From TSP To International Glory: NSW Players Help Joeys Lift CFA Invitational Trophy
The strength of the Football NSW player development pathway has once again been showcased on the international stage, with five former Football NSW Talent Support Program (TSP) graduates playing a key role in the CommBank Joeys’ triumph at the 2026 CFA Invitational in Shenyang, China.
The squad, featuring some of Australia’s brightest Under 16 talent, secured the tournament title after an impressive campaign against international opposition, finishing unbeaten across their three matches.
The Joeys opened the tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over China PR, before recording a draw against Kyrgyz Republic and finishing their campaign with a thrilling 4-2 win over Vietnam to claim the championship.
Among the squad were seven players who currently represent NSW-based clubs:
- Dimi Staveris – Sydney FC
- Noah Hooper – Central Coast Mariners
- Eden Smoli – Sydney FC
- Ned Howell – Manly United
- Tyler Hogan – Sydney FC
- Jake Tadrosse – Sydney FC
- Charley Kassis – Bulls FC
Their involvement highlights the continued success of the Football NSW pathway in developing players capable of competing at the highest levels of Australian football.
Adding to the NSW connection was Joeys Assistant Coach Phil Myall, who is also Football NSW’s Player Development Manager.
For Myall, the tournament provided a valuable opportunity not only to achieve international success, but also to continue learning and developing the next generation of Australian football talent.
“It was a fantastic experience in Shenyang and, of course, to come away having won the tournament made it even more special,” Myall said.
“The group had only spent a short training camp together in July before travelling to China, so to perform the way they did against Vietnam, Kyrgyz Republic and China was a great achievement.”
The tournament provided the players with invaluable exposure to international football, testing themselves against different playing styles, environments and challenges.
“For the players, these international tournaments are invaluable,” Myall said.
“Travelling together, adapting to a different environment and experiencing the demands and pressures of international football, particularly playing against the host nation in front of a big crowd are experiences that will really help their development.”
The experience also provided Myall with further insight into how Football NSW can continue improving its own player development programs.
“From my perspective, it was also great to see how the Football NSW boys performed in that environment and to take some learnings from the experience that we can bring back into our programs, helping us better prepare players who go on to represent future national teams.”
The success in Shenyang is another example of the important role Football NSW’s development pathways play in supporting young players as they progress towards representative football.
From the TSP environment through to national team representation, the journey continues to provide talented players with the tools, experiences and opportunities required to take the next step in their football careers.
Football NSW congratulates Dimi Staveris, Noah Hooper, Eden Smoli, Ned Howell, Tyler Hogan and Jake Tadrosse on their international achievement, as well as Phil Myall and the entire CommBank Joeys squad on claiming the 2026 CFA Invitational title.
A proud moment for NSW football and another example of the pathway delivering on the international stage.
