Newcastle Olympic keen to catch Bulls on the hop in huge FFA Cup challenge

Northern NSW NPL clubs Olympic and Broadmeadow face enormous tasks against A-League sides in the knockout, three months after the COVID lockdown ended their season early.

Adding to the challenge has been the fact A-League clubs have been allowed to train through that period while NPL sides returned on October 11. However, rumours of unrest at Macarthur, who have lost assistant coach Mark Milligan and former Socceroos keeper Adam Federici in recent weeks, has buoyed Griffiths.

"There's a bit going on down at Macarthur so hopefully it's a good time to get them," Griffiths said.

To help even the playing field, NPL clubs will be allowed to field cup-tied players, meaning Olympic will have recent signings Jackson Burston, Jarrod Dodds, Marcus Duncan and former Mariners keeper Adam Pearce.

"It helps, I suppose, but at the same time it still goes back to the question of being out of play for a while through COVID," Griffiths said.

"So we're on the back foot a bit when it comes to preparing, but we've just got to get on with it and not dwell on it. We've just got to use it as a good experience.

"You've just got to put your best case forward and hopefully represent the club and the region the best you can."

Duncan returns to Olympic from Weston, while Dodds is another addition at the back, coming from Sydney club Hills United. Olympic have lost long-time defender Cody Lucas and most likely Brian Sutomo and Yared Abetew from last season's squad.

Griffiths was looking to turn around their poor finish to 2021, when they dropped out of the top five, and he believed the cup will help.

"We were battling last year," he said. "We were trying to find our rhythm and no matter how hard we tried, it felt like it was backfiring, so obviously I've recruited in areas I felt we needed to.

"I've given everyone one year for me to have a look at them and I'm generally happy overall with the balance of the squad, but with this extra fitness and loaded pre-season, I think it will definitely help us for next year."

Olympic lost to Magic 2-0 in a trial last Friday but Griffiths said it was "a good hit-out" and "we had a few boys missing".

"The boys have been working hard and I think this will hold us in good stead for next year and with good momentum heading into the pre-season.

"They will be fitter, especially my older players who may need a longer pre-season. It's actually a blessing in disguise that we're playing in this because we get to train this time of year and the boys are loving it.

"They are loving training and they want to keep going after the commitment to November 13. They don't want to stop."

Olympic could also have former captain Kyle Hodges back after he missed 2021 through injury.

"Kyle is doing well but I'm not going to put too much pressure on him because he just wants to come back and enjoy himself in training first before he commits, which is a great idea," Griffiths said.

"But I like the signs and he brings a lot of leadership to the team."

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