The feats of endurance shown by Nikolai Topor-Stanley for Newcastle Jets might just go down in Hyundai A-League folklore.
Topor-Stanley, 33, has been the bedrock of the Jets defence since re-joining the club two seasons ago.
He hasn’t missed a single minute of the past two seasons, and fronted up for Newcastle’s gruelling February run of four matches in 12 days, as usual with minimal fuss.
Overall, he’s played 57 consecutive Hyundai A-League matches for the Hunter club, trailing only Alex Wilkinson (98) and Josh Rose (64) on the all-time standings.
No wonder Newcastle boss Ernie Merrick has signed the centre back up for at least two more years.
“I don’t know how Topor does it,” Merrick told the Newcastle Herald.
“He is just incredible. He and Nigel [Boogaard] are rock solid at the back. Topor is never on the physio’s bench, never.
“He looks after himself and is a true professional. He is so reliable and never complains. Same with Nigel. I ask them how they are feeling – ‘great’.
“If they had a broken leg it would be the same reply.
“To have two at the back like that and Glen Moss, who is so solid as a goalkeeper, is the foundation of our team.”
Topor-Stanley, who turns 34 next week, will remain in the Hunter Valley until the end of the 2020/21 campaign after today’s signature.
The defender said he was please to have put pen to paper.
“It’s a club that I’ve spent a large part of my career at, across two stints, and I’m happy to have put pen to paper,” Topor-Stanley said.
“The side that’s together now is one I’m proud to be a part of, it’s a strong squad and it’s well set up for success in the not-too distant future.
“My partnership at the back with Boogs [captain, Nigel Boogaard] is continuing to develop nicely and I’m really enjoying my football under Ernie.”
