Josh Nisbet is a favourite among Central Coast Mariners fans, representing what Gosford stands for. The talented midfielder speaks to aleagues.com.au about what it means to play for the Isuzu UTE A-League champions and the tactical tweak that has transformed their season.
When talking about Central Coast Mariners, there is no hiding the smile on Josh Nisbet’s face.
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This is the club that gave him his debut almost six years ago after the diminutive midfielder was written off by junior coaches and found out about his first professional contract while on shift at Woolworths.
A fan favourite in Gosford, Nisbet has repaid the faith. Not just with an Isuzu UTE A-League Championship but with his performances in the yellow and blue.
“I’m thankful to reward them with a trophy and I get to play each week for the club that’s supported me since I arrived,” Nisbet told aleagues.com.au ahead of Saturday’s Unite Round blockbuster against unbeaten leaders Melbourne Victory.
“It’s pretty incredible to be able to do something special with people who care about you so much.”
“When you get here, you get told it’s a family which I’m sure many clubs tell their players but you can feel it too. You have the staff, the players – we all want the same thing and we all support each other,” he added.
“When you see (Marco) Tulio’s goodbye (last week against Western Sydney Wanderers), you see the players all over him about it, the fans all over him about it… I feel like it’s easy to have a family when everyone loves you.
“We have Brazilians, we have a Colombian – all sorts of people. I think it’s a way for everyone that might not be connected to be connected and feel love and get the love they deserve.”
The Nisbet move that’s transformed Central Coast’s season
Central Coast Mariners are in the midst of a nine-game unbeaten run across all competitions. It is their best streak since also going nine matches without defeat in 2012.
The Mariners are fifth and six points off the pace, but it was not before starting their A-Leagues title defence with four consecutive defeats.
After ending their 10-year wait for a Championship, they entered the 2023-24 season with a new coach – Mark Jackson – following Nick Montgomery’s departure to Hibernian in Scotland.
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Jason Cummings (Mohun Bagan), Sammy Silvera (Middlesbrough), Nectar Triantis (Sunderland), Beni Nkololo (Al-Orobah), James McGarry (Aberdeen) and Moresche (Naft Al-Basra) all departed before the start of the campaign, while Brazilian star Tulio has now left for J1 League outfit Kyoto Sanga.
“You might not win all four games but you don’t expect to lose every single one,” Nisbet reflected. “I remember after the fourth loss, we got told to look at ourselves and make sure we’re applying ourselves.
“We all did that and since then we’ve kicked on. But that was always going to be the case – new staff and players coming in. I think it would be a little bit unrealistic to think we’d hit the ground running and cruise from there.
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“Although it wasn’t great, it may have been pretty fortunate for us to start like that so that way we could build from there.
“I remember last season when we went on our run, it never crossed your mind that we could lose. You didn’t think about it, you just came in with confidence and each time the result went our way. We’re building that now.”
Central Coast are now flying high domestically and in Asia.
The Mariners are in the top six and preparing for next month’s AFC Cup ASEAN Zone semi-finals and it’s thanks to a tactical tweak that has transformed their season.
In the 3-3 draw away to three-time reigning premiers Melbourne City in Round 8, Jackson and the Mariners made a half-time change, pushing Nisbet further forward in midfield.
It proved to be a masterstroke as the Mariners scored three goals in the second half and were only denied victory by a 92nd-minute equaliser at AAMI Park.
“Originally at the start of the season we were trying to play a certain way a tiny bit where I would be a bit further forward,” said Nisbet. “But after not too long, we reverted back to the two sixes.
“I think maybe a few games before that, I might’ve got 5 minutes in that position and the next game it was 20.
“Just the way the game was going, they thought we needed to mix something up, we will just put him there. Fortunately it worked in our advantage. They were quite happy with what they saw so they’ve chucked me in there ever since.”
“When I was younger I played that role quite a lot then everyone hit puberty a lot earlier than I did so than I had to play a little different,” he continued.
“Dad would love for me to play there each week (smiling). I feel like I don’t touch the ball as much but it’s in more promising areas and it leads to goals which I wasn’t getting many assists or goals before that positions.
“It’s good for the stats and the team is doing well. If it’s the part I need to play for the team, I’m happy to.”
‘That’s what makes it so beautiful’
As the shortest player in the Isuzu UTE A-League, much has been made of Nisbet’s height since his professional bow in the 2018 Australia Cup and A-Leagues debut in 2019.
Has that narrative become tiresome?
“I just look at the world game and it’s the world game because if you’re big or small, wide or skinny, there’s still a possibility of you playing,” the 24-year-old said. “You think of basketball, you have to be tall. Volleyball you have to be tall. Gymnasts are usually small.
“It’s the world game because it can bring everyone in. Maybe that’s doubted a little bit sometimes through peoples eyes but it’s never bothered me. That’s what makes it so beautiful.”
Nisbet has defied the odds throughout his career.
While on trial in Spain as a 14-year-old, one club suggested growth hormones while a tumour was discovered following a separate trip to England, where he trialled with Wolves, Bolton Wanderers and Cardiff City.
It never planted any seeds of doubt in his head, however.
“Everyone goes through different experiences and shapes who you are,” Nisbet said.
“To me I felt it was something minor, maybe to other people it’s major. But it was never going to be something that stopped my opportunity or stop me pursuing what I wanted.
“Even when I had the hip injury and was on crutches, I used that time to work on my left foot because it was the only foot I could stand on.”
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His Socceroos dream and playing abroad
Nisbet hasn’t looked back since.
He has established himself in Central Coast’s line-up and was pivotal in the Mariners’ unlikely run to the Championship last season, so much so he earned four honours at the club’s award night, including the prestigious Mariners Medal.
His exploits have also catapulted him into the Socceroos conversation.
Nisbet is yet to speak with Graham Arnold but representing Australia is his dream.
“Everyone aspires to be a Socceroo. Until you get picked and play, you can’t call yourself one,” he said. “I want to be that and I’m going to push to get my name there for Arnie to select me.”
Nisbet added: “Maybe my seventh birthday, all I got was Socceroos stuff. Socceroos ball, water bottle, scarf, everything. I had a Mark Bresciano poster on my wall.
“Being a Socceroo is pretty high up there on my list. More than one appearance but even to call yourself one is something I want to be able to do.”
He has also been backed to play abroad by his coach – former Leeds United Academy boss Jackson – who has refused to put a “ceiling” on the talented Australian.
Nisbet said no clubs have come calling yet, but having seen teammates like Garang Kuol, Alou Kuol, Silvera and Triantis benefit from Central Coast’s philosophy and pathway, he harbours ambitions of playing abroad.
“You see the mates you train with day in and day out, you do well with them and they get a great move. It gives you confidence,” he said.
“It will eventually come as long as you do the right things and play for the team, you will get your individual reward.”
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