Round 5 Preview – NPL Men’s NSW
The National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW continues this weekend, with several enticing clashes in Round 5.
Here is the rundown for another blockbuster set of fixtures in the competition.
SUTHERLAND SHARKS FC VS WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS FC
7:45 pm, Friday 6 March – Seymour Shaw
Sutherland welcome Western Sydney Wanderers to Seymour Shaw as they look to build on a dramatic first win of the season.
The Sharks got their first win on the board in Round 4, with a late penalty from Nicholas Olsen against a nine-player Blacktown City proving decisive.
Western Sydney have endured a varied start to the season with one win from their four games, which was an emphatic 4-0 victory against rivals Sydney FC. Last weekend’s narrow loss to St George City was their second defeat in a row.
Sutherland secured wins in both 2025 clashes, getting up 1-0 early on before winning 3-1 later in the year.
SD RAIDERS FC VS SYDNEY UNITED 58 FC
5:00 pm, Saturday 7 March – Ernie Smith Reserve
SD Raiders will target their first win of 2026, welcoming league-leading Sydney United 58.
SD Raiders extended their winless start to the NPL Men’s NSW, going down to Rockdale Ilinden, meaning they have just one point from their first four games.
United 58 are the only team to have won all four games so far this season, securing a composed victory over Manly United in Round 4, and sit at the top of the table.
United 58 held Manly scoreless in both 2025 encounters, with a 0-0 draw in Round 3 and a 1-0 win in Round 18.
NWS SPIRIT FC VS ST GEORGE CITY FA FC
5:30 pm, Saturday 7 March – Christie Park
NWS Spirit will face St George City, with both teams looking to build some momentum after mixed starts to the campaign.
Spirit picked up their second win of the season, with a come-from-behind win against Sydney Olympic in Round 4.
City also claimed victory in Round 4 – their first of the season, edging past Western Sydney Wanderers.
Spirit claimed two tight wins over the Wanderers in 2025, 3-2 and 1-0.
UNSW FC VS MARCONI STALLIONS FC
6:15 pm, Saturday 7 March – The Village Green
UNSW take on Marconi Stallions, eager to claim their first victory of the NPL Men’s NSW season against one of the early frontrunners.
UNSW lost their third game of the season, going down to St George FC in Round 4 as they continue a tricky start to life in the competition.
The side will be without defender Timothy Wohlfiel for the Marconi clash, following his red card against the Saints.
Marconi also tasted defeat last weekend – for the first time in 2026 – in a 1-0 loss to Sydney FC.
ST GEORGE FC VS MANLY UNITED FC
6:30 pm, Saturday 7 March – Barton Park
St George FC will hope to continue their unbeaten start to 2026 when they host Manly United.
St George maintained their flying start to the season, with a 2-0 win over UNSW, and are still yet to concede a goal in the NPL Men’s NSW in 2026.
Manly’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end in Round 4, as they lost 2-0 to Sydney United 58.
Midfielder William McCreey was sent off in the United 58 loss, so he will be unavailable for selection this weekend.
Manly claimed a win and a draw against St George in 2025 in two tight clashes.
ROCKDALE ILINDEN FC VS SYDNEY OLYMPIC FC
7:30 pm, Saturday 7 March – Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Rockdale Ilinden play host to Sydney Olympic in one of two blockbuster late kick-offs on Saturday.
Last weekend, Ilinden got back to winning ways with a narrow victory over SD Raiders, while Olympic were edged out by Spirit.
Rockdale secured a resounding win in this fixture last season, getting up 4-0, with the other clash finishing as a 2-2 draw.
APIA LEICHHARDT FC VS BLACKTOWN CITY FC
7:30 pm, Saturday 7 March – Lambert Park
APIA Leichhardt take on Blacktown City in another intense match in Round 4.
APIA produced a routine win over Wollongong in the last round as they secured their second set of three points of the year.
City suffered a late defeat to Sutherland Sharks last weekend, with the side finishing with two players sent off in a startling result.
It means they be without defender Nicholas O’Brien and midfielder Jacob Maniti for this weekend’s game.
These teams played out a couple of tense clashes in 2025, which were a 4-3 win for Blacktown City in Round 4 and a 1-0 win APIA’s way in Round 19.
WOLLONGONG WOLVES FC VS SYDNEY FC
3:00 pm, Sunday 8 March – Macedonia Park
Wollongong host Sydney in the only Sunday clash of Round 5, targeting their second win of the season against their in-form opponents.
The Wolves come into this game off the back of back-to-back defeats, losing 1-0 to Marconi in Round 3 and 2-0 to APIA in Round 4.
Wollongong have won one of their first four matches in the competition this year, but they were undefeated against the young Sky Blues in 2025, with a win and a draw.
Sydney FC have had a blistering start to the competition, with three wins from their four matches, including victories against Premiers NWS Spirit and title-chasers Marconi Stallions.
By Tim Gibson
