Mariners captain ‘aiming for the top’ in 2024/25 A-League Women season

The Central Coast Mariners are looking to build on a hugely impressive re-debut last season. Read why captain Taren King believes they can make it to the top.

Central Coast Mariners captain Taren King had a bittersweet end to the 2023/24 A-League Women season.

The Mariners exceeded expectations on their return to the competition, finishing in fifth and securing a finals spot before being knocked out by eventual champions Sydney FC.

But King had to watch most of that success from the sidelines after she ruptured her ACL at the midway point, ruling her out for the rest of the season.

King has committed to the Mariners and it’s success for the next two seasons and said she believed the team is on an upward trajectory.

“I think you’d be silly if you’re not aiming for the top,” King said.

“We were aiming there last year and I think we shocked a few people, so the bar is definitely set for us this year.

“We’ve brought in a number of players to help us do that and we’re aiming high this year.”

Although the Mariners have lost big name players such as Kyah Simon, Wurigumal and Faye Bryson for the upcoming season, they’ve taken a page out of the men’s team’s book and invested in young talent, re-signing Peta Trimis and adding Young Matildas captain Jessika Nash.

“It’s awesome,” King said on the teenage talent.

“These girls are only young and yet they’re starting calibre players, which is crazy to think that they’re that young and performing the way that they are.

“I’ve been really impressed watching (training) and thinking ‘yeah, this is going to be a great season.’”

King said despite her shortened time last season, the decision to stick around on the coast for another two years was an easy one.

“I just felt really at home last year,” she said.

“I enjoyed the people, enjoyed the staff, enjoyed the girls and just enjoyed playing for the community.

“So it wasn’t really a thought to come back, just a process.”

Originally published as Mariners captain ‘aiming for the top’ in 2024/25 A-League Women season