Central Coast Mariners have signed highly-rated full-back Lucas Mauragis from F3 Derby rivals Newcastle Jets on a three-year contract.
The 22-year-old Olyroo has made 67 Isuzu UTE A-League appearances – 47 of which have been for the Jets, after he graduated from the club’s academy and debuted as a teenager. The remaining 20 were accrued at Wellington Phoenix where he spent the 2022-23 season on loan.
Mauragis scored two goals and assisted three through 22 league games for the Jets in the most recent Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Mariners head coach Mark Jackson says the Mariners have acquired a player ready to make an instant impact at the club, but he also has plenty of room to develop across the duration of his three-year contract and beyond.
“We are delighted to have Lucas onboard,” Jackson said.
“He is a player that we identified a long time ago and have been watching.
“Lucas has huge potential to grow but can also impact the team immediately, and is a young man that wants to learn, wants to get better and wants to embrace everything that we want to do here on the Coast.
“It is a very exciting time for both us and Lucas to have signed him on this deal for the next three seasons.”
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Mauragis says he intends to exceed the expectations set for him by Jackson and the Mariners coaching staff, his teammates and new fans as he joins the Mariners for a tilt at a third-consecutive Isuzu UTE A-League Championship.
“I am ecstatic to begin this new chapter of my career alongside this exceptional group of players,” Mauragis said.
“I hope to push limits, surpass expectations and I am aiming for nothing less than continued excitement and success for the fans.”
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