- Sunshine Coast have the superior overall record, the better recent form and a psychological edge in H2H contests
- Souths United have failed to win any of their last five NPLW games, losing five times
- Souths United have lost 11 of their 12 matches in the NPL Queensland Women competition in 2026
Souths are in the soup after dismal NPLW season
Sunshine Coast Wanderers should take all three points from their away trip to take on Souths United at Wakerley Park this Sunday if they can maintain the form that got them their best run of results in April.
A win for the mid-table visitors would ensure they maintain their push for a top-half finish while Souths, who sit bottom of the NPLW table with 0 wins, 1 draw and 11 defeats from 12 games, need a victory to prevent their season-long relegation battle from becoming an inevitability.
Wanderers have four wins and seven defeats from 11 NPLW matches in 2026 and a goal difference of -7, so they are by no means the most consistent club in the Queensland top flight. But there is a yawning gap in class between the two sides, with Souths conceding 26 more goals than they have scored.
Wanderers will be the clear favourites with the bookmakers for this clash at 1.49, which still seems on the short side for them to win against Souths who are 4.85 and the draw is at 4.25.
Wanderers can be too wide for Wanderers in 2026
Souths United have been beaten in their last five matches, including a 2-8 home thrashing by leaders Brisbane City and a 1-4 loss at Eastern Suburbs earlier this month.
The hosts play a compact, conservative style, with a dense midfield and a front line that is capable of exploiting gaps on the break. But they lack the defensive structure to remain disciplined when under pressure and the attacking potency to make the best use of chances when they do get on the ball.
Joe Fenech's side are a work in progress and have not yet come together as a side that can beat anyone. The Wanderers, with the structure to build up and the discipline to defend deep, should be able to take the game to them.
NPLW manager Nathan Cobb and his technical director Tony Skinner have built a side that can dictate the tempo in phases of the game and are adept at exploiting the wide areas. Piper Vidulich and Rebekah Horsey have the experience to supply and score goals and can make the difference on their day.
NPLW visitors have the head-to-head edge
Sunshine Coast have the psychological edge in this fixture as well as the head-to-head record, having won six of the last 13 contests between the clubs with Souths recording only three victories and four draws. In the last four meetings, Wanderers have won three and drawn once, including a 2-0 victory away at Souths in March 2026.
Wanderers have struggled to be consistent this season, although their run of one win and four defeats in the five NPLW matches included a 4-1 away win at Gold Coast United. They have been stung by some of the top-half sides, but are a match for the struggling clubs in the lower reaches of the table.
Sunshine Coast Wanderers will be at or close to full strength for the clash as there are no reported injuries or suspensions for either side. A draw would be a disaster for the visitors, who can win this game if they have the same hunger for the ball that they displayed earlier.
The Over 2.5 goals market is heavily bet on and should land given the potential for an open game between two sides that can play attractive football on a mild, sunny day at Wakerley Park. Wanderers are likely to be the more clinical of the two, so our recommendation is to back them to run out 2-0 or 2-1 winners.
