AS an inexperienced youngster, Nectarios Triantis could have been daunted by the challenge of being thrust into the title-winning Central Coast Mariners team in this past season.

And yet long before he kicked his first ball for Nick Montgomery's team, Triantis was well versed in life as a professional footballer, for he'd grown up watching his two older brothers make a career in the game

When Sunderland's new centre-half was growing up, he watched brothers Chris and Peter play for Sydney Olympic.

He's followed in their footsteps but quickly eclipsed what they have achieved, turning heads of several clubs in Europe with his hugely impressive breakthrough season before Sunderland won the battle for his summer capture.

Triantis made only one appearance for Western Sydney Wanderers before his release 12 months ago but with Central Coast Mariners he quickly established himself as one of the stand-out young hopes in Australian football.

He made 25 appearances for the Mariners this year, his last outing coming in last weekend's 6-1 Grand Final hammering of Melbourne City to secure the A-League crown.

He's captained Australia's Under-20s and will next month be part of the Under-23 squad for the Maurice Revello Tournament. Such rapid progression led Under-23s boss Tony Vidmar to this week tell of how Sunderland are securing themselves a "bargain" with the capture of the young defender.

Triantis will head for Sunderland with a good grasp of what the Championship is all about, for the manager who gave him his big break in the A-League played hundreds of games in England's second tier.

Englishman Montgomery played more than 300 games for Sheffield United in a 12-year spell with the Blades, a regular in Neil Warnock's promotion winning side.

Montgomery finished his playing career in Australia and has since impressed as a boss in the A-League, playing a starring role in the emergence of Garang Kuol, the teenage winger who joined Newcastle United in January after featuring at the World Cup.

Triantis, believes Montgomery, will follow in Kuol's footsteps and go on to become a senior international.

"It's not just Garang and (Mariners striker) Jason Cummings, there are other future internationals for this team," Montgomery said earlier this season.

"Nectar Triantis, 19 years old, outstanding. Captain of the Under-20s, and tonight he just looked like he cruised through the game against some big visa players."

Triantis himself has made clear his appreciation to Montgomery for giving him his big break.

“It’s the trust in the management, that gives me an opportunity to show myself and my capabilities and the abilities I have,” said the young defender.

“Every single day, he doesn’t waste a second on and off the field he makes sure everything’s 100% and that’s the way I like it."

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Triantis overcame personal tragedy to follow in the footsteps of his brothers. Twelve years ago, when Triantis was just eight, his father, Con, tragically died in a fire, leaving mum Poppy to raise 10 children.

His dad, says Triantis, would be immensely proud of what he's gone on to achieve in the game.

"I never had that person in my life growing up but I had seven older brothers," Triantis told AAP recently.

"I feel like they became my father-figure and they were always into football. I was playing with their friends and that helped me mature quickly.

"Mum's a typical mother, she is always proud of me but she always says she would have loved for dad to see me play and see the player I am now.

"It's emotional in that regard but I do play for him."