The Wollongong Wolves quest to repeat the heroics of 2019 has officially begun, the team's pre-season training commencing on Wednesday.
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The Wolves claimed their first premiership in 31 years after a dominant NSW National Premier Leagues regular season, with the team nine points clear at the top of the table.
The side then took on the country's best, an extra-time victory over Queensland's Lions FC securing the National Premier Leagues title and a spot in the FFA Cup Round of 32.
Wedged in between those two achievements was a shock NSW NPL finals exit, the Wolves losing two-straight games to miss the grand final, and coach Luke Wilkshire said that disappointment will drive the team throughout the summer and into next year.
"It's going to be an exciting year," Wilkshire said. "I'm happy with the squad we've got, a few new additions, we've got big aspirations for another great year.
"I said to the boys we don't want to be seen as a one-season wonder, so we will be fitter and stronger.
"We want to do better, we want to win that finals series that we didn't win last year and win the premiership."
The bulk of the premiership-winning squad has returned for 2020, with goalkeeper Justin Pasfield and attacking stars Thomas James, Lachlan Scott and Takeru Okada leading the charge.
The Wolves have also signed a small group of new players, including former Sydney FC Youth League player Hamish Lamberton and Wollongong Olympic goalkeeper Hayden Durose.
While Wilkshire remains confident the returning players will retain the drive and hunger that led the team to so much success in 2019, he's also looking forward to watching the new arrivals push for places in the starting XI.
"It's a great group of men and players and that's important. It's going to be even harder next year and we're well aware of that. I'm going to push them even harder next year, it's going to be a good challenge.
"The new players will push the current players. You need people fighting for places and challenging for spots in the team and I think those new faces will do that.
"I'm excited about the whole squad and the potential for this squad going into this season. We'll get cracking, get them fit and we'll get them ready to go."
The success came in just Wilkshire's first year of coaching, with the former Socceroo retiring from playing a year earlier after stints at Sydney FC and the Wolves.
While it was a role he concedes he didn't initially desire, Wilkshire thrived in the position and said he learnt a a number of lessons that he looks forward to taking into next year.
"There's thing I've learnt last season and things I've learnt being away with the UOW squad. I've been coaching for a year, so you're learning every day.
"I've learnt about communication and management of players, preparation. There's all sorts of things that you can tweak and improve on and I'm excited to get going with them."
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