The 2026 NPL Queensland season gets underway for Brisbane Roar B this weekend, with an opening round match up against Brisbane City at Meakin Park on Sunday afternoon.
Sunday’s Round One clash will be new Head Coach, Borja Souto’s first league game in charge after leading the side to the Kappa Pro Series Quarter Finals over the past month.
The Spaniard, who hold a UEFA Pro Licence and has experience coaching in Spain, Türkiye, Israel and China, specialising in the development of young footballers will lead what the side that serves as the club’s reserves and a launching pad for the best up and coming talent in Queensland.
Under Souto, Roar reached the Kappa Pro Series knockout stages for the second time in their history, after victories over Gold Coast United and Brisbane Strikers saw them top Group A.
Roar’s run came to an end at the Quarter Final stage at the hands of defending NPL Queensland Premiers, Moreton City Excelsior who prevailed 4-2 on Sunday at Nudgee Recreation Reserve.
Niall Thom, who found the back of the net against Excelsior top-scored for the side with four goals in the Pro Series, while Harry Marshall, Zachary Harrison, Khodar Abdulkarim & James Durrington all scored as well throughout the sides Pro Series campaign.
Durrington, who captained the side throughout the Pro Series Group Stage was rewarded for his strong form with his first ever Isuzu UTE A-League start in last weekend’s Round 17 clash against Melbourne Victory.
Thom will come up against his former club when Roar host City on Sunday, after making the move from Imperial Corp Stadium in the summer.
Thom is joined by Taj Sorenson (Logan Lightning), Emmett Shaw (Lions), Harry Marshall (Lions), Carter Hammond (Moreton City) & Zachary Harrison (Moreton City), who all come into the program after impressing with local clubs.
Additionally Roman Canosa (Newcastle Jets), Mikael Evagorou-Alao (Melbourne City), Oscar Page (Adelaide United), Khodar Abdulkarim (APIA Leichhardt) have joined the side from interstate.
Sunday’s opponents – Brisbane City are captained by former Roar defender, Corey Brown and finished seventh in the league in 2025.
Sunday’s match kicks off at 3:15pm at Meakin Park and will be live streamed on FQTV and the Football Queensland YouTube channel.
MATCH DETAILS
NPL Queensland Men 2026 – Round 1: Brisbane Roar B v Brisbane City
Meakin Park, Slacks Creek
Sunday, 22 February (3:15pm KO)
2026 BRISBANE ROAR B SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Oscar Page, George Plusnin, Tyson Rusden
Defenders: Roman Canosa, Jackson O’Reilly, Charlie Parkin, Nelson Deng, Oscar Myers, Harry Marshall, Adam Shaker, Archie Mitchell, Kade Kerry, Riley Bond
Midfielders: James Durrington, Emmett Shaw, Ianni Valkanis, Taj Sorenson, Khodar Abdulkarim, Jack Flanagan, Jory Schneider
Forwards: Aaron Morris, Rhys Williams, Mikael Evagorou-Alao, Niall Thom, Zach Harrison, Carter Hammond
STAFF
Head Coach: Borja Souto
Assistant Coach: Sekou Jomanday
Goalkeeper Coach: Tom Collins
Analyst: Nauv Kashyap
Head Physiotherapist: Ranveer Atwal
Physiotherapist: Ajay Khabra
