Doubters to believers: Wanderers turn season around

Sunshine Coast Wanderers mainstay and new dad Taylor Walkinshaw has opened up on the club’s remarkable turnaround.

Sunshine Coast Wanderers mainstay Taylor Walkinshaw has opened up on how the club has resurged for an unlikely survival story in the National Premier Leagues.

Sunshine Coast Wanderers’s debut campaign in the state’s top flight hit turbulence when the National Premier Leagues season went into lockdown in March.

Five defeats in five games had the club dead last.

Securing a place in the league for next season was shaping as a formidable task.

But with new recruits, injured personnel returning and improved form, the Wanderers began to chip away, slowly lifting from cellar dwellers to mid-table.

In the 13 post-lockdown games, the club has bagged 21 points from an available 39.

Defensive rock Taylor Walkinshaw, who became a dad for the first time five weeks ago, said the squad was determined to stay up.

By believes two wins will mean survival.

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Sunshine Coast Wanderers defender Taylor Walkinshaw with his partner Charlotte and newborn Rasmus. Photo: Contributed

“It was looking pretty grim for a while, not going to lie I was a little worried,” Walkinshaw said.

“It took a while for us to gel, we weren’t playing well, losing games, suspensions didn’t help.

“In a strange way, the COVID break did us a world of good.”

Coach Paul Arnison said he knew the squad was capable but belief was lacking.

“Coming back, I told the boys it couldn’t get any worse, bottom of the league, written off by everyone, so many doubters …” Arnison said.

“I knew we weren’t far off.”

The mid-season arrivals of Tyson Holmes, Mitch Cooper and Danny Cuttler rejuvenated the squad.

Confidence and wins followed.

“Getting those guys in has just set the standard, and everyone else has then lifted their game as a result,” Walkinshaw said of the new recruits.

“We pretty much have a full team right now, everyone is looking sharp and fit.

“To be in a position where we could potentially finish in the top six is exciting.”

Taylor Walkinshaw has chipped in with four set piece goals this season.

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With three of the Wanderers remaining six games against premiership contenders, the club has a real shot at securing safety in their next two fixtures.

It starts with Brisbane Strikers on Friday night followed by Eastern Suburbs on Tuesday night, both at Ballinger Park.

“The players could have chucked in the towel, especially when they weren’t getting paid,” Arnison said.

“We could have come back from lockdown out of shape and unfit.

“We aren’t safe yet, we know one team goes down.

“They said we were too young, didn’t know what we were doing but we relish at proving the doubters wrong.”

Walkinshaw is daring to dream.

“Relegation is a super tight battle but two wins and we can’t go down,” he said.

“Safety means we can test ourselves against the big boys with nothing to lose.

“We can throw numbers forward and try new things.”

Arnison said it had been players like Walkinshaw, the backbone of the club for almost three seasons, who bolstered his belief.

“He’s been so important to us, and now he’s a dad it’s like he has a new lease on life,” he said.

“He’s doing so well.

“These two next home games, I know the locals and families will come out, we need them to get us over the line.”

The Wanderers host the Brisbane Strikers on Friday night at Ballinger Park from 7.30pm.

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