It's nice to be proved wrong sometimes.

A month ago, there was no way I would have thought the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles could avoid the FOGs Cup wooden-spoon this year, continuing the downward trend in the fledging club’s performances since their birth in 2006.

I didn’t even think they would win a game – and I know I wasn’t alone with that thought.

Played 11, lost 10 and drawn one was the Eagles’ 2008 record, they had the worst points for and against spread of anyone in the competition, and a win looked as far off as the Stockland Park stadium which they want to play Queensland Cup matches out of when/if it gets built.

But somehow they’ve managed to turn their year around over the past three weeks.

And for that, the players, coach Brandon Costin and officials deserve a big tick and they can send me some humble pie.

This season could easily have spiralled to crushing loss after crushing loss, just as the Sunshine Coast Stingrays often experienced in the second half of the Premier Rugby competition when travelling to Brisbane and losing became a real chore.

The win against Aspley away from home broke the Eagles’ duck and then, in back-to-back weeks, they have beaten two sides challenging for a top-five place – and they’ve done it without Costin’s playing skills after he suffered a season-ending injury in a representative match.

They’re now up to eighth in the 10-team competition and have some real momentum to ride out the final six weeks of the season.

So the Eagles have shown there is some real heart and fight in their club.

They’ll need it.

What remains unknown is how many of their players will be able to successfully make the step up to the Queensland Cup should the Coast be accepted by the Queensland Rugby League.

The Stingrays have shown that you can develop local talent, but you have to be patient. It’s taken four years for the rugby club to become a competitive force in the top competition in Queensland.

The Eagles also have to be patient because success will not come instantly. The urge to jump ship back to the easier local comp will be there but has to be avoided – or not allowed by league authorities.

Obviously the Sea Eagles side from FOGs Cup in 2008 would be belted week after week in Queensland Cup, but that’s where the link with Manly will kick in.

The NRL club has vowed to fly in some talent each week, just like Canberra has done with the competition-leading Souths Logan this year, and it will be up to the Coast players to back them up by becoming even more dedicated and improving on their talents.

It won’t be easy.

Just how many locals will be prepared to do all the extra work required of them in a semi-professional club set-up will be a key factor in whether the Eagles soar.