Smiles, hugs and plenty of laughs. The post-game interview with Lachie Rose and Kota Mizunuma offered a glimpse into why Newcastle Jets are surging up the Isuzu UTE A-League standings.
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Mizunuma celebrated his first A-Leagues goal as the Japanese star continued his red-hot start to life Down Under since arriving from Yokohama F.Marinos. The J1 League champion has four goal contributions for his new team.
He has also struck up a formidable partnership with Rose, on and off the field amid Newcastle’s five-game unbeaten streak to help the Jets close within four points of the top six.
“I’m very happy to be here,” Mizunuma smiled in his post-game interview alongside Rose on Paramount+.
“I want him (Rose) to score goal, Sorry Rosey but very good game.”
Mizumuma has supplied two assists for Rose during his time in the Hunter region and the latter added: “It has been working well. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been getting a few.
“Tonight he came straight off the bench and said sorry I didn’t see you. That’s okay.
“I’m just happy to be playing with him. He’s doing really well, the squad’s doing really well. We’re in a good space at the moment.”
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Rose continued: “I feel like we’ve become really good friends, off the field as well. Everyone in the group is really friendly. Everyone gets a long really well.
“Obviously with Kota and I’ve known Charlesy (Charles M’Mombwa) for a while, we go for coffees and stuff after training.
“Kota always gets a salad and Charlesy and I get the big breakfast.
“It’s been good and we build that friendship off the field which when you go out on the field, you want to work for each other.”
Mizunuma has quickly become a fan favourite in Newcastle, where Jets fans showed their love at McDonald Jones Stadium on Friday.
“Amazing support,” he said. “I’m very happy but I want to go to the next level and keep going.”
Rose then stepped in to say: “We want to make finals. Everyone underestimated us at the start of the season.”
“Now we have that togetherness.”
