Woonona have surprised many fans this season, securing five wins to sit in second spot on the IPL ladder with just three regular season rounds remaining.

And while there has been numerous squad changes in the past 12 months, coach Dan McGoldrick admits the Sharks are motivated by what happened last August.

In the last game of the season, Woonona mustered a 1-all draw with Tarrawanna - two teams fighting for a finals spot. As a result, the Blueys kept their campaign alive while the Sharks were left to lick their wounds.

"We've lost nine players out of that squad of 16 and all of these lads are playing for nothing, they don't get a cent," McGoldrick said.

"That's just the circumstances of COVID, and I know it's affected some more clubs more than others. Some clubs can still pay some players but I can assure you that from coach down, no one is getting paid [at the Sharks]. We've been relatively lucky with injury, although we did probably lose our best player in Luke McCosker to a hamstring injury against the White Eagles.

"The guys that have come in have just stood up."

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So what is the secret to Woonona's success in 2020? McGoldrick puts it down to a combination of a good attitude and a close team bond.

"They're a really tight-knight group. A core group of them have been there for a long time, from the days when Woonona won the under 23s five or six years ago," he said.

"And there are new guys who have come through as mainly either Woonona or Thirroul juniors, three of them came straight up into first grade. We were supposed to have guys coming down from the Highlands and western Sydney but they opted to play local - there are some things that are more important than football.

"But we've been absolutely delighted with the efforts, the dedication. They all turn up to training, and there's good banter. Not only between first grade, but the all age and youth grade levels as well. There's no real hierarchy there, except on game day."

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However, there is always room for improvement - especially with finals just around the corner.

McGoldrick has been delighted with his defence, particularly fullbacks Jeremy Lopez and Tomohiro Ishii, but was disappointed that Woonona conceded a sloppy early goal during their win over Corrimal on Sunday.

"I was annoyed about conceding that goal. We haven't conceded many silly goals, maybe two in the whole campaign so far," he said.

"But as I've said to the boys. If we play to our potential, I know we're capable of winning most games. So far, so good. If we get the performance right, usually the results will come."