Newcastle are facing an exodus of talent with salary deals offered to established stars failing to match packages from their rivals.

Some stars are even said to have been offered less than their currenht deal to stay with the Jets.

But Van Egmond is desperately trying to keep the best team of the year together.

"The important thing for any football team is to keep the nucleus of your team," he admitted immediately after holding aloft the A-League Trophy.

"We need to keep the players that have done the job. You're always going to lose some but stability is the key if you are going to build for future competitions."

Among those facing the exit door for the Jets are Championship-winning goalscorer Mark Bridge and Joe Marston Medal-winning Man Of The Match, Andrew Durante.

Durante - who appeared with his coach at the post-match press conference - has been offered a lucrative deal to take him to Wellington Phoenix next season.

Van Egmond added: "We're a young team and that bodes well for many years to come. It's just a matter of making sure we keep these players - and especially the guy on my left.

"Durra is effective not only on the park but off the park as well and in the changing room. He's been a real leader and he's very popular with his peers. If we lose Durra, it will be to the real detriment of our club."

Goal hero Bridge is another one likely to be lured away from Newcastle and he's signed a letter of intent to join Sydney next season.

Van Egmond paid tribute to the match winner - and revealed he'd loveto hold onto the star for their next campaign.

"Bridge was tremendous tonight," said Van Egmond. "He held the ball up well, made fantastic runs, really linked up with the midfield and popped up and scored a tremendous goal.

"Bridge's an immense talent and another young player coming through Australian football and one destined for higher honours.

"If it was up to me, I'd like to keep Bridgey, but we have to work within our salary constraints.

"We don't get involved with service agreements and if that's the case, then that's the case.

"We're working off a $1.8million as against the Mariners which is probably closer to $2.8/$3million including their marquee.

"We've done it very frugally and it's been very satisfying - but is it sustainable? Probably the answer will happen further on down the years."

He added: "We have a young team who are only going to get better. I'm very happy and hopefully we can keep the nucleus of the team for many years."