N. Topor-Stanley

44. One of a handful of players who are with the Jets for their second stint, Nikolai Topor-Stanley has consistently shown that he’s one of Newcastle’s most dependable defenders. A towering brick wall in defence, Topor-Stanley first joined the club for the 2009/10 Hyundai A-League season. He played 81 times for the Jets in his first stint, and has played in 29 matches since. It’s a toss-up for a highlight of his time with the Newcastle Jets: a battle between his first-ever Hyundai A-League goal for the club back against Adelaide in 2010, the 2017/18 magnificent run to the grand final or his thunderbolt goal that helped defeat Perth Glory at home in the 2019/2020 season. Topor-Stanley’s first appearance for the Newcastle Jets came in the AFC Champions League on 10 March 2009, in a 2-0 loss to Beijing Guoan. The Newcastle Jets vice-captain has become a crucial leader amongst the squad ranks and shows no signs of slowing down on the field. QUESTION AND ANSWER: What is your hidden talent... Gardening and maintaining my lawn What would you be doing if you weren't a professional footballer... Something else in sports such as sports exercise science Favourite childhood memory... Going to Toys'R'Us for the first time or going to Sizzler the restaurant Untidiness teammate... Jason Hoffman or as Nikolai calls him 'The Dolphin' Best dressed in the team... Myself Worst dressed in the team... Ben Kantarovski What is your go-to karaoke song... The Horses (Daryl Braithwaite) If you could have any three dinner guests dead or alive, who would they be and why... Eddie Murphy for his comedy, Julius Caesar for his knowledge and Confucius for his philosophy. If you were down to your last $20, what would you spend it on... Something at Bunnings Favourite holiday destination... Mauritius Favourite food... A capsicum which is stuffed with mince and seasoned vegetables. Does sauce go in the fridge or the cupboard... Cupboard What is one thing on your bucket list... To catch a ten-kilo snapper Who is your celebrity crush... Carmen Electra What is your signature dish in the kitchen... Mauritian curry.