7 players are proof 'outside the box' Aussie transfer strategy is working again

Over the last two years, the Central Coast Mariners have seen a number of top quality players make the move overseas. In the wake of Nectar Triantis’ move to Sunderland, KEEPUP looks at some of the players who also earned European transfers off the back of their exploits in Gosford.

For almost their entire existence, Central Coast Mariners have been known as one of Australia's great production lines of young talent.

From Mat Ryan, to Trent Sainsbury, Tom Rogic, Alex Wilkinson, Mile Jedinak, and so many more, the Mariners have helped develop some of Australia's best players over the last two decades.

However, the production line stopped as the club fell to its lowest ebb during the mid 2010s, which coincided with the Mariners falling down the table from a results perspective as well.

That was until things changed a few years back, when the club returned to its roots, got its academy in check under now coach Nick Montgomery and focused on building around a strong foundation of young players.

In fact, no team gave more minutes (9370 in the regular season) to players under the age of 23 than the Mariners this season.

Due to the club being unable to financially compete with some of the competition's best, their business model relys on developing the kids and selling them for the right price to European clubs.

"We have to think outside the box," Montgomery told AAP in March.

"We have to continue to develop players to compete with the teams with the bigger budgets.

"Young players and their agents see what we are doing here and are desperate to be a part of it.

"We have to recruit within our means but it becomes easier when you bring players in and sell them onto clubs in Europe, that's the strategy we have to have."

Over the last few seasons they’ve done exactly that, with the likes of Alou Kuol, Kye Rowles, Garang Kuol and now, Nectar Triantis blazing the trail for future Mariners youngsters to make the leap overseas.

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However, this isn't just exclusive to young players, with many arriving in Gosford eager to turn their careers around after being discarded elsewhere.

Players such as Mark Birighitti and potentially, Jason Cummings (who is linked with a move to India) have been examples of experienced players who have arrived in search of a fresh start, thrived and then moved on elsewhere.

With Triantis, Cummings and potentially more set to head overseas this off-season, KEEPUP looks at some of the players who have come through the Mariners production line in the last few seasons and where they are at since making the move abroad.

Club: VfB Stuttgart

Alou Kuol was one of the first players in the latest batch of youngsters to make the move overseas.

Kuol arrived at the Mariners on an A-League Youth contract in 2019, after being spotted by then assistant coach Montgomery. The striker had previously won the 2019 NPL2 Golden Boot playing for Goulburn Valley Suns.

This came after unsuccessful trials at Melbourne Victory and Western United, with then Victory Youth Coach Gareth Naven deeming him "too raw".

Kuol debuted for the Mariners senior side against Western United in early 2020, and made four appearances for the club either side of the Covid-19 enforced postponement of the campaign.

However, it was the next season that Kuol really put his stamp on the competition, scoring seven goals and tallying two assists as the Mariners returned to the finals for the first time since 2014.

Kuol's performances caught the eye of many overseas clubs, but namely VfB Stuttgart who signed the then 19-year-old striker on a four-year deal in April 2021.

Since then, he has played largely in the side's youth team, making 32 appearances and scoring seven goals and spent a short period of time on-loan at Bundesliga 2 side SV Sandhausen.

At international level, he made headlines for scoring a scorpion kick goal at the 2023 U-23 Asian Cup for the Olyroos against Iraq, which was nominated for the 2022 Puskas Award.

He was eventually rewarded with a senior debut this season, coming off the bench for a four minute cameo in a 2-1 defeat to RB Leipzig.

Club: Viking FK

In the same season, Gianni Stensness emerged as one of the country's top young defensive midfielders.

Stensness had previously made four appearances for Wellington Phoenix, but turned down a contract extension to pursue opportunities in Europe.

However, after returning empty-handed, he was handed a lifeline by the Mariners who offered him a one-year contract – having already spent time at the club as an academy product before departing for New Zealand.

After a strong start to his first season back in Gosford, he was rewarded with a two-year deal, and it was in his second season at the club that he would take enormous strides in his development.

Stensness became a key cog in the Mariners midfield under Alen Stajcic, helping the club up the table and into finals that season. His performances didn't go unrecognised either, with Norwegian side Viking swooping in and signing the versatile midfielder on a three-year deal in August 2021.

Since then, he has made 48 appearances and scored three goals in two seasons, along with earning two Socceroos caps after opting to play for his country of birth instead of New Zealand – whom he had featured for at youth level.

He was recently called up to the Socceroos side to face Argentina this month.

Club: Hibernian

Although he wasn't technically sold by the Mariners, Lewis Miller's rise to prominence came in Gosford.

After a short period in Sydney FC's youth set-up, Miller joined the Mariners academy in 2017, before debuting for the senior side in the infamous 8-2 loss to Wellington Phoenix in March 2019.

Over the next two seasons, Miller became a mainstay in the Mariners squad, but yo-yoed between being a regular starter and substitute under Alen Stajcic – preferring Stefan Nigro as the first-choice right-back in the 2020-21 campaign.

However, under Nick Montgomery he once again became a first-team regular and enjoyed a breakout season – tallying four assists to go with a single goal – but before the campaign was up, he signed a pre-contract agreement with Macarthur FC.

Hibernian came calling soon after and in June 2022, Miller signed for the Scottish outfit on a three year deal, meaning the Bulls pocketed an undisclosed transfer fee plus an additional sell-on agreement.

Miller has since made 16 appearances for Hibs, including a start against Celtic late in the season.

Club: Hearts

Kye Rowles continued the tradition of top quality centre-backs being developed on the Coast.

After initially coming through Brisbane Roar's ranks, Rowles joined Central Coast on a one-year deal in 2017 and quickly became a mainstay in the heart of the Mariners defence.

Rowles came into his own under both Alen Stajcic and Nick Montgomery, winning the Mariners Medal in both the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, but it was in his final campaign at the club where he really took the next step in his development.

The centre-back was jointly awarded the Mark Viduka Medal alongside Jake Brimmer in their tight 2-1 loss to Melbourne Victory in the 2021 FFA Cup Final and was the only A-Leagues All Stars player to play the full 90 minutes against Barcelona.

Rowles was soon after rewarded with his Socceroos debut in a June friendly against Jordan, before playing every minute in their crunch intercontinental FIFA World Cup qualifiers with the United Arab Emirates and Peru.

During this time, he sealed a move overseas to Hearts, joining Cameron Devlin and Nathaniel Atkinson at The Jam Tarts on a three year deal.

Since then, he has gone on to play every minute of the Socceroos’ 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign and make 33 appearances in all competitions for Hearts this season en route to sealing European qualification.

Club: Dundee United

While the others on this list launched their careers at the Mariners, Mark Birighitti rejuvenated his in Gosford.

Birighitti arrived at Central Coast in 2019 after an ill-fated spell at Melbourne City, where he didn't play a single game in his one season at the club.

The goalkeeper had initially joined City on a three-year deal after returning from a stint in Europe for the likes of Swansea City and NAC Breda but found himself behind Eugene Galekovic in the pecking order.

However, it was Alen Stajcic who gave the experienced keeper a chance at turning things around once more and after signing a one year deal, Birighitti found himself staying for an extra two.

Birighitti was immense during his time in Gosford, earning back-to-back Goalkeeper of the Year honours in 2020/21 and 2021/22, along with being in the PFA Team of the Year in both seasons.

Unfortunately, his performances didn't yield a Socceroos call-up, but it did give him the chance at giving European football another crack – signing for Dundee United in July 2022 for an undisclosed fee – and making 30 appearances in all competitions as the club's first choice shot-stopper.

However, his time in Dundee has had its ups and downs, including being between the sticks in a 7-0 loss to AZ Alkmaar in UEFA Conference League qualifier and making a costly error in a local derby which led to him dislocating his shoulder.

Club: Newcastle United

After Alou, along came his brother Garang.

The 2021/22 season witnessed the birth of one of Australia's most promising young talents in Garang Kuol who burst onto the scene with Central Coast in the blink of an eye.

The winger debuted as a 17-year-old in the Mariners’ 6-0 victory over APIA Leichhardt in the FFA Cup and scored within minutes. However, Kuol had to be patient for his Isuzu UTE A-League debut but once it came in April – he never looked back.

Kuol scored on debut in a 5-0 victory over Wellington Phoenix and ended the season with another three goals, including a late winner against eventual champions Western United.

His performances were rewarded with a call-up to the A-Leagues All Stars, where his star status only grew, putting in an unbelievable performance off the bench against Barcelona and came within inches of scoring.

Kuol was soon on the radar of overseas clubs and eventually signed a pre-agreed deal to join Newcastle United in January 2023. During this time, he was handed a Socceroos debut against New Zealand where he played a role in Jason Cummings’ goal.

At the start of the 2022/23 season, all eyes were on Kuol to see if he would land a spot in Australia's FIFA World Cup squad and after a blistering start to the campaign – he was one of the 26 players on the final list.

He featured twice off the bench in Qatar and came within inches of a memorable last-gasp equaliser in their 2-1 loss to eventual world champions Argentina in the Round of 16. Eventually, he would get his maiden Socceroos goal in a March friendly against Ecuador in Parramatta.

Soon after the World Cup, Kuol was off to England but was sent on loan to Hearts for the remainder of the season, where he endured a difficult spell, playing only nine times but ended it on a high note with a late equaliser against Rangers at Ibrox.

Kuol is currently on Olyroos duty at the Maurice Revello Tournament and will return to Newcastle for pre-season ahead of another mooted loan deal next season.

Club: Sunderland

And then there was Nectar.

The 20-year-old centre-back put in one of the great breakout seasons for Central Coast Mariners last season, helping them to the club's second ever Isuzu UTE A-League Championship.

Triantis arrived in Gosford last year from the Western Sydney Wanderers on a three-year deal, after only playing five minutes of senior football during his stint at the club.

And from the get go, Triantis made his presence felt in the heart of the Mariners defence alongside Brian Kaltak – who had only just signed his first professional contract for the club that very season initially as an injury replacement.

Not only did he win plaudits for his defensive acumen, but also with his technical ability, showcasing a calmness and poise beyond his years and his performances were rewarded with a spot on the bench in the PFA Team of the Season.

Overnight, Triantis signed for Sunderland for an undisclosed fee and will link up with The Black Cats at the conclusion of the Maurice Revello Tournament with the Olyroos.