In one of the signings of the upcoming National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season, former Blacktown City FC high-flyer and NSW Blues representative Leroy Jennings has penned a deal with Luke Wilkshire’s Wollongong Wolves squad after agreeing to terms on Christmas Eve.

The 22-year-old attacker was seen as one of Blacktown City’s deadliest arsenals up front with his quality set to benefit his new South Coast club in more ways than one alongside the likes of new attacking teammates Thomas James, Lachlan Scott, Van Elia, Marcus Beattie, Stefan Dimoski and Hamish Lamberton.

“It’s been a crazy week I tell you.

“This decision was so hard to make as I really enjoyed my time with Blacktown City and had some great memories there.

“Moving to the Wolves was the next step for me in my development as a footballer.

“Having worked with Luke during the NSW Blues camp as well, I am really looking forward to doing my thing for my new club and the fans.”

Wilkshire was delighted with the news the speedster, who is half Italian and half Fijian/Tongan, was set to wear the Wolves colours for the upcoming season.

“Leroy is a player who suits our squad and how we work in Wollongong.

“He is exciting, hungry and a quality young talent.

“I look forward to working with him as I am sure he will compliment our squad perfectly for the new 2021 NPL NSW Men’s season.”

Jennings joins fellow new Wolves recruit and former Central Coast Mariners and Gold Coast United Kiwi shotstopper Aidan Munford who was also part of the NPL QLD’s Team of the Year in 2020, Van Elia and Bilal Belkadi as the clubs’ new recruits.

Even though the club has said farewell to the likes of Takeru Okada, Chris Price, Guy Knight, Bul Juach, Harry Callahan and Nick Littler, Wilkshire is set to unearth a couple of quality young local stars as well as looking at announcing a couple more new additions in the new year.

The Wolves will kick-off of their 2021 NPL NSW Men’s campaign with a huge round 1 clash against 2020 Premiers Rockdale Ilinden at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday 28th of February.

Marcus Beattie was the talk of the town at Wollongong last weekend when he notched up his first ever memorable hat-trick with the club in the Wollongong Wolves’ 5-2 round 11 victory over Manly United.

Even though the win did not reward the Wolves with the Premiership thanks to Rockdale Ilinden also winning on the final day, Beattie was delighted with his three-goal haul that’s put the striker in good stead for this Sunday’s crucial do or die semi-final clash against rivals Sydney United 58 at Albert Butler Memorial Park.

“Yes of course I am very happy to firstly be contributing to the team’s success and then obviously I absolutely love scoring goals so to get the hat-trick is always a very good feeling.

“With regards to the Premiership, we got so close with just the goal difference being the margin, so a little disappointing to not get there in the end, but I feel like that just gives us even more motivation to go out there and win the Grand Final now.

“We have worked extremely hard pre and post the COVID break so we feel like winning the Grand Final would be a just reward for all the hard work we’ve put in as a team.”

With attackers Lachlan Scott and Bul Juach out injured for the season, the Wolves have still seen a surge in goals nonetheless thanks to Beattie, Josh Bingham and the return of 2019 Player of the Year and Golden Boot award winner Thomas James which has pleased coach Luke Wilkshire.

Standing in their way for a place in this year’s 2020 NPL NSW Men’s Grand Final will be a hungry Sydney United 58 outfit full of experienced stars of their own keen to spoil the Wolves’ party at their temporary home ground.

“It’s a massive game against Sydney United 58 this weekend there’s no doubt about that.

“We know how strong they are across the park, so we need to remain focused for the full ninety minutes and if we do that, then I really feel like we have the quality to cause some damage.

“These one-off semi-finals are always going to be tough, but we will be ready to go mark my words.

“United 58 are a quality team and have shown that throughout the past few seasons. The likes of Antelmi, Sim, MacDonald all possess quality but they have dangerous players all over the park so I feel like if you focus on taking out one of the boys, then the others will step up to cause damage so we will need to be focused for the whole game – It’s a big game and will be raring to get the job done.”

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It may have been a gritty victory but striker Josh Bingham’s sole goal in the Wollongong Wolves’ Round Nine 1-0 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers at Albert Butler Memorial Park on Sunday has once again given the 2019 Premiers hopes of clinching back to back titles.

The 25-year-old former Oak Flats Falcons junior notched up his second goal of the season and one that could prove pivotal after round 11 concludes heading into the Finals Series.

“It was nice to score in what was an important game for us.

“We didn’t play our best football, but to still get the three points and have a big game defensively was a real positive and something we’ll take moving forward with two matches remaining.

“It’s been an exciting season, with some added challenges with the shorter format. You definitely have to go out each week and put your best foot forward because you can’t afford to look back and have missed opportunities for points and that was certainly put to the test against a hungry Wanderers outfit on Sunday.”

Injuries to key personnel have affected Luke Wilkshire’s squad during the rebooted season with the likes of Bul Juach, skipper James Stojcevski, Harry Callahan, Lachlan Scott and Darcey Madden to name a few, that have tested the Wolves playing group.

“We’ve been very unlucky with injuries and have lost some important players in key positions.

“But I think it speaks volumes of the squad we have that players have been able to step in and do a fantastic job and keep the team moving forward.”

One such player that not just the club but the entire National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition was happy to see again was none other than 2019 Golden Boot and Player of the Year Award winner Thomas James.

After spending an uneventful time with A-League outfit Perth Glory, Bingham was delighted to see the Englishman doing his thing for the club at the business end of the NPL NSW Men’s season.
“It’s been great having TJ out there, he’s a top-quality player and can create something out of nothing which is a huge asset, especially coming to the tail end of the season.”

Bingham and co will be on their guard this Sunday evening as the Wolves travel to Rockdale where they will face a tricky Sydney FC outfit who are also battling for a Finals Series finish.

“We know the quality that they have and are expecting nothing less than a tough game against the Sky Blues.

“We have to treat every game now like a final and we’ll be doing just that and are confident we can beat anyone if we play to our potential.

“Playing finals football and winning silverware is something we’re hungry for. With the teams so close at the top, we know we just have to control what we can and win the games ahead of us.”

Bingham heaped praise on coach Luke Wilkshire as he stated to Football NSW how much he has learned during his time at the South Coast club.

“It’s been great learning and playing under Luke. He’s got such a strong winning mentality and that’s evident in the team he’s put together over the last couple of years and the results that have come with it.

“It’s a top group of people in and around the team and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

It was the green light Wollongong Wolves Head Coach Luke Wilkshire was waiting for – the news that 2019 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner Thomas James will recommence his football journey with the South Coast club when they face Blacktown City this Sunday afternoon.

The 27-year-old experienced a frustrating time during his short-term Hyundai A-League stint with Perth Glory under coach Tony Popovic which resulted in James wanting to return back to the Wolves to play regular football once more.

Wilkshire was relieved that his star attacker will be ready to go this Sunday with the former Socceroo hoping his prized English import can spur his side in front of goals after going down 3-1 to Sydney United 58 last Sunday.

“I’m just happy that TJ can now play again having gone through a poor experience with Perth and the way he was treated, especially with not releasing him.

“TJ hasn’t played since COVID-19 hit and we are all looking forward to seeing him enjoying his football once again.”

The London born attacker took the NPL NSW Men’s competition by storm in 2019 scoring 24 goals in what was a big year for not only himself but the Wolves as well who took out the Premiership.

The arrival of James has come at an ideal time for Wilkshire who lost one of their talented young strikers in Bul Juach through injury with the 19-year-old undergoing ankle surgery today.

Juach was in fine form during the start of the rebooted NPL NSW Men’s season, scoring three goals, but was stretched off in their match against Sydney United 58.

“Bul underwent surgery today and will start his recovery process and will be back for the next NPL NSW Men’s season.

“We are a tight knit group and are all here to support one another through all this, so he will come back stronger than ever.”

Don’t forget you can watch Thomas make his long awaiting return to the game LIVE exclusive only on NPL.TV when they face Blacktown City at 2:30pm.