Newcastle Jets' youth stars shine as Roar are silencing in thrashing at Suncorp Stadium

A bright future beckons Newcastle after their youth stars dazzled in the side's 6-1 A-League demolition of Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.

While neither club has qualified for the finals, the Jets can be optimistic about the energy and polish provided by Joey Champness and Angus Thurgate. They stunned a Roar outfit who had little to play for except a bright departure for retiring captain Matt McKay.

Champness, 21, and Roy O'Donovan each scored two goals against a flat home side while 19-year-old midfielder Thurgate was responsible for much of the momentum generated by the Jets.

Coach Ernie Merrick was humble in victory, citing the Roar's long list of injured and suspended players. But there was no denying the quality of Merrick's rebuilding campaign in Newcastle.

"I particularly targeted this game to give some of the younger boys a run," he said.

"We left out a lot of good quality senior players. Angus and Joey were probably our best two players."

A mere 7,985 spectators attended the Roar's worst A-League defeat and there is little hope any more will bother to turn up to the club's final home game next Thursday against Adelaide United.

The Roar gave themselves a chance when they clawed back to 2-1 early in the second half through Zach Duncan. But another Newcastle youngster, Ivan Vujica, put the result beyond the home side when his perfect cross found O'Donovan for his second goal of the night.

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McKay's defensive colleagues seemed ill-equipped to handle anything the Jets threw at them in the first half. The Roar's right flank was probed, picked apart and outpaced by the visitors' well-organised attackers.

Newcastle had a handful of chances before the Roar finally cracked. Champness was the common denominator on both occasions, opening the scoring with a beautifully angled strike that left Roar keeper Jamie Young virtually no chance of a save.

Minutes later, he was the provider as he glided past the defence before turning a cross infield for O'Donovan to send the Jets 2-0 ahead and after Duncan gave Roar the briefest of hopes, the visitors then stormed to a commanding victory.

"We've got young boys out there and I'll stick up for them to the very end," Roar coach Darren Davies said.

"They're absolutely knackered. They're giving all they've got."