Yes clubs starting training last month for next season so some trial matches are happening.  

2023 fixtures have been released 

https://competitions.footballnsw.com.au/

As great as the format change is, do we think that the four additional teams will cause more lopsided results?

crystal ball question, put it this way the bottom 4 in PL1 sure did struggle whereas you'd expect the top4 from PL2 being competitive against them for starters.
All depends on recruiting, no matter it sure will be a exciting new season having 16 battle it out.

i wouldnt say lopsided, however i expect them to occupy the bottom 6 places once the season comes to a conclusion

I think it will definitely take the promoted sides sometime to adjust unless the splash the cash during the offseason. 

They're going to understand the meaning of top flight football this season and the costs associated with it in NSW.   However I wish them all sincerely a good season and 30 games of football in a season is what it is all about.  

1 Week to go!
I hope this format change works, especially in the long term, so that the other big states can emulate it.

Thanks posting up Rd1 fixtures.
Looking forward to a huge season gonna be great me hope.
I saw these movements below
Jason Madonis Syd United
Ziggy Gordon Sydney Olympic
Dakota Askew APIA Leichhardt
Leroy Jennings Sydney Utd
Connor Rose Sutherland Sharks
Nick Fitzgerald Sydney Olympic
Liam McGing Marconi Stallions

which clubs are looking strong / favourites this year? 

16 team comp, i can see some lop sided score lines

5 February , 2023 By Football NSW

Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.

Wollongong Wolves 2 v APIA Leichhardt 2 @ WIN StadiumAPIA Leichhardt came from two goals to snatch a point against Wollongong Wolves in a 2-2 draw on an entertaining Friday night at WIN Stadium to start the season.Goals from Takumi Ofuka and Mirza Muratovic inside the first 20 minutes sent the Wolves into halftime 2-0 up before Rory Jordan pulled a goal back for APIA in the 57^th minute to make it a tense final half-an-hour.Yianni Nicolaou headed home a late equaliser for APIA to see the points shared.

NWS Spirit FC 2 v Bulls Academy FC 0 @ Christie ParkNew boys NWS Spirit FC claimed a maiden National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s victory with a 2-0 result over Bulls FC Academy at Christie Park on a balmy Saturday.After being under the pump for a large portion of the first half, the hosts took the lead through a Matthew Cahill goal early before Michael Konestabo doubled the advantage in injury time.

St George City 3 v Rockdale Ilinden 4 @ Penshurst ParkA goal-fest took centre stage at Penshurst Park as Rockdale Ilinden defeated newly promoted side St George City 4-3 in a fiery derby that had it all.The visitors took the lead via the lethal Alec Urosevski before St George fired home two goals via some quality finishes from Pedro Da Silva and Maki Petratos.Bai Antoniou levelled the scores with a neat header before Urosevski added his second only minutes before the half-time break to give his side a 3-2 lead.Jaden Casella then notched up a quality goal to make it 4-2 in the second half before a Kosta Petratos penalty made things interesting – but it was Rockdale who hung on to claim the three points and derby spoils.

Sydney Olympic 3 v Sutherland Sharks 0 @ Belmore Sports GroundThe scoreline may have not reflected how the match unfolded but defending NPL NSW Men’s Premiers Sydney Olympic proved too clinical for a slick Sutherland Sharks outfit winning 3-0 on a hot summer’s day at the Belmore Sports Ground.Sutherland was left to rue missed chances in this fixture despite creating a multitude of chances, while Olympic were deadly in the conversion of their opportunities.Goals from Nick Fitzgerald, Roy O’Donovan and Oli Pufflet all but gave Labinot Haliti a winning start to his coaching regime at the Blues.

Blacktown City 1 v Manly United 1 @ Landen StadiumThe 2022 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Grand Final rematch between Blacktown City and Manly United did not disappoint as the ‘Match of the Round’ had it all, but the points were shared with the game ending 1-1 on a hot Sydney summer Sunday afternoon at Landen Stadium.It took a special goal from City’s Jak O’Brien to open the scoring in the first half before Manly United substitute Harry McCarthy made his mark when he equalised after coming on for Ashton to restore parity – but with no further addition to the scoreboard, it remained a tight and tense battle against two quality sides.

Sydney United 58 3 v Marconi Stallions 1 @ Sydney United Sports CentreSydney United 58 secured a 3-1 victory over local rivals Marconi Stallions at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday evening sending a message to the rest of the competition that they mean business in 2023.A double to new signing Leroy Jennings and one to Japanese import Taisei Kaneko was more than enough to cancel out a goal from Marko Jesic to secure an early three points for the hosts.

Sydney FC 4  v Mt Druitt Town Rangers 2 @ Valentine Sports ParkSydney FC kicked off their 2023 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s campaign in style with a 4-2 win over Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday afternoon.The Sky Blues were in fabulous form in the first 45 minutes with a trio of goals to stride out to a 3-0 lead. Defender Nathan Paull thumped home the opener before Jaiden Kucharski and Alexander Parsons made it three. Adrian Segecic fired home a fourth to confirm the three points.For Mt Druitt Town Rangers, it wasn’t exactly new year, new them with a defeat in their first game. The visitors did pull it back to 3-1 just before half-time through Nikola Skataric while Nikola Djordjevic added a consolation late in the piece but were unable to make any further inroads.

way to go for now as you know.....
SO,BC Manly will be strong and I hope SU get back there compared to last season and APIA.
Nice start by Spirit despite playing the Bulls.
StGC accounted for themselves well against Rockdale.
Sutho again not starting well.
SU58 good start.
Rangers I expected to struggle against SFC.

usual suspects. 

looks like Bulls & CCM academies might struggle at this level.

Naturally usual suspects at the core - Bulls for sure will struggle imo.
Both WSW CCM have done well last couple of seasons, CCM must have been in shock at home for WSW scored from the 10min 3 up by 14th minute !
CCM over the years are very well coached - my son has played against them a few times, I won't be surprised they get some results over the season BUT playing against seasoned campaigners week in week out tests the young uns mettle.

Real game of ups and downs at Edensor Park, especially after Mt Druitt shot themselves in the foot.

Stefan Nikolic on debut for Mt druitt town Rangers scores with his first touch to make it 2-1. Takes his shirt off in celebration, yellow card. 5 min later kicks the ball way, 2nd yellow and gets shown the red.
4min later united go on and make it 2-2 in the 82nd minute, then win it in the 90th min.

Talk about the emotions getting the better of him, showing his inexperienced. 

haha classic, such simple bahaviour and paying the price, pretty lame this crap for me tbh.
One day no celebration will allowed for its offensive to the opposition and supporters.
Sure some players go OTT, they are the ones to talk to warning a yellow next but light hearted enjoyment behaviour of scoring come on, lets let people enjoy.

Man some huge scores this weekend.

Luke Wilkshire from the Mariners leave to be a Young Socceroos assistant.  That's what it's all about, work your way up.

https://mens.nplnsw.com.au/2023/02/15/round-3-preview-npl-nsw-mens-6/

Working your way up only seems to happen for ex players. Not much opportunities for everyone else.

Early days Beretta but Spirit have started well to date, like who would have picked they knock off seasoned BC.
Wish SU58 was around and fill us in whats happenning there, APIA couple of early goals again.
Romero playing well.
Crowd attendance was good considering the heat.
SO kicking on.
At least Sutho got a late draw away, I have grave fears for them for the season.
Those late thunder/lightning storms halted StG/WSW game, postponed StG 1up.
Many games in 2 abandoned due to the storms.

APIA & Marconi smashing in the goals lately however Sydney Olympic still three from three.  

As per my post in the national forum, long time lurker, extremely infrequent poster, Marconi fan. Good to see a lot of the prospective nsd applicant clubs with such string starts to the season. We’ve been hearing for many years that these clubs have not been operating at “maximum capacity”, will be interesting to see if their early season performances are any indication that the process of building back up to “‘maximum capacity” has begun with an eye on next season. Certainly looks like based on the very early season form, Marconi, Olympic, United and APIA will all be there or there abouts come the end of the season 

Early days, but APIA and Olympic look most impressive. 

yer, as mentioned SO 3 from 3 good start.

As expected the academy sides will occupy the bottom places. They will give teams a run for their money but the inexperience of closing games is costing them

yer thats the prob fielding U21's and not any Snrs to steady the ship or direction competing against seasoned campaigners in the many NPL squads.
Some big turn arounds this week.
Sutho got their 1st win.
SO down by Rockdale.
Huge comeback by SU58 !
StG put away Marconi !
APIA on top after 4rounds.

Legue 1
Spartans on top

League 2
Nepean on top

Frustrating home loss for Marconi, would have set up next weeks Italian derby nicely. Obviously very early days, but with the first past the post format, and given how close the top of the table was last season, you don’t want to be dropping too many of these sorts of games, particularly at home.  surely given budget at the disposal of the club in comparison to most others, you’d want to be lifting trophies more regularly than we have been. But again, early days, looking forward to Sunday 

Exactly, football the way it should be and is everywhere else.  Sign of a champion team that maintains consistency over a protracted number of rounds.