NEWCASTLE, Australia (Interstat) — The Newcastle Jets opened their A-League season with a commanding 4-1 victory over the Brisbane Roar at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, delivering a performance that far exceeded statistical projections.

Pre-match analytics from Interstat gave the home side a 74.9 percent probability to win, but forecast a tight 1-1 draw. The Jets dismantled that prediction with a ruthless second-half display, scoring three times in a blistering 12-minute span to seize control.

The match was scoreless at halftime, but the deadlock was broken seven minutes after the restart. Midfielder Clayton Taylor found the net in the 52nd minute to give Newcastle the lead. Brisbane responded quickly, with substitute Dimitrios Valkanis leveling the score in the 62nd minute.

The Roar’s parity lasted mere moments. Just two minutes later, Jets midfielder Lachlan Bayliss restored Newcastle’s advantage, triggering a decisive collapse from the visitors. Bayliss, the standout performer of the match, then put the result beyond doubt in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, sealing his brace and rounding out the scoring at 4-1.

The match was also marked by disciplinary issues for Brisbane. Substitute Chris Long, who had earlier assisted on Valkanis’s goal and received a yellow card in the 40th minute, was sent off with a red card in the 89th minute for a second bookable offense. Newcastle’s Joel Bertolissio was also cautioned in the 87th minute.

The comprehensive win immediately alters the early A-League table. The Jets begin their campaign with a perfect record of one win and no losses, while Brisbane starts with one loss and no victories. The records are identical across all competitions for both clubs this season.

Newcastle’s attacking fluency, particularly through Bayliss and Taylor in midfield, proved too much for a Brisbane side that struggled to maintain composure after conceding the quick reply. The Jets’ ability to score in rapid succession transformed a potentially tense finale into a comfortable celebration for the home supporters.

The result provides a significant boost of momentum for Newcastle under the lights at their home ground, while Brisbane Roar heads home facing early questions after a defeat that grew increasingly lopsided.