thus far.
Pugh’s 2025 selection came off the back of starting all three games at an U17 World Cup and scoring the goals that qualified Aotearoa not only for that tournament but for the following year’s one also. Since then, she’s been to another U17 World Cup where she again started all three games including scoring against Paraguay (a brilliant turn-and-strike, featured below). She also scored 13 goals in 12 appearances for the Phoenix U18s as they finished second in the Central League. That included five in one game against Vic Uni, as well as a winner in a 1-0 result against Miramar Rangers. Didn’t see her much in the Nats, only appearing four times (one start) after getting back from the U17 World Cup, so that’s the next step for this prolific striker – start banging in the goals in National League and everyone will know that the Blenheim native is the real deal.
Holly Robins
Central Defender – Born 12 April 2008
It’s a funky set-up with the Women’s Academy which has taken a few years to figure out. As of last season, the U20s played in the Central Development League Boy’s U15s league while the U18s played in the Women’s Central League. But it was the U20s who competed in the Kate Sheppard Cup and National League. Holly Robins played a lot for that U18s team as they finished second in the CL, helping anchor a defence that only conceded 15 goals in 18 games. The timings of NZ U19s and U17s tours then meant we got to see the WeeNix defensive trio in the National League with all the various combinations: with their U18s but not their U20s, with their U20s but not their U18s, and with everyone. And you know what? It was the young’uns from that U18s group that stood out the most.
Holly Robins played every minute at the U17 World Cup (a feat she shared with only one teammate: Pia Vlok). She’d also already played some National League before this season with similar trends shining through even then. Robins is a very tall central defender, good in the air and on the floor, though the part of her game that really sizzes is when she goes stepping up into the midfield and dribbling past players as an instigator from deep. We’re talking about a defender who plays with positive intent in all areas. Very useful passer too. Plus she once placed third in High Jump at the NZ National U16s Championships.
Maisy McDonald
Fullback – Born 2 April 2007
Probably the breakthrough player of the National League squad. McDonald, who moved up from Southland a couple years ago, got stuck playing in the back three while NZ U17 World Cup reps were away... that didn’t go so well. But once the squad was at full capacity again she reclaimed her rightful spot at wing-back (usually on the right though she can play left-sided too) and let it be known that she was outstanding. Great athlete, tall and combative. Drives into wonderful areas and has the ability to either shoot or cross once she gets there. With two goals and three assists during the Nats, she was the only Nix player with multiple of each. She was also the only Nix player who featured in all nine games (eight starts) – that’s because she wasn’t picked in the NZ U19s squad though she’s surely gotta be on the radar now with the U20 World Cup on the horizon.
There’s another element to this because McDonald is also the type of hard-working, hard-tackling player who, with a little more refinement, should suit the Bev Priestman approach. Can’t say that for all the prospects coming through – BP has made it pretty clear that she’s here to win and that doesn’t usually align with a whole lot of opportunities for the kids... although dunno how long she’ll be around for. But McDonald fits the approach. She’s a really fun player to watch, someone who the fans will instantly apreciate.
Freya Des Fountain
Fullback/Central Defender – Born 7 February 2008
Right so all that stuff written about Holly Robins? Most of it applies here too. Freya Des Fountain is also a tall, aggressive defender who loves to make driving runs into the midfield. Makes for a heck of a backline when Robins is doing that from the left side of the back three and FDF is doing that from the right side (with Mackenzie Green anchoring the middle in their best combo). Robins is slightly taller (listed at 1.78m in the U17 WC documents, whereas FDF is 1.73m) but Des Fountain is faster and also capable of playing as a wide defender – versatility always comes in handy when vying for higher honours. It was at right-back that FDF made her two starts at the last U17 World Cup but she was RCB for the Nix in all six National League appearances (with a goal and an assist). The Dunedin native also made one appearance for Southern United in 2024 before joining the Nix Academy. Best get used to her long legs gunning it up the sideline in yellow and black.
Sienna Candy
Attacking Midfielder – Born 5 June 2008
The best player for the WeeNix last year was Amber De Wit. The attacking midfielder from Christchurch had a remarkable season but she’s no longer in the academy, having opted instead to join North Dakota State University. So we’ll keep it moving with Sienna Candy, who like 4/5 of these players was also part of the U17 World Cup squad. Didn’t play a whole lot there, only two substitute cameos, and it wasn’t easy for her to get National League spots either with Lily Brazendale, Isla Cleall-Harding, and a few others competing for starts in her position. But Candy has a tendency to make herself known when she does play. She bagged two assists in her limited WNL minutes and started in the team’s three best performances (2-0 vs Petone, 3-2 vs Western Springs, 2-2 vs West Coast Rangers).
Candy’s older brother Lachlan made the 2025 edition of this list, debuting as a late sub in a draw against Brisbane Roar and making six matchday squads. He’s only had one such instance this season but he’s still hanging around. As is Sienna, who is short in stature but thrills with her skills. Loves to get on the ball in those pockets just outside the penalty area. Can score from range. Can pick a clinical pass. Can beat a player on the dribble. Very active without the ball. What more do you want?
Get involved on Patreon, Substack, or Buy Me A Coffee if you appreciate the yarns on TNC and want to support our mahi so that we can keep on serving it up
Also helps to whack an ad, share our stuff, and tell your mates to do so too