NSW Complete Championship Double at Emerging Socceroos Tournament
New South Wales have completed a remarkable clean sweep at the 2026 CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships, with NSW Navy claiming the Under-16 Boys title and NSW Sky lifting the Under-15 Boys trophy on home soil at Valentine Sports Park.
Adding to the occasion, Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic was in attendance for the finals, witnessing the next generation of Australian talent as NSW capped off a dominant tournament with two impressive victories.
In the Under-16 Boys final, NSW Navy secured a 2–0 win over Western Australia thanks to a standout performance from Dimitri Staveris, who scored both goals to take his tournament tally to six in just a week. His opener sparked wild celebrations, even snapping the corner flag, while his second in the 25th minute showcased his composure, finishing off a slick one-touch team move with an assist from Zoravar Singh.
The Under-15 Boys final proved a tighter contest, with NSW Sky edging Queensland Maroon 2–1 in a hard-fought encounter. Queensland struck first after Nathan Kirby earned and converted a penalty, but NSW responded just nine minutes later when Jacob Sousa won and converted a spot-kick following a clever ball in behind from Lachie Schumacher.
With the match finely poised, Samuel Hassarati delivered the निर्णng moment in the second half, reacting quickest after his initial effort was blocked to fire home a low strike from outside the box—his third goal of the tournament. Despite late pressure from Queensland, NSW showed composure and maturity to see out the victory, at times playing confidently through the press.
The tournament also recognised several standout contributors from New South Wales, underlining the state’s dominance across all levels. Jacob Sousa was named Under-15 Championship Final MVP, while Dimitri Staveris took out Under-16 Championship Final MVP honours. Off the pitch, Charlie Hollings (U15) and Rowan Fisher (U16) were awarded Referees of the Tournament, while Chris Gallo (NSW Sky) and Jacques Sartor (NSW Navy) were recognised as Coaches of the Tournament.
The double triumph not only highlights NSW’s strength in depth but also signals a bright future for Australian football, with the next generation making their mark on the national stage.
