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Season 4 Episode 2: The Anticipation of NBL1 East 2026
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Buckle up for the biggest episode of East Got Game ever!
This episode we briefly cover NBL1 East Blitz and the biggest signings announced during the last week, before switching focus to discussing the most anticipated rosters of the 2026 season.
Lachy and our very special guest James Mullan from Waratah on VCR take a deep dive into the 6 NBL1 East teams they're most excited about.
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Transcript
Introduction and Social Media Promotion
00:00:59
Speaker
Hey everyone, welcome back to East Got Game where we give you the X's, the O's and the insights of MBL One East. Thanks for joining us tonight on YouTube and Instagram as we're streaming live.
00:01:13
Speaker
And remember, you can follow us on Instagram and Facebook at East Got Game or you can continue to find our episodes on your preferred streaming platforms.
Podcast Recommendations and New Launches
00:01:23
Speaker
And while you're there, make sure you check out Cut to the Chase, a podcast featuring current bre Bankstown Bruin himself, Jason Caddy, and It's a Cold World, a podcast by WNBL champion Beck Cole.
00:01:38
Speaker
Both podcasts brought to you by basketball.com.au. Our very special guest today needs no introduction, but he has gone through a rebrand, so we will nonetheless. He is a familiar face across and NBL One East, whether he's creating content, whether he's on the sidelines cheering for multiple clubs and even commentating for even more clubs.
James Mullen's Return and Waratah on VCR
00:02:03
Speaker
He has recently launched a new outlet called Waratah on VCR. It is James Mullen. Hello, mate. How are you? Oh, I'm ecstatic. I've got to say, even just listening to the intro music, my like heart started fluttering a little bit because it's normally um normally my my favorite moment of the week is tuning into the pod. So um to be on the other side and watch the magic happen is um a little surreal, but it's great to be back. And thank you for having me. We've got a lot to talk about.
00:02:31
Speaker
We sure do. I did see your, you smile actually have that visceral reaction to when I played the intro, which I thought, you know, got a little bit. didn't think you could see me. Sorry.
00:02:42
Speaker
I see every, me as the so-called producer, I can see everything. Nothing gets past me, but in a good way, in a good way. Don't take that as a, as a threat. But it's good to have you back here. And yeah, like we said, you launched Waratah on VCR. First of all, props on the name, but not surprised that it's such a great name given all the excellent pop culture references you gave us last season on Eastcott Game. I still think about the time you name dropped Black Stump. That was had me stumped.
00:03:17
Speaker
Yeah, it's been fun. It's been a new project and i think behind the name was um i don't know, I do ah find, well, especially with game day gone now, it's actually kind of hard to dig through the archives of Waratah. And i always thought um on my previous page to fit in the paint that we were kind of documenting the history of the game in New South Wales as it happens, as best we can.
00:03:41
Speaker
um obviously not the sharpest, almost professional sometimes, but week by week through interviews, through highlights, through preview shows. And similar to what you guys do, we're creating an archive of of what we did of what of New South Wales basketball and I just wanted to kind of reflect a bit on the history, but also um record Youth League, Waratah League and MBL1 East, of course, um as it comes up. and And I thought that's a good name. And, you know, like, yeah I love the retro references and there was a lot of puns that you could get from a VCR ah recorder. so
00:04:14
Speaker
ah It's been a lot of fun and there's been a lot of great feedback as well um and a lot of patience with some scrubs. But of course, as I've said, this and of course your podcast, this is a side hustle gig. So we don't get right every time. So, you know, we appreciate the support when people give us a little thank you or give us a little heads up and some information on things.
James Mullen's New Role with the Spiders
00:04:36
Speaker
And you're a media manager for the spiders now up there at, uh, at the brick pit. I think the yeah last time spiders had publicity this good was Charlotte's web. Oh, damn. All right.
00:04:49
Speaker
Is that a pre-written line? That's good. And you can, um, see you should be a commentator. You're great. Um, yeah, um yeah yeah. I've, uh, yeah, I've taken up a role with the spiders. Um, the new CEO reached out to me at the end of last season and, um, We we got chatting and and um I was obviously came to do commentary with the Spiders this year, but I'm also helping out with their media stuff um because I think Spiders is are going in a really good direction as a club. A lot of new energy, a lot of fresh energy to go along with like a really dedicated fan base and player base that's already there.
00:05:23
Speaker
um So yeah, unfortunately, won't be commentating for North or Penrith this year. um ah my My ways of doing three games, ah ah three game days a week is over um and yeah, committing full time to the Spider. So were we're going to get a bit more quality over quantity when it comes to commentary. um Obviously sad to leave the Bear Cave. Had a lot of good memories there over the four years commentating um and the one year with Penrith as well where everyone was so welcoming, but really excited for what's going on at the Brick Pit this year.
00:05:52
Speaker
Hey, look, if the move up the highway is good enough for Ruby Perkins and Lola Grolton, it's good enough for you. Yeah, yeah, of course of course. That was a package deal. They said, if you you want Jack Shorabak, if you want Ruby Perkins, if you want Lola, you're going to have to take this crappy commentator as well. And they said, well, we'll take it.
00:06:10
Speaker
No way. I'm sure they welcome you with open arms there at the Brick Pit. And yeah, looking forward to you commentating again. I think you were really going to enjoy just being able to invest a lot of your time and energy and effort just into one club instead of splitting into
Challenges and Events in NBL 1 Blitz
00:06:27
Speaker
multiple. And look, with the petrol prices soaring, ah it's probably a good time just to be going to one venue as well.
00:06:35
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. And hey, come on, Normanhurst Station is um it's only a a smooth 10-minute walk from the Brick Pit, so it's it's all pretty easy. And that hour-long train ride from Central gives me plenty of time to prep.
00:06:46
Speaker
Just ignore the ignore the hills. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, we'll be ignoring hills on the court and off the court as well because um that's the new heated rivalry, Hills and Hornsby.
00:06:58
Speaker
Anyway, I'm a good partner. We're still warming up. We're still warming up. No, so it should be. that' should that should I'm surprised it hasn't been a rivalry, like a more emphasised rivalry before, given their locations. But ah you did say earlier we do have quite a bit to get through tonight. And so this episode we're going to be covering the NBL 1 blitz that was dampened by humidity.
00:07:23
Speaker
We're going to do a quick whip around the league for some signings that we've had in the last week. But then the main focus of our episode today, i'm going to throw to you guys, we're going to talk about our most anticipated NBL1 East teams for the 2026 season. I'm going to put it in your very capable hands, gentlemen, and I'll be throwing between you two as we discuss the teams that you're most excited to see. and then we might cover what our personal games of the week might be for round one as well if we have time. So got are we ready to get into it?
00:07:59
Speaker
Always. Oh, yeah. let Let's go, let's go. Excellent. So, yeah, as I mentioned, the NBL1 Blitz was dampened by humidity over the weekend with only roughly, what, 40%, 50% of the games being able to be played.
00:08:14
Speaker
That is just coming from me based on the information that a lot of our lovely, lovely NBL1 East family shared with us in our DMs.
Team Strategy and Player Contributions
00:08:23
Speaker
um But, James, you were there for probably more of it than Lockie was, right?
00:08:29
Speaker
i was only there for canberra comments so he'd have to have been there for more than i was yeah well no i think it was there for even less because um i went down on the sunday because i said i was covering youth league and waratar at the brick pit so i went for the sunday session um had a bit of fun uh with the media in the media room i gotta say caleb and um aaron and um and a lot of a lot of the other guys zach roberts as well setting up um in the meter room was awesome um over in the PCYC.
00:08:59
Speaker
But then, yeah, we headed across the road for the 10 a.m. time slot and there was just a bit too much humidity. So, yeah, the courts were very slippery, ah will say. um Really sticky in some parts, but then really slippery in others. so by tip-off at 10 o'clock. I think the coaches, officials, everyone kind of agreed that we shouldn't risk it in pre-season um on courts. That was subprime.
00:09:22
Speaker
So, yeah, I didn't didn't really get any action. But, I got a nice nice trip down to Sutherland. I mean, any excuse to come down to the Shire is, you know, why do you need a reason to come down? um So, yeah, ah then popped over to Guy Mere Vinnies on the way home. Didn't find anything And then, i yeah, headed home for the afternoon. So it was was kind of nice have a Sunday off, but was craving some NBL 1 East action, but got to wait one more week for it.
00:09:49
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's probably worthwhile waiting a week. We don't want to start what's looking to be an even betterer, betterer, betterer season than last year and the year before and the year before that. ah We don't want to start the season with injuries. So it's probably a good call by everyone just to can it.
00:10:05
Speaker
um And I think ah it sounds like not a lot of teams brought their full roster anyway. Like when we spoke to Will Mayfield last week, he mentioned he wasn't going to be available for the Blitz. And Lockie, it sounds like Comets had a pretty depleted squad as well on the day.
00:10:21
Speaker
Yeah, they did. um so they were playing youth league against manly at the same on the same day so they took um some of their players who pulled double duty like l fletcher they went up to uh take on manly where they lost youth league in overtime that would have been a big win for comments but yeah so not really a lot you can get out of um that Comets-Canberra game, Sherika Shillingsworth played, Natalia Beaumont played for Comets, Kirsty Gill, Jacinta Haydar, Alex Oliver, and then a few under-18s as well, whereas Canberra had everyone except Kelly Bourne and Katie Jones.
00:11:07
Speaker
So I think it got out to about a margin of 30 at one point, but there's not really much you can take out of out of the contest, particularly as not only were Comets missing all those players already, they've announced someone else since who we'll get to in a couple of minutes.
00:11:28
Speaker
Well, I think that's the perfect segue to do a quick wraparound of the NBL 1 East signings from the last week. Lockie, who is that in particular that you are referring to for the Comets?
00:11:39
Speaker
It's Townsville Fire WNBL champion Chantel Horvath. who is straight away, straight into All-Star 5 consideration. 10 points per game in WNBL a couple of seasons ago, seven points per game this year, and she was only originally signed as an injury replacement, i I think, officially.
00:11:59
Speaker
and you know, Opal, UCLA alum, u cla alum ah You know, she was an Opals trainer, like training camp partner at age 18, and everyone raved about her then. um You know, injuries have gotten away a little bit, but she's come out the other side, and she's going to be very, very tough to guard, just her length, her athleticism.
00:12:24
Speaker
She'll grab rebounds for days. She'll score the ball. um She's just an excellent signing for a Comets team that, in all honesty, did need a big piece following ah following the loss of Abby Curtin, who's ah made the move down to Sutherland.
00:12:40
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. That is an awesome piece and pick up for the Comets, especially with she's going to complement Natalia Beaumont and Sirika really, really nicely. And you've got Perini running the point. So, yeah, the Comets are looking pretty good. Pretty good. What do you think, James?
00:12:57
Speaker
Yeah, that's the Miles bench connection is working really well. And big shout out to Miles as well. I think um yeah like before this signing, me looking like a pretty young squad. um but I think with Chantel Horvath, that's that piece that you can kind of center your ah offense around. Remember, did a preview video about comments about a week or so ago, I was just thinking there's just a few missing ingredients, but there's a lot of talent on this squad. So think also just having a more experienced player as well to help out some of those younger players coming through. it's going really valuable. And um yeah, again, i know you guys mentioned this last week, but no news yet on Piper Anderson.
00:13:33
Speaker
know she's injured from what you guys said, but um to have Chantelle then maybe get Piper in with that Townsville connection, maybe she'll stay in NBL 1 North, who knows? But really great signing, Sydney Commons.
00:13:47
Speaker
She is reportedly linked to an East team, but it hasn't been officially announced just yet. So we'll have to keep an eye out for that official announcement for Piper. But back to you, Lachie. What else you got for us for signings of the week?
00:14:02
Speaker
Well, we know, well, we assumed North were going to add another piece with our Taylor Wirtz not joining and they've ah picked up Talia Brugler, who has played in Greece, six foot one. She played at St. Joe's.
00:14:16
Speaker
So she was a conference foe of Izzy Morgan in the A-10. 6-1 and surprisingly not a lot of like highlight reels out there to watch but i went and looked at some of her college shot charts and it looks like the paint has chickenpox she is just scoring inside all day So, you know, you hear 6-1, you think maybe a wing, maybe, you know, but no, she she scores the ball inside. Good post moves.
00:14:46
Speaker
I like what I've seen. a ah It's only been a little bit. And I think North could use a true inside presence with that roster. They've got players who can play the three and the four, but maybe not the true five.
00:14:58
Speaker
And Talia looks like she might be able to to slot in there. But I'm i'm sure Renee Garlop will have many, many different lineups. ah situation specific lineups ready to go
00:15:13
Speaker
And then we've also like staying with, oh no, you've got someone big signing for Heels as well. Obviously Shez is coming back, but I think they've announced an import locky.
00:15:25
Speaker
they have so they did ah just as we talked last week about hills being five and five when they had both imports available uh they've signed they've re-signed kennedy johnson who was uh one of their imports from last season so so they've now got two imports because they got uh brooke bielko the uh center out of bryant university and now they've added kennedy as well who uh was a bit of a revelation for them uh last season for the hornets as they are became a bit of a thorn in the side. I know ah down here at Stutherland last season, they absolutely wiped the floor with us with ah Johnson and Liz Smith both in the side. So like Comets, you know, they just needed maybe one or two more pieces and getting Kennedy Johnson back, I think is a ah massive one for them, and especially the fact that they know what they're getting as well.
00:16:18
Speaker
You don't really have to integrate her into the side as much as some others. like She averaged 10.8 points a game last year, even though she only started to two games and 5.9 rebounds as well. So, yeah, very excited to see what she can ah bring this season with a you know a full season to play.
00:16:42
Speaker
And another big signing for the men's competition is one that you might want to have a bit of a chinwag with James about because it's ah another big north signing. It is. i think James told me his story about this player already the other day. So, James, why don't you just go ahead and announce it?
00:17:00
Speaker
It's big Favs. Fabian Chris Levyk is back in New South Wales. Finally, finally. I think it's, ah I don't know, it's been over a decade since he's played in New South Wales. And the last time he did um was at my high school. We're in the same year group at school. um We graduated in 2013 together, which shows my age a little bit, but...
00:17:20
Speaker
um I remember i was in the seconds and Fabian was in the first. um And so some trainings would match up against each other. And it was just, i was almost hospitalized three times from it. He was so good. um But it was a privilege just to train alongside him sometimes.
00:17:35
Speaker
um And really ah is kind of what got me into basketball media to start off with because Elwish, as some people might know, used to not be a great basketball school but farbeon came along and changed that quick smart um so our u group really got around him and we created hype videos highlight reels and all these kind of things um we got big i'm not not saying we started this and say yes but we started to get huge crowds out that you now see a lot in high school basketball um ah so farbs was just ah a prodigy and generational talent um studied his junior career actually in hornsby for one or two years then moved to north as a junior
00:18:12
Speaker
um After high school, um went and played in Montana with the Grizzlies for four years, graduated, came back, played for the Cairns Taipans, wasn't too sure whether was going to stay with it because Bob wass actually is actually a really smart guy. I think he studied medicine over in Montana as well. So he's he's got other options.
00:18:29
Speaker
I could be wrong about that, but he's a smart cookie. um But then started to show out for Cairns in in a small role and then got bigger and bigger and bigger. was part of that Jackjumpers original squad, on the championship with the Jackjumpers.
00:18:43
Speaker
And he was a free agent in the offseason thinking, come on, come on, Sydney Kings or even Illawarra, let's sign and let's get him back to New South Wales. But um he signed with Melbourne United. Sure, all right. Great. um But now he's back at the Bear Cave where I think he played 2014 with the Waratah team just before he went off to college.
00:19:03
Speaker
um So that is one of the homecoming stories. of the season, I must say. um It's so good to see Fabio on like a a dynamic center slash power forward, more of a center these days who can shoot inside and outside. But there's there's a reason why he's almost been in the NBL for a decade because he's a team first guy, a great defender, always pass up a good shot for a great short for a teammate.
00:19:27
Speaker
And um yeah, can't wait to see him play. He's going to dominate next to Hunter Goodrick as well, which is just unfair. North is, yeah, yeah the I don't know what to say about it. Like you you've got an NBL level caliber front court and that's before you even get into the the the guards and the wings.
00:19:46
Speaker
That was the very well put, a very thorough description of Chris Levitch. Well done, James. You knew that all off the cuff as well. So really showing yeah some of our players. I don't expect that for all the other players. I just, I just, it's been following fos for us for a while now.
00:20:04
Speaker
and I'm hoping that you still got some of those old hype reels that you used to make in high school that you can you can dig up. Yeah, we we do. The footage is awful. were Speaking of VCR, ah we actually filmed those on the old tape camera like old tape cameras because um the drama department's like, we're not going to give you digital ones, but you can take these old tape cameras if you want to use them.
00:20:26
Speaker
And every week we'd do a G-Up video and record over the same tape. So by the end of the season, we got really worn out. So some of the footage is a bit grainy, but um still um it shows that Forbes is an absolute monster.
00:20:39
Speaker
Well, that just means you won't have to put the ah VCR, you know, filter on it for you. You just put the Northern Australian tape on. but ah Yeah, I'll dig through the archives, but we'll see. Also, my haircut was awful back then, so maybe i won't release them. but Authentic, authentic VCR footage. yeah Yeah.
00:21:00
Speaker
And last but not least, Sharky is coming home, Locky. yeah she is i'm not going to turn around but i think you can already guess what name's on the back of this townsville fire jersey lauren nicholson we actually get her for a full season this time she only took to the court four times for the shots last season and it's been a long time since she's played anything remotely resembling a full season whether it's been opal's duty or wmbl season running a bit longer so she's had a bit of rest um last season obviously you know giving birth that's a
00:21:32
Speaker
It's a big one. um Yeah, so to have ah have Lauren Nicholson for a full season because, you know, last year the Sharkies, they'd probably make finals if they have it even for seven or eight games. But, I mean, they tripped up in games they should have they shouldve won last year. So um ah we all know what Lauren Nicholson will Probably the best defender in the league. Averaged 37 points a game last season. As long as Lauren's on the court, Sutherland can get a win. And with some really good pieces around her, it's going to be great.
00:22:03
Speaker
Gabby, a lot of fun out at the Shark Tank where they take on Comets in round one. Woo, your dream matchup for round one. Love it. that Thanks to the r whoever did that draw.
00:22:17
Speaker
They definitely had you in mind, mate. Yeah. ah Now, I should also mention that if you are joining us live on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram, you're able to send us a couple of comments.
00:22:32
Speaker
I'm able to put comments on screen from Facebook and YouTube and Instagram. I'm checking periodically. So if you've got any comments or questions while the live stream is on, we'll do our best to get to it as well.
00:22:45
Speaker
um So we're going to get cracking now. into the main focus of this episode which is our most anticipated MBL One East teams for 2026. We're going to cover some of the men's teams and some of the women's teams obviously because we love ah covering both sides of league when we can and um The guys have done a lot of hard work and preparation for this one. So I'm very keen to hear some of the deep cuts and analysis and expectations that you've both got. So we're going to throw to you first, James, we're going to do some of the men's rosters. And you want to talk to us a little bit more about the Illawarra Hawks?
00:23:25
Speaker
I do. I mean, there's so much to talk about with all teams, but um before you say, yeah, I did pick these teams and teams that I haven't covered in videos and teams that have maybe been a little overlooked in preparation um because, you know, like, I don't want to go, do you want to try to cover everyone by the end of the season and fingers crossed I can make a video out of this podcast afterwards. Anyway, the collaboration continues, but I do want to start with the Illawarra Hawks um who outside Canberra, Maitland, and I've got to add North to that list, ah definitely a top four team after making the grand final last season and just just falling short in what was the absolute ripper. That was one of the grand finals for the ages, I've got to say. But I think it was just Canberra's time.
00:24:08
Speaker
um But Illawarra, I mean, with a relatively new squad at that season, managed to pull it together really quickly. And you can tell why with some the ah with the talent to put together.
00:24:19
Speaker
Now, we'll go through the stars in just a second, but I'm just a bit worried about their depth of the point guard position at the moment because just I think we got news that Lockie Dent is going to either Bendigo or Ballarat or is going to mix it up. He's going to one of those one of the Victorian teams. There we go. Nice.
00:24:34
Speaker
Love the assist. great Great ball movement on this podcast. um Yeah, so he's he's heading down there. um So they've got a bit of a hole in the... point guard position, but I think they actually have got an undercover signing, an underrated signing. I'm just going to go through positions here by Ethan Moss from Hills, um who has helped guided Hills to the last two youth league grand finals. It was, i think, star five either both years or either of them.
00:25:01
Speaker
And he's, I think, actually... could maybe put a bit on that starting spot if he wanted to, um Ethan Moss, but a great pickup for the Illawarra Hawks and their program um under the second year under Matt Flynn. I think he'll be able to really get the most out Mossy, who is Liam's brother, I think.
00:25:18
Speaker
um ah So a few people might remember him from that, but... Yeah, another case of Hills not really holding on to their junior talent, but that's another story. So Ethan Moss, I think that's just a bit of an under-the-radar signing. By getting to the big guns, looking at the wings, got Matt Mims and Toddy Blanchfield, of course, legendary Townsville Crocs player, Todd Blanchfield, and he's also done a whole lot of other stuff. But Todd Blanchfield, I think, it was the first signing we knew for this season, and that happened like before last season even finished. Of course, the veteran small forward,
00:25:49
Speaker
is actually who I based my game off when um I was growing up as a Talental fan. Toddy B, a veteran, at a very solid season as well, still contributing on the MBL level. So he's he's nowhere near done with his career. And still, last season in MBL 1 East, he was just on fire. I mean, he was just a class above the rest. I remember commentating a game of his at the Bear Cave. And they like no matter how many bodies they threw at him, how many different defensive setups they put, he just kept on scoring.
00:26:16
Speaker
Matt Mims back for another season. i think he will be starting this year. He was a bit in and out with um McDowell White last year. They kind of shared the starting shooting guard spot. But i'm really happy to see Matt Mims um going to start this year.
00:26:29
Speaker
Of course, the import. We'd love to see them coming back for a second year, which um I was going to say about Kenny Johnson just before. um I don't like a one and done import because I think it kind of screws up your continuity and going through the years. You know, um from season to season, you want someone who's actually buying into the city, buying into the the team structure. And Matt Mims, from what I can tell, is a real fan favorite down there. um a favorite of the Hawks Hangout. Shout out to the Hawks boys down there did the podcast. um I'm sure they'll do a much better preview than I do. So make sure you check that out. Hawks Hangout. They cover NBL and NBL 1.
00:27:03
Speaker
So there's your shooting guard and your small forward, Matt Mims, Toddy Blanchfield. But I think the biggest signing was getting Mason Peatling to jump on board. Now, this this is ah part of that phenomena they're doing down there between the NBL one and the NBL squad where they're getting not just yeah guys who were kind of developing or local talent, but they're getting veterans who are setting up their life down in Illawarra to stay around the offseason.
00:27:31
Speaker
And Mason Peatling, now he's the definition of a vet, but he was still it's still starting in the NBL this year. And he has 185 NBL games under his belt. So a little bit of experience, just a little bit.
00:27:44
Speaker
That's 185 games more than me, I can tell you that. um He's also a two-time champion, won a title with Melbourne back in 2021, and of course, most recently with Illawarra. So he's got a wealth of experience, um a real hard-nosed kind of big, but I think can also do those kind of finesse plays on the outside with his outside shooting,
00:28:04
Speaker
Interble pretty well, playmate pretty well, but I think he's a team first guy. But looking at the league this year, and I could be wrong, but things are getting a little shorter. It's not like the kind of arms race for the bigs that we've seen over the last few years. So I think with Mason Petling in your frontcourt, he could cause some serious damage. And him and Todd Blanchfield, they're already going to have that chemistry together.
00:28:26
Speaker
But bringing that veteran presence as well is really going to help. and we're talking about the frontcourt. Last player I do want to mention is Phil DePutt. Now it's DePutt, right?
00:28:37
Speaker
I know you guys, we call them, what was it, Sweet Chili? Sweet Chili Philly. Sweet Chili Philly. Or the Philly cheesesteak. Or the Big Sweaty Boy. yeah the Big Sweaty Boy, whichever flavor you like. Great to see him back. i was really sad to see him um leave the conference last season, but he's back as well. And I think him and Mason are going to form a great combination because both of them can pop out if needed. so they're not going to clog up the paint too much for those kind of cutting lanes.
00:29:03
Speaker
um They can both run the pick and roll really well. But to see Big Phil back in a Hawks jersey, it just feels right. I messaged just to Lockie early today about Loz Nicholson signing, but the equilibrium of the world is back. And I think with Phil back...
00:29:17
Speaker
In Illawarra, the equilibrium, the world is at peace again. All the chakras are aligned. and um I think he really rounds out this starting lineup well. um I think they struggled a little bit. Toby Campbell last year, I just don't think really got into his rhythm with the Illawarra Hawks for whatever reason. I thought he was a great player, but maybe the the system didn't quite work for him. So I think Phil with his versatility to but be able to play inside and outside might fit in a lot better with Matt Flynn's system.
00:29:46
Speaker
And then just to round out the bench, big shout out to Massimino Hobbs, who, if he's listening, actually walked past you outside Gelato Messina in Surrey Hills a couple of weeks ago. And I was really put off. I'm like, wait, do I know you? And then um then I'm like, wait, wait, is it ill horrible? But pretty sure it was you. So if it is drop me a line. um But Massimino Hobbs,
00:30:06
Speaker
um I think he's a really strong athletic power forward. has been in the NBL1 squad, but hasn't been in too many minutes previously. but I've been dominating on a youth league level. So him and um also Jonah Flynn, um the sharpshooter, are going to be two young guns to watch off the bench this year, um as well as Harley Kent, who was originally with Maitland. And I think really found a home in Illawarra. He's a shooting guard, dynamic. I think he can really fill it up when needed. so They've got the veterans starting, got a lot of experience there, and then a lot of young guns off the bench, which I think for Matt Flynn is going to be a winning formula. And the Hawks will I think, a top four side this year, barring injuries and, um i don't know, barring maybe, I don't know, leaky roofs and things like that.
00:30:50
Speaker
Yeah, that's a really great rundown there, James. I think on on Instagram, we've got a couple of comments here. um One person saying, now I don't want to, I feel bad for mispronouncing this person's name, but their Instagram handle is juanphotos.
00:31:09
Speaker
um But they're saying that they love Matt Mim's day in the life stories on Instagram and Reels, really showcasing what it's like to be a pro or semi-pro athlete in Wollongong. I also like them. Also says that Mason Peatling, great size at 6'7", will be a walking double-double in the East.
00:31:29
Speaker
and also giving some love to our boy, Sweet Chilly Philly. And I will just say as a side note to listeners, um Sweet Chilly Philly is Phil DePuj's nickname that he told us, I think, back in season one. And we call him Big Sweaty Boy because Rob Schatz did a ah video of Phil mic'd up during a warm-up and he said, oh, I'm just a big sweaty boy. And so that's why we refer to him as Big Sweaty Boy. um Yes, so that's some side notes. But that that sounds like a winning formula or definitely a top four formula for the Illawarra Hawks. Lockie, have you got any notes on James' great analysis and expectations for this team?
00:32:13
Speaker
I think he was just about bang on. I don't think there's anything um I would really want to add. I do want to um just point out that they've got young Aki Langford being elevated to the... r to the top to the NBL one team this year. I'm also like wondering, you know, guys like CJ Moran, Kyle Leslie, haven't heard anything about either of them yet.
00:32:39
Speaker
Like Kyle Leslie came out at Nationals with, um you know, when Kobe McDowell-White was forced out and just started wedding threes for fun, which we all knew we could do. And I said to John Guana during the call, well, we haven't we know he can do it but we haven't seen him do it a lot because he hasn't had the opportunity.
00:32:53
Speaker
then he comes out on the national stage and just starts splashing. So it'd be interesting to see where if where some of these guys land. And, you know, that could really improve their depth down there at Illawarra.
00:33:07
Speaker
Very good. All right. Well, I think they're definitely going to be one of the most anticipated teams in the men's competition for sure. I mean, like you said, James, bringing in Mason Peatling, he's still to me quite a baby-faced NBL player. And I know he's got, I am astounded he's got that many games already under his belt. Is he someone though that started playing and NBL when he was like 18 and it feels like he's a vet because he's been around for so long, but he just started really young?
00:33:40
Speaker
I think his first season was in twenty twenty twenty one ah think, to Google, which I don't have open in front of me. But um is but I don't know. You're right. like I think he is actually still relatively on the youngest side, but it just it just feels like he's been around for a long time. And I think maybe it's his style of play as well.
00:33:59
Speaker
Still very hard-nosed, kind get-after-it kind of player. yeah i think uh it's something maybe we can look into in future episodes or maybe we can get him as a guest and just ask him ourselves but yeah i think i i wonder if he's just someone who just started really young um but yeah 185 games already and two chips props to him
00:34:23
Speaker
and now locky you're in the hot seat you're going to take us through the sydney comets men's roster what are you expecting and anticipating from this squad Well, James said there's no arms race for the bigs, and I think that's because Comis just signed them all.
00:34:38
Speaker
yeah Yeah. So last year, it was all about the backcourt for Collins. We know that. It was Bawali only for eight games, but Davo Hickey for five games, Anthony Mundine leading the way when they weren't there. And even when they were, you know, Davo would defer and say it's Bawali's team or it's Ant Mundine's team, and they all just worked well so together so well together. Bawali's gone to the south. Ant Mundine's gone to Basetown. Davo's in the G League, at least for the start of the season, and we have no idea what he's doing.
00:35:10
Speaker
And even the fourth member of that backcourt rotation, Shuri Saipaya, has gone up to Central Coast. So it's all new in the backcourt pretty much for for the Comets. And that's where they've gone. I'll start. Ahmed. or tie or boogie Barbara Bay out of Fairleigh Dickinson University, formerly played most of his college ball D2 level at Jefferson, um actually dropped 31 points on Boston College in his senior year. So he only averaged eight points per game, but putting up 30 on a power conference team is ah it's definitely something to hang your hat on.
00:35:45
Speaker
Um, Shot, you know, shoots a lot of threes. And I think that is probably going to be his game at Comets this year, especially with such backcourt change and shooters leaving. So I think that's probably, I think about two thirds of his field goal attempts in college actually were three point attempts, um but also ah put up,
00:36:12
Speaker
5.2 rebounds and four assists per game in his senior year before transferring to D1 college. So very interested to see how he slots in and takes over the role and what the change will be that Will Hill will have to make between when you've got Bawali Bales who can just go at anyone and go get a bucket whenever um compared to what Boogie can do.
00:36:33
Speaker
um but It really is all about the front court. um They got your boy, Akil Douglas James, from ah the Hornsby Keringai Spiders after he was electric up there at the brick pit. But they've also got the big man, Johnny Senogorats.
00:36:49
Speaker
They've got Vili Fichetti back. And they've got Obi Che. So that's a lot of height, a lot of length. But they're all guys who don't mind stepping out to take the three. I mean, I've seen Johnny Senogorats have games where he scored more points from the three-point land than he did from in the paint.
00:37:06
Speaker
OBJ, we know, loves to, you know, back guys down and take them on going to the basket, but he won't he'll shoot one if he has to. Billy Ficchetti will step out. um So if they're going to space the floor, some of these bigs are going to probably have to shoot. And Akil, I think, you know, a reasonable percentage of his shots last year were from three-point range. So, i mean, and he put up 17 points per game. So,
00:37:35
Speaker
Could be a bit of a change of tack for the Sydney Comets this year, particularly in the starting lineup. um And even on the bench, they've loaded up on height. They got Max Nesterov from Manly Warringah, who's pretty tall. Ethan Martin Coney from New South Wales Under-20s announced himself last year. he's He's big. You know, he's young, but he is big across the shoulders. He's got to be 6'7", 6'8".
00:38:00
Speaker
um And he'll, know, he's young, but he can play with physicality. um The one thing I do have to mention though is Ramon Cow was announced good couple of months ago now, but I heard word that he got an opportunity overseas. So he wasn't at the Blitz.
00:38:19
Speaker
So if that all comes to pass, that is a big time shooter that the Comets are going to have to our going to have to make up for, make him up in the aggregate to our use a money ball quote.
00:38:33
Speaker
So...
00:38:36
Speaker
Early on, when we weren't hearing about Bawali, we weren't hearing about Devo, Ant left, Bawali left. I was kind of getting a little worried about Comets, especially after finishing top four last year. It's going to real, real change in how things work, but I still think they can put it together and ah least make a run at the eight.
00:38:56
Speaker
ah don't Don't know about the four with those teams that James mentioned before, Canberra, Illawarra, Maitland, and now Norths have just gone. you know, next level with this Chris Levesh signing.
00:39:08
Speaker
So ah think I think the comments will come out the other side of it all right. um James, what do you what do you think Akil's role would be in this team? Oh, yeah, ive I was trying to figure this out when i was making that comments video because um I think now with Obi-Chi, because Last second, it looked like Christian Acuzo was going to play, but really like tragically like awful news. um i was about to swear, but I didn't. um i I think he suffered an injury down at Summer Jam, um Christian, because I was so stoked to see him back. I remember ah back in 2024, he was starting to look like a real, real big-time player. but
00:39:51
Speaker
um So I think he's out of the mix at the moment. So, look, I can see Akil... still starting at center um because i think obi chai defensively can kind of switch into center but then offensively i think they'll switch again um but i'm not too sure because there's so many different looks you can go for i think depends if you want more out and out defensive center i think you go with johnny in the starting lineup um but if you want to go all big you can maybe start akil and johnny next to each other but then you're not going to start obi chai
00:40:23
Speaker
You're right, though, about Ethan Martin Coney. I think he could start on almost any other team as well, but they're just so log jammed in that frontcourt. But I see Akil Douglas starting at centre. He did have a lot of foul trouble last year, though.
00:40:35
Speaker
So I think he would actually sacrifice a little bit of defence. And I think that was mainly just getting used to the Australian game, not because he's and and not a capable defender, but just getting used to the play style. But um I reckon you'd see Obi and Akil starting as your four and your five.
00:40:50
Speaker
And I mean, it's also worth remembering that they do have the voice, Baby Chol returning, who's you know, will shoot it a bit. His numbers were bit down last year, but, you know, he'll shoot it when he gets the chance. Good defender.
00:41:05
Speaker
And then little Isaac Gundy, man, absolute energizer bunny on defense. So, yeah. yeah If they need to throw a couple of guys there in the backcourt, they've definitely got options.
00:41:16
Speaker
i ah trend It trends big, bo um but I don't think they'll be one dimensional in any any sense of the word.
00:41:24
Speaker
And just a side note, baby Chol, if you're listening to this, we would love to have you on the show. We'll keep you up on the DMs. Come back to us. where We've got a seat ready and waiting for you to be a guest.
00:41:38
Speaker
um I will say on Instagram Live, we've got some comments actually about Akil. Big loss for Hunter – Hunter – for Hornsby Karengai Spiders.
00:41:49
Speaker
Given a six ten can score at will, but perhaps not the best rebounder. What do you guys think? Do you think his rebound numbers could probably improve? i mean, he only had – he had 5.3 last year. mean – last year i mean
00:42:07
Speaker
Partially depends on what role he plays, doesn't it? um yeah If he's shooting if he's shooting a fair whack of threes, he's not going to be getting many O boards.
00:42:19
Speaker
But i I think this conference team will be fine rebounding by committee, to be honest. yeah You might get to the end of the year and look at them individually and he should have got more rebounds and say that about three or four different players. and then you look at the team rebounding numbers and be like, oh, it's fine.
00:42:34
Speaker
yes Yeah, it's definitely a deadly defensive lineup, um especially on those tight Comet courts. um You know, Comet's teams from junior reps all the way up, left to press. But with Chol, Valami, Obichay, Johnny, it's just a great lockdown defensive team. So I think you're right, they will rebound by committee. But I think you will see a kill with a slightly different role because i think – Him and Aaron Redhead were kind of sharing minutes last year. as By sharing minutes, mean on the court at the same time. So Red normally played in the paint and then Akil would step out. So I think you'll see more inside this year.
00:43:13
Speaker
Very good. And now we're going to take a dive into the shark tank, James. You're going to take us through the Sutherland Shark Men's roster as it stands. We should say as it stands.
00:43:26
Speaker
Oh, no. what's that Damn, Lachie, you really should have um put your foot down and said, no, I'm doing Sutherland. But, hey, this this is an outsider's guide to the Sutherland Sharks. um ah Well, I guess I have been in the Shark Tank once this year already, so but um haven't really said much and did actually catch um the Sharky's Warratah men.
00:43:44
Speaker
um who had a narrow loss to Hornsby sorry um ah on Saturday. And then the Youth League men as well. were um They got to win the Sharkies. And the Mulhollands really tore it up. They looked really promising.
00:43:57
Speaker
um And I think that actually carries through to the NBL One squad where there is just so much depth. in this team but starting with their starting five it's a good place to start um they've got so much experience and and just looking up and down it just seems like a team that could really put a good playoff run forward um similar to what they did a couple years ago to take out the championship because there is so much experience in the starting lineup um of course starting with lucky hutchinson
00:44:29
Speaker
Was he ever not going to sign with the Sharks? It's just like the it's just just the the the male version of Lozalich Nuglsen just on the other side. Like, was he ever going to go anywhere else? Well, considering he is also the club's high-performance manager, I'd probably not.
00:44:43
Speaker
Yeah, probably not. It'd be a bit strange, but, um, yeah, lucky Hutchinson's back. I mean, pretty much your perfect point guard. I got to say can, can shoot run the pick and roll really well is unselfish, but always with lucky Hutchinson, it's that intense hard nose on ball defense, which I think really stands out about his game. which from, I'd say, it as the top of the spear, it's um a really strong place to start, um pressing up against players, really getting up and in and putting the opposition's point guard like kind of out of their out of their step um and delaying that shot clock start.
00:45:17
Speaker
to have him as the first line of defense, I just think is great. So with Lucky Hutchinson, we all know what he can do. um And in shooting guard, I've got in the starting five, I've Adrian Cabrera. and I'm just going to say, I do go through positions like I'm an old school man going the shooting guard and the power forward and the center um and the swing man. But um it is it is just a rough way of getting an idea. So look, these these aren't perfect positions. You know, I know in the modern game, people just switch around. But yeah, a shooting guard. Adrian Cabrera back from, i think he had a lot of injury trouble last season. um Adrian is just a hyper athlete. And again, another great defender to go along
00:45:55
Speaker
um lucky hutchinson i think they would have played lucky i might be wrong might be right but it's going to be about four seasons at the top flight together now maybe even five every season of nbl one yeah yeah so one yeah so the chemistry is really there i just really hope adrian can stay healthy this year because i mean we saw what he did in that championship year as well he can really make a big difference for a team. And he can also step up and score. I can see him being a 15-point-per-game player.
00:46:24
Speaker
Maybe um not so much on this squad, but we will get back to um some of the scoring options later. But on both ends, Adrian Cabrera is just, again, another prototypical player in his position, a great shooting guard, a hyper-athlete. And... um Yeah, can't wait to see what he can do this season. But backing those two up, I think, are two players that are really going to make a big splash this year. um It's Bailey MacArthur and Harry Rayner.
00:46:48
Speaker
um Now, Bailey MacArthur is looking like he's about to explode this season. Just coming off a um championship with New South Wales under-20s in the off-season, um Bailey MacArthur was one of the leaders of that squad.
00:47:02
Speaker
and a squad that was full of so much talent. um So to have Bailey McArthur, I think, coming off the bench, I wouldn't be surprised him starting a few games in that two spot. Again, these are just rough, just to give you an idea of the squad.
00:47:13
Speaker
um But Bailey McArthur's got an extremely bright future. So ladies and gentlemen, tune in while you can on the NBL1 website because you're not going to be able to watch him for free for too much longer.
00:47:24
Speaker
um and Harry Rayner as well. His second season after joining the Sharks coming up from Melbourne. think... i think Had a good season and ubl in UBL, just keeping yeah keeping the motor running in the offseason.
00:47:36
Speaker
But I think he's definitely a good option at that two-guard position. And I think with another year under his belt with the Sharkies, he can go to the next level. A player you mentioned last week as well, Jadon Tanevsky, huge shout-out um to the St. George product as well. What was it, 36 points or 35 points he averaged in Waratah League?
00:47:53
Speaker
Come on, man. That's ridiculous. That's ridiculous. And like Waratah League is no slouch of a league as well, like especially defensively. So um to see him getting opportunities is just wonderful. So in the backcourt positions, the Sharkies have depth for days and a lot of different players they can chuck out there, but a lot of high energy players. so they're not going to lose much defensively. Moving into the forwards positions, Luke Jamison back for another year. um We saw what he can do.
00:48:22
Speaker
last season and seen it for years and years now an absolute walking bucket um and very versatile as well kind of has the the skill set of guards sometimes but um is tall enough to slot into the four and maybe even the five sometimes um but alongside him was one of the big signings, Will Mayfield, and you guys talked about last season. and I mean, last week, sorry. Lucas Walker back in NBL1 East.
00:48:50
Speaker
But i'm with the Sharks this time, so... I'll tell you what, that is just going to be such a great signing for the Southern Sharks. Defensively, he's a real enforcer, which I think is going to really shore up that front court.
00:49:05
Speaker
um But if this team didn't have enough veteran leaders, he's definitely going to be very vocal out there and um really you know really strengthen them defensively. And look, i don't care how old Lucas Walker is, he can probably still throw him down with the best of him because I remember back in his NBL days, he was a human highlight reel. And think he still is. He's just gone digital now. So it's it's not not a highlight reel anymore. It's more of a highlight MP4.
00:49:30
Speaker
um So to add him in, i think is a great pickup, especially with some of the uncertainty with who else is going to join the um lineup. I think Lucas Walker is a real team first guy. So whether he's coming off the bench or whether he's starting, he'll fit in really well.
00:49:43
Speaker
And a player who you could also say that for is big Jimmy Hunter coming down from the Hunter to Sutherland. um Again, I'm talking about the veteran experience on this team and you can't get much better than Jimmy Hunter. One of the funniest guys in the league as well.
00:50:02
Speaker
ah reckon one of my favorite East Coast game episodes was when you guys got him on last season. He was just a pleasure to listen to um But it's also a pleasure to watch out there when I was real old school basket to basket bigs and was I think a real underrated part of Maitland's success in the NBL 1 East era. oldb I mean, they had so much star power, but Jimmy Hunter week in, week out, um whether he was starting or whether he was coming off the bench, he's just a constant contributor.
00:50:26
Speaker
And hey, when the offense isn't working, sometimes you can just throw it into Jimmy Hunter and he'll get you your a bucket. um He's got that back to the basket game. So looking at that lineup of Hutchinson, Cabrera, Jamison, Walker, um and Hunter, and then players like Harry Rayner, even Ryan Abbott, who I think is going to go to another level now that a lot of his competition, players like Angus Lake have kind of um freed up minutes for him because he's gone to Bankstown. um Young guns like Bailey MacArthur, Jadon Tanevsky, and Angus Krabinczek. If he does end up on the squad, shout out to my UNSW alumni.
00:50:58
Speaker
um alumni ah I think they've got a really well-rounded squad with veterans to sail them, like get keep them on on a good track, but then also plenty of young talent off the bench um to energize that roster. But yeah, it could really turn some heads. And especially as the season goes along, I think those some veteran players are really going to hold them in good stead.
00:51:19
Speaker
of course, under Master Coach Sean Roger as well. But I reckon Sharkies have a few tricks up their sleeves as they always do. Of course, the NBL season is still going with the Kings in the finals. So don't know. I reckon there's still a big name coming here. And Lockie, would you like to lose your job by revealing all the trade secrets?
00:51:37
Speaker
No, I would not because I actually don't know any names, to be honest. um that I mean I mean the the glaring thing is that they haven't announced any Kings players yeah like they haven't announced they haven't announced Spurgeon or Kuat Noi coming back so the spots are there kind of thing it's like surely there's something coming yeah yeah yeah
00:52:08
Speaker
Yeah, it definitely seems like they've got spots for them to sit to to say it. yeah like you know They've probably announced nine players who are legit, nine, maybe ten players who are legit members of the squad at this stage.
00:52:24
Speaker
um
00:52:27
Speaker
And there is there there they have definitely left room to move.
00:52:32
Speaker
Yeah, and we know the Sharkies love a bit of theatrics as well. They had us holding on yesterday for the Loz Nicholson signing. um So, yeah, wouldn't be surprised. um And we'd love to see those two players you mentioned um back with the squad because, I mean, just looking at their makeup right now, that's kind of the two positions they could really um really elevate. But as I said, as the squad stands now, they could still be extremely effective and piss off a lot of teams. And I reckon they even scrape out a few wins in the finals as well.
00:53:01
Speaker
Thank you, James. That's very nice of you to say. Thank you. I think the only... i would like to see someone like Kawat Noy back in the East, whether it's for sharks or anyone else, just because he pulled such great crowds at the Shark Tank and put a lot of eyes on NBL1 East, whether it was for...
00:53:22
Speaker
his performance you know winding up people on socials either way we'll take it we'll take those eyes on the ace so hopefully he will be back in one way or and another but i think you're both right we've got to expect a couple one or two sydney king signings back in the shark tank um it's almost like uh you know the relationship you talked about earlier with the sydney comets women's signings pulling some some talent from across the the the nation I'm sure there's going to be relationships there too that's going to be coming to fruition for Sharkies. And Instagram Live, we've got some comments. Rayner is a true point guard. If he played in another team, he'd likely be starting.
00:54:06
Speaker
We've got a comment about Jaden is definitely an NBL1 player. Lucas Walker turns 42 in December. Salute to you, Lucas Walker.
00:54:17
Speaker
And he is in impeccable shape. yeah um So, yeah, props to you Props to you, Lucas. But, yeah, Sharky is again going to be turning up this 2026 season in the East.
00:54:32
Speaker
Hopefully. It'll make my job a lot more exciting.
00:54:38
Speaker
And, Lachie, I would argue this is your favourite men's team next to your beloved Sharky's, the Canberra Guns. Oh, you're going to get me in trouble with people.
00:54:49
Speaker
But I do like, I mean, they're just a great set of blokes, the Canberra Gunners. You know, we had Will on, bumped into Glenn in Singapore. I'll be dining out on that story till the day I die.
00:55:02
Speaker
um But, yeah, Canberra. Well, where do they go from here? what's what what What are they going to do for an encore? Mm-hmm. Depending national champions, you know, finished in a three-way type of person's regular season, won the grand final, won the national championship on their home floor.
00:55:22
Speaker
Will Mayfield scooped all before him. And now they've got slate. We've got to back it up and do it again. Everyone starts 0-0 as of this weekend. so But they are bringing back a lot of pieces, but they are missing Derek Emelofonwut.
00:55:43
Speaker
which is a big out for them. um And it looks like, you know, his season stats weren't eye-popping, but what he did in the grand final, just going off like that,
00:56:00
Speaker
is just if that's a precursor of things to come, then they are going to miss miss him in that vein of form. But they do have Darnell Hoskins Jr. coming up. So he played Big V for RMIT. He was actually a college teammate of James Tui at Saginaw Valley State, which I think is massive. If you can get a college teammate of one of your veteran, most respected players, and he says, i like this guy,
00:56:28
Speaker
you know, that's that's instant, you know, instantly you know you're going to get someone good, someone that is going to be great for the culture. And I think we'll say that ah he's actually rooming with Tuohy.
00:56:41
Speaker
he He's staying at Tuohy's place. So, ah so um yeah, so it looks like this, what did you need say? think, so they'll probably, they'll start Hoskins alongside Tuohy, I reckon, and then Mayfield, and then think,
00:56:59
Speaker
looking at the lineup so far, Pender and then Morrison when he's fit because we know he's out. He could be out a little bit at the start of the season or limited in minutes at least.
00:57:10
Speaker
Early doors, Glenn Morrison, because his r season in Sweden was cut a little short. um So that looks like it could be the starting lineup. But we'll go back to Hoskins. So he averaged 22 points per game down in Big V last year in the championship.
00:57:25
Speaker
um And doesn't get a lot of rebounds, doesn't get a lot of assists, but Derek didn't either. Derek only averaged two and a bit c assists and two and a bit rebounds, and the Hoskins only just below that.
00:57:38
Speaker
So with Canberra, they averaged, they assisted on 58% of their field goals, but no one averaged more than four assists, which I think is very Canberra-esque, is that anybody can be the last player to touch the ball.
00:57:54
Speaker
Glenn throwing it out of the paint. will doing whatever will wants to do and finding a teammate know they're always going to know where two he is on court um just whatever player they come up with it could be anyone dishing the final pass and i think that that's what's great is that their assist rate was high but no one was getting a lot of assists so the fact that they brought in a pure scorer almost that isn't getting a lot of um assist doesn't really bother me and He was, or Hoskins also shot 53% from two-point range in Big V. So he was getting to the rack and, you know, he was efficient.
00:58:35
Speaker
I do think, and i was talking, I'll talk about the draw for a minute because coach, I talked to Pete Harak at the Blitz and they've got a tough draw to start. They've got Manly away Illawarra at home and then the Maitland-Newcastle road doubleheader with Maitland on the Saturday night, which you know they're going to be up for.
00:58:59
Speaker
And then they've got to back up and play Newcastle probably at noon the next day on, what, 16 hours rest if they're lucky. So that they really need to jag one or two of these. Manly have got – I don't – No, the problem with the imports is you don't always know when they're arriving. Emmanuel Shemunga for Manly, the big seven-footer.
00:59:21
Speaker
Obviously, James, you talked about Illawarra's frontcourt depth. Maitland have got Myles Cherry. If Glenn's a bit limited, there are opportunities for other teams. But I think once Glenn Morrison is back and he's fully fit, they'll be fine.
00:59:38
Speaker
And they're just one of those teams where as long as they're in the finals, they can make a run. They don't even have to finish top four. Um, but obviously I think we, we all expect them to make top four, but even if they don't, they finish bit or six, they can still make a run.
00:59:52
Speaker
Um, we've seen it with teams before. Uh, so I think, uh, ah you know, Canberra, they just, they just come back. We talked about it with Will.
01:00:05
Speaker
Everyone tries to reload every year. Canberra roll up with 80% in the same squad for the last five years. and make the semifinals, if not better, just about every year.
01:00:15
Speaker
So I don't think we have to have too many worries about, um, what the Gunners are going to do. Really looking forward to seeing Cam Pender go to another level again. so versatile, big, still so young as well.
01:00:29
Speaker
think we forget how young he is because of how he plays. And I think that's going to become a theme for these physical players. You know, think even like someone like a Billy Parsons at Maitland, although he's also been around for forever. Like, can you believe he played on that ACL like after but eight months?
01:00:44
Speaker
ah So yeah, no qualms with how Canberra are going to go this year. I think. status quo maybe changes a bit with hoskins instead of emma lafonwu but for the most part he'll fit in because he's got that relationship with tui already and well there's only one train line out of canberra but all aboard the canberra train
01:01:11
Speaker
i'll jump into murray's bus why not Oh, mate, I would have platinum status with the Murray's coaching service if they had free supplies. The amount of times I've caught that buck between the Jollymont Centre and Sydney Central Station.
01:01:29
Speaker
um should have my own seat. But ah I will say, even though you mentioned, Lockie, that if the Gunners don't happen to make top four, they'll obviously still definitely make top eight and they'll be able to make a run for it at finals.
01:01:42
Speaker
They're a team that because of their long-standing roster who have been together for a long time. The culture is well ingrained and very stable.
01:01:54
Speaker
They're very good at playing when their back's against the wall. They're very good at able to fight their way out. We've even seen it in games, the way that they're able to turn it around just in a quarter to clinch a win against top teams like Sutherland and Maitland in the past. So they're very good at rising to those challenges.
01:02:11
Speaker
I was just about to bring up the semi-finally against Sutherland, unfortunately. But it it had to be it had to be mentioned that they have done things like that before. Yeah.
01:02:21
Speaker
And on Instagram Live, they've got SJ from Love of the Game saying, James, that Mo is looking fire. ah Thank you. I appreciate it. I'm just trying to look like Ron Bergen. Do you want to...
01:02:35
Speaker
Yeah, people normally say it's either a porn-style moustache or it's um a nice kind of Sicilian ah look, which I'm pretty happy about. Thank you. um i hope it just improves the commentary this year.
01:02:46
Speaker
but But, James, do you have any final notes on the Canberra Gunners before we move on? um No, really well covered. And again, the interview with Will Mayfield last week, I think covered a lot of the kind of behind the scenes stuff. So definitely everyone go check that out, go listen to that um right after this, if you didn't catch it at the time. But just the one thing, it is about the depth for Canberra. And I think Will talked about all the competition coming through not just the juniors, but even through things like the Canberra Academy. There's always players knocking on the door. And I remember talking to Pete Harak about this as well. He he says there's a lot of players that have maybe you go to other clubs, even though it's pretty difficult because there's no real neighbouring clubs, um to get an opportunity. But it means the guys who are there really fought for their position.
01:03:32
Speaker
And I think guys like Zach McDermott, Will Rice, um and Big Wither as well, these guys who are pushing through, ah Mitch Robinson as well, um they're really... pushing through and armour challenging those starters. So, look, if some of the big players get injured or they're unavailable for whatever reason, um there's always going to be so much depth.
01:03:53
Speaker
Even even i think Rob Emelifon will as well. If Derek's not there wanted to just get his brother, um I'm not sure if he's back this season, but he's even another player who's kind of knocking on the door. So the depth of Canberra is is really their strength um to go along i mean to go along with their star lineup. But, you know, it's really a squad that runs almost like 20 deep, really. and i will also, I've neglected to mention, and this was a big thing that when I talked to Glenn, um was Ev Wardlow.
01:04:21
Speaker
um Probably didn't have the best time of it at Central Coast, came to Canberra, fit straight in. And that's almost given them the confidence to go out and get a second import, which Canberra never do. You know, they hit on an import, they got a really good culture fit and they were happier to go and get a second one.
01:04:38
Speaker
So they believed they could find, you know, they'd got an import they really like and figured they could do the same again.
01:04:47
Speaker
Very good indeed. Now, SJ from Love of the Game has a great question on the Instagram Live, but I'm going to hold on to it until we have finished covering all the men's teams that we're anticipating for the 2026 season. So, James, we're going to handball and we're going to volley it back to you now.
01:05:04
Speaker
This is probably a team I know least about, so I'm really keen to see what you've got for us. It's the Panthers Panthers in the men's competition. Yeah, and that's why I did want to cover them because I was looking up and down um i was looking up and down all the teams and all especially the men's sides and who doesn't really get much love and coverage?
01:05:24
Speaker
Of course, if you want Bankstown men's stuff, go to Love of the Game, go check out SJ's stuff. He'll give you like more detail than anyone ever will or anyone ever can for Bankstown and plenty of other teams. So Bankstown obviously have a big team coming up this season.
01:05:38
Speaker
um But I think they're pretty well covered. um The media team does a great job. North said did a preview video on um the Bulls as well. I think SJ has done a lot of interviews with um some of those Bulls players. So those teams are looking great this season. But i think I think they do get covered and they get a lot of love for good reason because they're going to be really exciting this season. But of course, we can't talk about every team. And I do want to give my Penrith Panthers boys a bit of love because I think they do fly under the radar um a lot of the time. especially considering it is it is a lineup that doesn't necessarily get that many imports in um
01:06:14
Speaker
a lot of them are local Penrith juniors, um which I really respect about the program out there. um and plus, they're a really dedicated group, um the men's and the women's team and everyone involved with Penrith as well. So big shout out to Daniel Schwartzer as well, um who really organized everything there. I hope she tunes in.
01:06:32
Speaker
um But it's the mum of Brodie Schwartz. So there you go But um yeah, Penrith Panthers, of course, they are going to be a bit of a nomad team this year playing in a few different venues. um So, I mean, maybe it was a little harder to recruit players in and maybe don't want to be traveling so much, even if they do live in the Penrith area around kind of that Western suburbs area.
01:06:51
Speaker
But it doesn't mean that they're lacking in talent because um one of my players who I think um A lot of people are starting to agree is one of the underrated players of the league is Jonah Perez. Now, he finished in the like the final five for a Youth Player of the Year.
01:07:07
Speaker
And in if I could dream up a ah point guard that I'd want to run my squad, it'd be Jonah Perez. He is an exquisite passer. He's one of those players, if nothing's doing, can just put his head down, get to the ring, either draw a foul or finish in a tight situation. um he's He's, as I said, very unselfish, so sets up to his teammates and really brings out the best in a lot of them. I remember I even got Player of the Week.
01:07:31
Speaker
um last year. i think it was a game against, I think, the Bulls. I might be wrong, but he almost had a triple-double because he rebounds a lot as well. So Jonah Perez is one of those hard-nosed, hard-working point guards, and I just think he's really underrated. So um if you get a chance to watch Penrose this year, you definitely keep an eye out for Jonah. um And one of his running mates as well who's stepping up from youth league is um Adrian Vujlanic. Sorry if I've sconed the pronunciation there.
01:07:59
Speaker
So Adrian, Jonah and Brody were all part of that. um I think it was the 2023 Youth League Championship team that Penrith had. um They won it under coach Jared Moore. I think it was 2023 or 2022.
01:08:12
Speaker
it i was one of those years. um They won the Youth Men's Championship. But because they didn't have an NBL 1 squad, a lot of those players went elsewhere. Fatui Farmo was a part of that squad as well. But Adrian was one of those players who was part of that squad. um I think him Jonah went to Bankstown for a little bit. But now they're both back with Penrith. Adrian just played Youth League this year, but he's going to be playing NBL 1 this season.
01:08:34
Speaker
So it's good to see Adrian and Jonah back together in the backcourt. And um I think that could cause a lot of trouble. I think Adrian averaged around 15 points in Youth League last season. So he's definitely no slouch of a player. more of a shooting guard and can really get him up in a hurry.
01:08:46
Speaker
um his's ah hiss ah He's got game exclusive as well because I saw him at the Blitz. um Jesse Weinstein, brother of Jake Weinstein from Norths, will be suiting up for Penrith. um I ran into him in a stairwell on media day. I'm like, oh, you're playing for Penrith this year. So he maybe didn't get the chance he deserved with Illawarra.
01:09:02
Speaker
um Last season, for obvious reasons, they've had so much depth, but Jesse Weinstein, I think, will be playing for Penrith in NBL 1 this season. So another young player who could really surprise, um had a stellar high school career, I think, out at Newington. um Has bounced around a little bit from club to club looking for his opportunity, but Jesse Weinstein's still very young and could really contribute to the squad.
01:09:23
Speaker
The other guards they have, Ben Kierens, big BK, big nugs, um ah make sure you get the... Oh, I mean, i don't know if they're going to have them at these these new venues. But either way I'm sure they're in strict negotiations. I'm just saying we need camera set up, speaker set up, and we need a deep fryer so Ben Kierens can get cooking.
01:09:41
Speaker
um ah The veteran is back. He's the heart and soul of this Penrith program and... I would love to see, tactically, BK play a little more of the two-guard this let Jonah run run the point and free up Ben to do a little more scoring.
01:09:53
Speaker
um I think he's really effective. um as well, playing off ball. And if he can focus a little more on just like getting those getting those jump shots up, cutting off ball, looking for those drives, I think that's the way forward for Penrith because they normally would share minutes at the point guard, you know either be Jonah or Ben last year.
01:10:12
Speaker
But I think to have Ben off the ball and Jonah running the point, I think could really unlock the potential of both players. um But there is also an import that they've got. um i don't know, do Zillanders count as imports?
01:10:23
Speaker
Um, you can have two imports plus one Oceania, Asia Oceania. So sort of. There you go. All right. I was thinking more like the 1900s constitution, whether New Zealand is still technically a part of Australia. Cause I think in the constitution. That's retro even for you, mate.
01:10:40
Speaker
Yeah, thank you. um Yeah, I think if they want to join in, they can. I think there's still a membership offer, but um yeah, New Zealand never got back to us on that one. But um it is um Josiah Lacey. Now, I don't know a whole lot about him, but from the scouting report they put up and the highlights they put up on um the Penrith social media, um he's originally from New Zealand. Yeah.
01:11:05
Speaker
Played originally for the Manawatu Jets. That's a great name. Shout out to the Newtown Jets. um Where he played in their grand final team um in 2020. He since has played professionally in Ireland, from what we know.
01:11:18
Speaker
besides that, was a little hard to find a little bit information on him. But from his scattering report, he's a dead usher. One of those really quick trigger guys. so shooting was a bit of an issue for Penrith last year. So hopefully Lacey can come in it and sort that out.
01:11:31
Speaker
But speaking of shooting, Brodie Swartzer is also back, a player who I think has tremendous amounts of potential. sounded like Donald Trump there. Tremendous amounts of potential. um It's Brodie Schwartzer. And Brodie is a really athletic um small forward, but he uses that height, he uses that athleticism to be able to get his jump shot off from anywhere on the court. So Brodie Schwartzer, I know in their first NBL one, he had a few 20-point performances.
01:11:58
Speaker
i think it has maybe um had a different role over the last few years, but they also do have a new coach right now, who I'll get to in just a moment. um But Brodie Schwartzer, I think, can really go to the next level this year. Just give him the green light and get out of the way. he also has some of the funky shoes and socks combination. think he had Powerpuff Girls shoes and socks um last season. So um keep an eye out for that, but also keep an eye out um on him on defense and make sure you get a hand up.
01:12:26
Speaker
All right. No one wants to go on the Powerpuff Girls? Anyway. No, I love the Powerpuff Girls. I was impressed by that. but was it all three Powerpuff Girls or was it just one of the three? That's what I want to know.
01:12:38
Speaker
I think it was all three. i mean, because, you know, Brody Schwartz does everything in threes, including point scoring. So um moving off as well, Jet Hickson, which I know you guys mentioned last um ah pod, is a young guy who can really fill it up in a hurry. And i want to see him get an opportunity this year, Jet Hickson. He averaged 27 points in Youth League usually league two two years ago to bring them up to the chair bring them back up to Division one um i think that was in 2024 and um jet hickson anytime he stepped onto the court
01:13:12
Speaker
Last season with the Penrith Panthers, he was just electric, had some huge dunks. And he's one of those players who gives you like 15 points in 15 minutes. um He can score every rich way, um ball handle, shoot. he's just He's just got everything in his bag, Jet Hickson.
01:13:29
Speaker
um So Penrith Panthers, I really hope they do give him the keys to the arm ah offense this season. So between him and Brodie, I think that's your wings covered. um Josh Cowie is back as well.
01:13:39
Speaker
Penrith born and bred. um And, yeah, an experienced player on a team that is quite young at the moment. so Josh is back. Had a few injury troubles last season. But um I think Josh Coward can really contribute either in the four spot or the three spot. I think he'll be playing the four a lot.
01:13:56
Speaker
um He is very versatile, though. So he can cover a lot of different positions. um so i'm really happy to say that but i think one of the big pickups of the season and again sj has been doing a lot of good coverage on this because he is a bankstown players switched over so it's almost a trade for zeke evans um it is simon krapes helped to lift bankstown bruins to the youth league championship last season and he is just a monster i don't know what he has for breakfast i don't know what his gym routine is but i
01:14:27
Speaker
i he's just a monster. He's a specimen of an athlete. And um that really helped him out last year, the Bankstown Bruins. But of course, because of the the the stacked Bruins NBL one squad, he only played youth league, but I think was in the star five, was definitely in the top five scorers in youth league last season. So that's a big pickup.
01:14:47
Speaker
So he left Bankstown for an opportunity with Penrith, and I think Simon Cropes could be a real dark horse um and shock a lot of people this season. I'm not too sure what's going on with Bankstown not retaining some of their youth town, because Johnny Tuolata is going to Hills, I saw.
01:15:04
Speaker
and I don't think Tom Buvac's coming back for their youth league. So... Yeah, plenty of talent at Bankstown now looking for opportunities at ah other clubs. And I think Simon's really going
Emerging Talents and Team Dynamics
01:15:13
Speaker
to benefit from that. he is just a, he puts the power and power forward, but I think he can also say cover the center.
01:15:20
Speaker
Noel Webb, Youth League Centre for Penrith Panthers, he could also step up. um But they're all going to be playing under coach Matt Porter, who um I was talking about the Youth League Two Championship they got in 2024. He was their coach that year, coach Jett Hickson.
01:15:33
Speaker
So he's been around Penrith for a while now and familiar with a lot of these plays through the Youth League system. um Jared Moore not coaching NBL One this season, but i think still involved with Penrith. But Matt Porter,
01:15:45
Speaker
Really excited to see what this parent squad can do with a new coach and so much young talent that's hungry to prove a point.
01:15:54
Speaker
got any scoop on the Fatui for Moe brothers? I did not, it unfortunately. um I'd love to see them back this season, but ah honestly, just to speak candidly, I'm not too sure what happened. They kind of felt like the they had a few injury concerns, and so I was getting mixed up, so I'm not too sure which one was injured at one time, but they kind of fell out of the rotation. In that opening year from Penrith, their 2023, their first year in NBL 1A, they got big minutes, but since then their minutes have been declining, so not too sure what they're up to.
01:16:29
Speaker
um I wish I did know because I'm a big fan of the Fatui Farm OAs and I think, um yeah, I think they could have been better utilized over the last few years. So hopefully they'll be back. But again, i think a lot of players like, even players like Adam Lulka, who was there last season Luka, sorry, Adam Luka, haven't decided to come back. But I think, again, the the whole stadium situation is really,
01:16:56
Speaker
I think turned a lot of players off because they don't want to be traveling to, offense, it's a beautiful region, but traveling to Hawkesbury for a home game or traveling to Minto for a home game. whatever know I'd love to, know, I know, but you want a home stadium. You you want a den. Hawkesbury is my home stadium.
01:17:13
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. Okay. well Yeah, actually, they might need a commentator. So ill maybe drop on a line for that one. But again, I think, um I think you want, yeah, it's, it's a bit, it's a bit of a tough sell for the coaches and the administrators to say, hey, like, we don't really have a home ground this year.
01:17:29
Speaker
um So ah don't know, it's, it's, I feel sorry for them. But I did. That's why I did want to shine a bit of light on um some of the talent coming through um the penment system. Very well done, James. Because have players. Yeah, they do They do. And I think you're right. Probably a team that needs to be showcased a little bit more. um So all of your insights and your hard work has definitely been very helpful. I i feel like I've downloaded a new chip on Penrith Panthers and my software has now been upgraded.
01:17:59
Speaker
So thank you for for that. That was very helpful. We had SJ from Love of the Game on Instagram. uh saying that capra's uh averaging he's he's predicting he's going to average a double double um also put in all-star five and i guess fmvp so i'm guessing fan mvp perhaps i think that's finals mvp finals and all right bad my bad my bad um big call big call though um and yeah getting props to you again james for that great uh breakdown and analysis of panriss panther so well done love your work this is why we
01:18:36
Speaker
Have you on, mate? okay No, thank you.
Predictions and Signings for Youth League
01:18:39
Speaker
I swear I think about other things during the week, but, um, no, it does help. And as I say, like guys like you love the game, Hawks hang out, um, all kind of help me to learn more as well. So.
01:18:50
Speaker
Oh, and just to clarify, I thought SJ was predicting Capra. Oh, yeah, it was Youth League finals MVP. He was in Youth League. He was Youth League all-star five and finals MVP. That makes a lot more sense. All right, we've only got one more team to go here for the men's competition, and we've still got to get the women's. So everyone get comfy. Lockie's going to now take us through the men's team for the Hills Hornets for 2026.
01:19:17
Speaker
Yeah, and James just dropped the Jonah Tourlata sign Hills, which is something that's slipped through <unk>s through maya It was just on social media over the weekend. I think they were filming an ad for one of the car companies that sponsors Hills. And I'm like, oh, what's Jonah Tourlata doing in in ah Hornets polo? There we go. Yeah, there you go. Oh.
01:19:40
Speaker
um Yeah, Hills. I think I have referred to them on multiple occasions as in previous years, that team you don't want to face when you need a win to make finals late in the season and they're already knocked out because they are going to trip you up.
01:19:55
Speaker
And I'm pretty sure they're absolutely sick and tired of being that team, especially in that season when they had CB, Chris Bryant, as their import, and they were literally one win away from making finals. Yeah.
01:20:09
Speaker
they were almost hayden blankly throwing the ball into the uh speakers above southern basketball stadium away from making the finals but we move on uh they finished 8 and 12 in 2025 but they did have they did knock off comments on one occasion also got north um so did show that they have the ability to take on the big teams and actually finished seventh in the league for defensive rating last year but their offense was 13th in the league so You know, one goes up, one goes down. But...
01:20:41
Speaker
So their big outs, well, I assume Dengak is ah as an out because um they signed Gummajak from Bankstown and then Zach Hudson, who didn't play the last few rounds of last season.
01:20:55
Speaker
So they needed a new import and they signed Sean Stewart, who's come over from the Goldfield Giants of NBL1 West. So over there at the home of the super pit, Kalgoorlie.
01:21:08
Speaker
ah And he he went off for cal got for gold Goldfields Giants last season. 22.5 points a game, from the field,
01:21:19
Speaker
eighty one percent of the line which squi will love uh 6.6 rebounds 5.8 assists and importantly 2.2 steals per game so they went out and got an offensive weapon but he can still do it at the defensive end as well because to paraphrase ben franklin those who would give up essential defense to purchase a little temporary offense deserve neither offense nor defense and we've seen it before we've seen it before teams are outstanding defensively they go and sign this offensive weapon and the defense falls in a hole and their team doesn't improve but we're thinking sure stewart so how you really got me they have allayed uh all concerns there so i'm really looking forward to a watching him um
01:22:14
Speaker
Importantly, doesn't shoot a lot of mid-rangers either. Either gets to the rim, shoots it from three-point range, not a lot in between. And it's a good thing because he was sub-30% from the mid-range last year, whereas he was up around 60% around the rim.
01:22:31
Speaker
So he's getting to the basket. So watch out for that. But aside from that, um they bring back a member of Jane's favourite family, Liam Moss. ah I've got Jacob Foy returning, Meek Payne comes back. So they do have one of their imports coming back. So a bit of continuity.
01:22:48
Speaker
So, you know, is ah apart from, you know, so they have Moss, probably Jacob Foy, Meek Payne in the starting lineup. I'm thinking maybe they throw Madjack in there for a bit of rim protection. I mean...
01:23:01
Speaker
The first time we Squint and I watched him start a game, all he did was block shots for the first quarter for Bansetown around one of last seasons. So that was incredibly fun to watch. But um they've also added Ned Carr from Pakenham in the Big V. He was an end-of-the-bench guy for Dandenong in South a couple of years ago. Didn't get a lot of playing time, but then moved to Big V and was putting up 22 points a game, just like Darnell Hoskins at Canberra. So...
01:23:31
Speaker
another scorer um and they picked up Josh Payne from Norths who I have been reliably informed and James as a university basketball league commentator you will know that he once went off for 40 in a grand final hit 10 threes Yeah, big time. I mean, yeah, it's... Can I just talk about Josh Payne for one sec? You certainly can. Go for it. Yeah. No, look, I'm really happy to see him get his opportunity because I know over the last, like, two years, he's really struggled with injuries. Like, he would have been a big part of North's NBL1 squad, but...
01:24:04
Speaker
Again, there's just injuries. ah um I'm not too sure where. um I think it was legs region. um So if he's fit and healthy, he can really go to the next level. But had a stellar UBL career, stellar youth career as well.
01:24:19
Speaker
um And I think Josh Payne, when he's healthy, can really do some damage. So I'm just really happy to see Josh Payne still hanging around, not giving up on it after some horrific injuries he suffered. So big shout out to Josh Payne and Matt Payne as well, his brother. There you go And, I mean, they have brought back actually quite a lot of last year's team. They've brought back Paith Mamoysia.
01:24:41
Speaker
Big Paul Taco will help shore things up in the centre. So imagine him and Mad Jack will sort of tag team it a little bit. And, ah of course, you can't talk about Hills without talking about Saxon Orsini.
01:24:55
Speaker
He is so exciting to watch. just uh he made his debut for hills at subland a couple of years ago and um my co commentator jake just can't get enough of him just the way he plays he's so exciting can shoot the lights out um yeah and massive on tick tock apparently as well well at least entertain i don't i'm not on tick tock but uh jake says that he is quite entertaining on the old tick tock so yeah and also follow
01:25:30
Speaker
also i think sells uh basketball shoes as well so hit him i hit him up if you didn't hit any yeah yeah but um yeah so i mean i think hills from eight and 12 i think they've made a good couple of um improvements i mean stuart his stats he especially scoring stats over in the west far out do what hudson put up last year it's going be tough to uh fill dengak shoes um i imagine that's like physically and figuratively um but because he put up um 11.4 points per game and shot 53 but i've got those young guys now jack and taco though uh if they're not right there this season they're both evolving as players and are definitely players to keep around the club and then apparently jonah to a lot of just showing up in a in a car commercial for hills
01:26:25
Speaker
So there we go. They just keep adding pieces. I mean, it's four days until the season starts and we're still learning things about these rosters. Yeah, I mean, that frontcourt's looking really, really good for them. I think it's it's ah it's a position where they've been a bit thin over the last few years. i mean, especially um in the post-Brothers scenario, I'd describe it. um like Those four and five spots have been a bit of a ah been a bit of a mixed bag. I mean, they had Chris Bryant for a year, but I think um they've made the right choice bringing in a lot of young, promising bigs who will probably hang around for a couple years so they can develop them through. Remember they had Campbell Green as well, um who...
01:27:04
Speaker
um I think lives in the country now. Asked someone on Saturday, like, where's Campbell Green now? Where's the Green Giant? um Apparently living rurally now. um But again, um that's unconfirmed reports. But ah with Majak, Tuilado and Taka, I think now I'm really starting to cook. Those are some top-notch young talent. The only thing yeah I think we need to see more um out of Jacob Voi this year.
01:27:27
Speaker
Shot only 34% from the field. He was 29% from three-point land.
01:27:34
Speaker
You know, a bit more scoring, even though like his assistant rebounding numbers weren't great, but I think we need to see him put the ball in the hole a bit more and just boost that scoring a little bit. I think they probably would have expected more from him scoring last season. That probably was a, if not a major reason, at least contributed to that, you know, low offensive
Manly Warringah Seagulls Women's Team Outlook
01:27:55
Speaker
rating. That probably, you know, if that, you know seventh for defense, if you're seventh in offense, you're probably a good chance of making finals.
01:28:07
Speaker
Very good. Any final notes on Hills, James, before we start tackling the women's rosters we're most excited for? um Just one more tip in. um I got Joaquin Gonzalez from North who's gone up to Hills.
01:28:20
Speaker
um I think similar situation of Josh Payne. It's like real logjam at North at the moment, which is a good problem to have if you're North. um But if you're a player who's kind of in those youth league squads trying to get through,
01:28:32
Speaker
um It can be a little difficult. So Joaquin Gonzalez is a really solid point guard for um North's Youth League last season. Went to the same high school as Fabian Christovic and I at St. Alwish's, but he was a lot younger than we are. um I'm not too sure if he's off to college at the end of the year, but he's a good point guard. just So maybe just keep tabs on him. and Same with Ben Williams as well from North has also joined Hills. So there's a few people...
01:28:59
Speaker
yeah heading a little further north for hopefully greener pastures or greener hills. Great.
01:29:08
Speaker
Very good. All right, gents. It has been already a monster of an episode, but we've still got some women's teams to get to. Are we ready to keep cracking on? Let's yeah go. let's get and Let's get into it.
01:29:20
Speaker
All right. Let's have a quick roll of the shoulders ah and let's get into it. And I think it's going to be back to you, Lockie. Back to me. Back to you. Arguably, again, one of your favourite teams of NBL1 East are the Manly Women.
01:29:37
Speaker
Manly Warringah Seagulls women, similar to the Canberra Gunners, as you were saying before, very good at being able to maintain their core local talent year after year with some additional pieces, it looks like, this time.
01:29:52
Speaker
It certainly does. So, of course... One that finally got over the hill and won the championship. And I'm not a Manly fan. I just like all the Manly players.
01:30:02
Speaker
Yeah. Clear distinction. Clear distinction. ah But, yeah, it started 2-2 last year. People were like, ooh, can they match it with the big ones? And then, well, 19 wins later, they had a championship.
01:30:15
Speaker
um Interesting. um Obviously, the two big outs, Annie Henderson, Taylor Wirtz, on the face of it massive holes in the defence especially.
01:30:27
Speaker
We know what Taylor can do offensively, um but Annie Henderson defensively it's just... She can defend one through five. I know I get told every time I talk to a Manly person, she can defend one through five. She can, wish she chen especially yeah in this league where um you know we don't always play as tall as we have in some other seasons. um And I think initially that was my main concern was we all know Manly Warringah, no one's going to take a shift off on defense. They're going to play the scout perfectly. going to do everything right. But there comes a point where,
01:31:04
Speaker
you just have really, really good defenders and it doesn't matter how well you play the role if you're just not as good a defender as the player you're replacing. But then they went and signed an import in Jada Jansen, who is a former Great Lakes Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
01:31:24
Speaker
So she played D2 college for a couple of years before going to Toledo in D1 in the MAC, um which is the same conference that Alyssa Brett played her college ball in just for an NBL1 East reference. It's also the same conference that Steph Reid played in at Buffalo.
01:31:43
Speaker
so So fairly fairly solid basketball conference. um Played down in Mount Gambier last year. So we'll give you Carla Pittman and you can send Jada Jansen up to the East this year. She shot her threes almost as well as she shot her entire field goal percentage. 36.9% from three point range and overall. um As I mentioned with some other players, doesn't shoot a lot of mid-rangers, threes and layups. More threes than anything, though.
01:32:15
Speaker
Much more three-pointers than anything. 84 three-point attempts to 48 around the rim. Chips in three or so assists and rebounds last year and has already put together a manly goal insta-reel with Sari Mowbray. So she's already in mid-season form there. If you haven't seen it, go look on the...
01:32:36
Speaker
That's probably on Manly Socials and NBL1 East Socials. So she's a ah very i'm very much looking forward to ah seeing her slot into the backcourt rotation for the Manly Warringah Seagulls. And then, I mean, you've still got Josie, well, sorry, not Josie Boulman anymore, Josie Redan, Alex Delaney, Zoe Miller,
01:33:06
Speaker
Kimberly Dickinson. So as much as she wants to tell us she's a four, sorry, honey badger, you're a five. You played it last year, you won the championship, coming back this year, you're playing the five.
01:33:17
Speaker
It's just what you are. The only thing i might say is, you know, two big pieces out, are they a little thin? Yeah.
01:33:33
Speaker
I don't know with Manly. They just seem to, every time they like, you think like maybe they only run seven deep this season, they got Mowbray and Jelena coming off the bench and then the kids in Freya Biker, Cass Thompson, Liv Johnston and the Shamrock Shake and Bake, Niamh Smith.
01:33:49
Speaker
um But honestly, like most weeks, I think they're going to get it done by enough that it won't matter if they're a little, if they're like one piece less than they had in previous years.
01:34:01
Speaker
Um, And, yeah, i they're obviously going to be around the r They're going to be in the mix again. They do have to replace 22 points per game that Taylor Wirt scored last year and...
01:34:18
Speaker
She's just unstoppable. With Lauren Nicholson only playing four games, Taylor Wirtz was the second best player in the league behind the Cotton Munder last year. That's just obvious. And that's why it was, A, such a shock when she signed for North, and then B, even more of a shock when she pulled out of North.
01:34:35
Speaker
um But I still think Manly are going to be just fine. i don't think they're going to reel off 19-game winning streak again. i think those that's... ah I think it's probably just, ah i think it's too much to expect anyway.
01:34:52
Speaker
um But I think that'll be definite top four chance. um And again, right in the mix. I've actually, of the three teams I've selected to talk about, they're all pretty heavy hitters. And I think they're all going to be there or thereabouts.
01:35:06
Speaker
I'm especially looking forward to Sarri Mowbray not pulling double duty with Youth League. just to be able to play one game a weekend. She was their fourth leading scorer last year and she just played one game.
01:35:18
Speaker
Be able to just not have probably 30 minutes in your legs of youth league, depending on the opponent, just come out and give it a red hot crack every week. Well, she already does that, but now she can do it fresh.
01:35:30
Speaker
And I think that'll be, that'll be something big for, for Manly Warringah as well. And, Zoe Miller's got a season with the Flames under her belt as well. And she was talking to Caleb about that at the Blitz.
01:35:43
Speaker
um Go watch that video. It's also on NBL 1A socials. um And I think that'll do her the absolute world of good, just training against WNBL level players every day for the entire season.
01:35:55
Speaker
I expect her to go to another level this year.
01:35:59
Speaker
Especially her confidence. I mean, there's definitely times where she was always on the cusp of just having a breakout game and something held her back. And I wonder if it was confidence. And now that she, yeah, has that WNBL experience, her confidence would be sky high. Added with her already hi IQ and her strong discipline in play, um i think she's going to be or perhaps one of the more go-to scorers.
01:36:28
Speaker
in this team. I certainly think so. I think they're going to... um I don't think they'll do all the scoring. They won't try to just turn Jansen into a 20-point scorer like Wurz was because that's it doesn't appear to be her game.
01:36:44
Speaker
But they also have Brie Delaney. They do have one more piece. Brie's coming back. So after... yeah just I'll just go to France for a year. That's fine.
01:36:56
Speaker
um So Bree's back. So that'll be that'll be another help. So that'll help the offense as well. We know she can shoot it for days. So, you know, i yeah I don't know if the defense is going to be quite as good as it was last year, but I think the offense will still hum pretty well.
01:37:18
Speaker
yeah And it's still going to be very good defense. Yeah. I agree. I think we can expect more of the same high quality from this Manly Warringah Seagulls women's team. And, yeah, like you said, now that Sarri's not doing a double shift, hopefully a little bit more extra court time for her too because she certainly proved herself at NBL1 Nationals, winning player of the game on one occasion. um But, yeah, very excited for that. And getting shout-out from two Opals legends live on the call.
01:37:50
Speaker
yeah that's right that's right tracy peacock and michelle brogan coming to you live very impressed with microwave mowbray on that game uh yeah that was awesome icing on the cake and uh james have you got any notes you'd like to add about this uh manly team um Just two things. um ah Yeah, you like you do talk about the depth and and feel it feels like this every year almost with Manly, but their youth development is just insane. reckon it's one of the best women's programs in the country, Manly, to go along with North. Not that I'm biased. I don't know what's going on in South Australia. Sorry, Gus. But they develop elite talent after elite talent. I mean, you just need to look at the amount of players they have playing over in college at the moment.
01:38:36
Speaker
um to say that and i think two players who really stood out in the youth league championship last year was f fray by kirk um i remember commentating the youth league grand final the year before where they lost to north sorry manly um ah and fray are kind of but like i've never seen a play before from like who is this is like a real gun and then next year seeing a play in grand final commentated by one of the best in the business, Lockie France. um That grand final last year, Freya Bykirk was just a whole new beast. She was like, i don't know, just going to an absolute another level. So I think she's going to play a big part in the squad. i think before she heads off to college and same with Olivia Johnson as well, who's just an absolute menace um in the paint in that grand final for youth league. And again, that front court's maybe a little thin at the moment, but I'm very surprised to see those two players getting some,
01:39:25
Speaker
Give some big opportunities. And last one as well, Nate Kerwin is coming off a big off season two where he led the Manly Masters under 40s team to the championship. And also, um I think Nate led the league in scoring the in the Masters League and it's his debut season. So, it shout out to BNSW for putting that together. But Nate Kerwin's still got it, baby. um Yeah, he was the the leading scorer on the Manly Championship team. So,
01:39:52
Speaker
It's too much winning for Nate um recently, going from an NBL One title, helping out with the Youth League title and going on to a Masters title for Manly. So plenty of banners in the BISC because of him.
01:40:03
Speaker
Isn't he now also coaching UTS men in UBL this year? Yes. So, i mean, more banners to come for Nate. I got to say, this does a bit of everything, but yeah. um I don't know. Maybe Tim Hill will get him to play a few games for the men's side. and Who knows?
01:40:20
Speaker
Plus side of getting to coach NBL1 for so many years, whether it's men's or women's, because I remember Nate used to coach the men's team free NBL1. Plus side of that is that you absorb everything, and then when it's your time to shine, it just all comes out in the court.
01:40:37
Speaker
Still got it. Still got it, coach. SJ from Love of the Game says on Instagram Live, one of his favourite moments from last season was seeing Lockie smile as Manly won the championship.
01:40:51
Speaker
Yeah, um that was, ah again, it wasn't, it was literally just something, like, honestly, it was seeing Alex Delaney win a championship.
01:41:02
Speaker
I've known Alex since he was a freshman in college. um Yeah, so, yeah, that was, that was a big, it wasn't, I mean, it wasn't just Alex, but that was a big part of it.
01:41:13
Speaker
Yeah. um and Yeah. Brian came over, put his arm around me. Yeah, big big moment, big day. Yeah, I knew that game was done the minute that corner three from Josie Borman went in to open the game.
01:41:27
Speaker
knew it. Your fifth scoring option scores like that on the opening possession of the game, you're not losing from there. Game over. And good shout to Freya Bykerk as well, James, because I think she's heading to Pepperdine for her college career, and that's a pretty – that like That's a pretty reputable basketball
Canberra Nationals' Retention and Strategy
01:41:46
Speaker
school. So, um yeah, certainly reflecting the talent and potential she has getting signed to a college like that.
01:41:53
Speaker
But we've got to roll on. We've got to roll on, gents. And we're going back beyond the border. James has taken us now to the Canberra National Squad. Yeah, the Canberra National squad. um Wow. I've got a feeling this could be Canberra's year where they they finally get the monkey off their back. I know that women's program was much improved last season.
01:42:14
Speaker
um I think finally made it back into the finals. um But I think... The best thing they've done is retain talent. Actually, no, the best thing they've done is sign Katie Jones. But one of the best foundations they've laid is by bringing back a lot of talent. um But they've really filled in those kind of weaker spots in their roster really well. And I think they could be firing on all cylinders because let's just start with Katie Jones. think after Lizzie Tonks decided not to come back,
01:42:44
Speaker
um for a season there was a bit of a void there at that point guard position and i think last year that it would have been really good just to have an out point guard because i think that kind of took cali born away from her natural position even though she has a good utility player um add to doing a little too much ball handling so she can get up and score as much so to bring in katie jones arguably one of the best point guards in the league actually there's too much disclaimers there At least one of the top three point guards, best point guards in the league. I mean, there's so many good ones out there, but Katie Jones just took the league by storm last year after jumping over from WA to Aubrey Wodonga.
01:43:23
Speaker
um Wow. Just could really do everything and um almost single-handedly helped to turn around that Aubrey Wodonga women's program to go along with people like Riley and, of course, Sammy Mack. Big shout to Stemi Mack. I'm sure we'll be tuning into this at some point. um Yeah, so Katie Jones, a huge pickup for Canberra, turning one of their their needs into um one of their best positions now.
01:43:45
Speaker
And um I'd not be surprised to see her, i mean, knocking on the door a little bit for MVP, but definitely a candidate for the star five position, especially with all the players she has around her who she can be setting up. so perfect start to the off season for Canberra was going out and getting Katie Jones. I think you guys made the connection last week about,
01:44:03
Speaker
um yeah Just saying, hey, guys, I'm already in Canberra, WNBL, if you need me, I'm already set up here. Already I moved all my stuff into my house. If you need me for the WNBL responsibilities, im I'm ready to go with the capital. so We'd love to see Katie Jones maybe use this to parlay, um use this season to parlay into a um full-on contract in the WNBL. But either way, she's going to have a lot of fun down in Canberra. um And I know a lot of other teams are going after her. I can't say who, but ah pretty much like so many other teams are trying to get her signature. So um I think Nat Hurst taking over. Oh, sorry.
01:44:43
Speaker
This could be Nat Hurst's second year. I'm sorry. I can't quite remember. Oh, no. Yes, this Nat Hurst's first year back coaching at least ah on a NBL one level, I think that really helped to recruit in Katie Jones.
01:44:56
Speaker
amet Also the backup point guard, just a quick shout out Emily Sampson, who I think was one of the top five scorers Waratah League last season um for Canberra Academy. I mean, for Canberra Waratah women. So,
01:45:12
Speaker
yeah She might um might might be might be looking for more minutes this year, um has been part of the camera program for a while. But i'm moving in to i've kind of just got the wings and guards here. Callie Bourne, another huge re-signing for them.
01:45:26
Speaker
um The Bourne identity, the Bourne ultimatum. I don't know what the third Bourne movie is, but it's season three for Callie Bourne. It's the Bourne supremacy, which is the most important one when you're talking about Callie.
01:45:37
Speaker
Okay, because haven't seen any of the Bourne movies. Me neither, actually. But yeah, the Bourne Supremacy. So we're in for the Bourne Supremacy. So the best season so far. And I think we will get the best season yet from Kali Bourne. Last year, I think, really held this squad together. Her and Kali almost single-handedly lifted this side and in so many games to elevate them to victories. And Kali really is a do-it-all kind of player and um a really good leader of this squad as well, which I think is very underrated.
01:46:06
Speaker
a hyper athlete can get after it defensively rebounding shooting playmaking she's really a jack of all trades and a master of all those trades as well um and so see her combination with katie jones is going to be interesting um but two dynamic versatile and tall players on your perimeter i think you really bank on um jazz butsos bang bang butsos i think she'll uh really round out not that so much maybe the starting lineup maybe coming off the bench but she's in some so much needed floor spacing this side with zara finnell as well um i think was with coe uh the last few years um and really proved herself in that program so yeah not moving too far i think it was originally a canberra junior anyway so moving to coe wasn't that that much of a transition for her
01:46:52
Speaker
um But to have all those a couple seasons under her belt with the center of excellence, um I think she'll probably start this team, Zara Fennell. So another great shooter.
01:47:03
Speaker
Another tall wing. lot of height on this team. um so they're going to be able to play very versatile brand of basketball, this Canberra side. um Moving into the bigs is maybe a little concern here in terms I don't really, as far as I can see, outside of Sky Rees, who we'll just get to in a second, i don't really have an out-and-out centre, but they definitely have some capable bigs.
01:47:24
Speaker
Carly McAllister, after successfully returning to Canberra last season, is back for another one. She's just 20 points, 10 rebounds, just waiting to happen. um i think from watching a few of those Canberra games last season, think two or three live, um when the offense was kind of breaking down, they could just throw it to Carly McAllister and get a bucket.
01:47:46
Speaker
And I think that's really useful to have. She's a player with such vast experience, including over the WNBL back in the day as well. And ah to have not just that leadership, but that ability and that know-how just to get a team out of a rut, I think she can really, um really bring this side together. But With the other players joining in, like Zara and Katie, I just don't think her scoring load is going to be as much.
01:48:10
Speaker
um But I think that's going to work great for Carly McAllister because she um she's going to need to do a little more dirty work this season um in terms of rebounding and defense as well. So a bit of the offensive load taken off, but I think a little more defensive responsibility this year, but still a player you love to have and keeping that continuity from last season. um Elise Finney as well.
01:48:30
Speaker
Backup. I think she should play backup this year, but Cam is coming along leaps and bounds every season. I've seen Elise Finney has been part of the um Canberra program, NBL1 program for the last few years, um but a really solid big. And um I think this season is due for a lot more minutes. Elise Finney can't wait to see how much her game's improved after another offseason.
01:48:50
Speaker
So the two two other new signings in the front court I did mention before, Skyrace, from what I can tell, um has like a vast amount of experience, Skyrace is the center and has mainly been playing in NBL 1 North or the QBL before that.
01:49:06
Speaker
um ah i paid for australian basket you know that site you know the um the one was like i i forked out i bought myself a christmas present and got um and got a membership to that um so you can actually see here has been playing qbl for a long time versus the brisbane capital shout out um squint and the caps um in 2015 played for logan southwest mckay darwin salties um back in 23, 24 when they still had a program. But last year was playing with the Pakenham Warriors in Big V and was averaging 12 points, seven rebounds.
01:49:41
Speaker
um So it seems like a really solid um kind of basket-to-basket big. But looking at the rest of the lineup for Canberra, i think that's exactly what the doctor ordered. They don't really need much more scoring. They don't need much more playmaking. I think they just need a big who can finish off pick and rolls, finish down low, and um do the dirty work on defense as well.
01:50:00
Speaker
And the other signing and last one I'd like to talk about is Alison Day as well. Seems like a dynamic stretch for um who also has a very impressive resume is um originally from the US.
01:50:15
Speaker
And of course, I'm i'm going off the basket here. This is a great website. So if anyone needs um my my passwords and logins, especially commentators out there, it is great. But from Winchester, Ohio. But I did know it off the top of my head.
01:50:25
Speaker
ah just kidding. um it Went to ah college at Loyola University in Chicago, um ah was she hopped around averaging 10 points to 12 points. um Also finished her career off at Bowling Green State University before moving out to Australia. And in 2023, playing with Diamond Valley Eagles.
01:50:44
Speaker
um and then spent a bit of time in the UK, k came back, played for Diamond Valley again in NBL1 in 2024, and I think it was playing in Germany last season. But I might actually throw to Lockie here. Was Alison playing in the game that you watched camera with Canberra Comets or no?
01:51:03
Speaker
ah The Canberra Comets, the cricket team. No, no, sorry, Canberra V Comets, yes. um Yeah, she did play a bit. um i no one played huge minutes if i'm being entirely honest with you but i think you're on your description of a stretch four is probably pretty good um she'd bring the ball up a couple of times like she looked comfortable dribbling the ball um yeah i mean canberra they they had everyone but um a lot of the time like i was
01:51:39
Speaker
admittedly discussing commentary with one of my new co-commentators at commerce this season so we weren't fully invested in the game but a lot of the time they had um samson and iliana mateovic um out on the court and a couple and some of the youngsters like georgia langhi who's come over from queanbeyan so um probably didn't get a whole lot of uh a lot out of that game um just because they didn't need to run. i don't think they were going to get a lot out of playing their full roster against that Comets team that was, you know, pretty threadbare, to be honest. Like, McHale Harini wasn't even there for Comets, though.
01:52:20
Speaker
Yeah. But um yeah, interesting to see though that a lot of lot of those kind of younger players and players are maybe towards the end of the bench for Canberra last season getting a run in um in the preseason. But just from what I can tell from looking at this roster as a whole, I think they're going to play relatively positionless. They're going to play, I think, quite up-tempo as well, especially with kaie Katie and Callie. I'll tell you what, they're going to get out and run. um Zara as well, got those young legs, is going to really get out and gallop on the fast break. So,
01:52:49
Speaker
get ready to see a bit of ah a different style in Canberra. I know over the last few years, I've noticed they did play relatively slow, but I reckon they're going to get out run and gun this season. And um I think it'd be a real dark horse team.
01:53:01
Speaker
I think they'll definitely be in the finals. Whereabouts they're on the table, we'll see. But um I think they've pretty much had the perfect off season. But yeah, I think we'd love to see a center. So I don't know if anyone's still got Izzy Bourne's number or Mia Slater. If they want to come back, they would be perfect in the squad. But yeah,
01:53:19
Speaker
My guess is they're off with other clubs at the moment. But yeah, i think just missing a big, but every other position is looking elite. Well, Mia Slater's at college until May. So because she's at Gannon University.
01:53:33
Speaker
ah could get Maddie Wheatley, who just graduated from Gannon University as a program legend.
01:53:42
Speaker
but She's also a Canberra native. I think Izzy Bourne's currently playing somewhere in Europe as well, so I'm not sure if she's going to finish up there and then go back to Keylor because Keylor, they've got a good thing going on down at Keylor.
01:53:55
Speaker
Good checkbook. Good checkbook. Harrow are back as the head coach as well.
Sutherland Sharks' Strategic Signings and Depth
01:54:01
Speaker
um But, yeah, I think between Katie, Callie, Carly,
01:54:07
Speaker
Great big three. Great big three. And I will also say that last episode and perhaps even episodes last season, Lockie and i were always pondering, what does Katie Jones have to do to get a WNBL contract? It turns out she just needs to...
01:54:24
Speaker
not commit to an overseas contract too early or perhaps a contract that can be bought out by a dunk this time covering the Sutherland Sharks women as someone that you are hotly anticipating for the 2026 NBL 1E season. Yeah, and thankfully Sutherland actually announced Lauren Nicholson before we ah went live.
01:54:47
Speaker
did it this morning because it would be very, very different trying to explain the Sharkies knowing that Laura Nicholson was going to play, but her not being officially announced. um Yes, the Sutherland's Nicholson's obviously back in the roster. I saw Eliza Fabbro play, was suited up at the Blitz.
01:55:06
Speaker
Congratulations to Eliza and Hutch once again on their engagement. But obviously the two big signings grabbing team MVPs from both of their major rivals were,
01:55:19
Speaker
getting Abby Curtin from Comets. And you might want to sit down for this one. Ella Dent leaving Illawarra for Sutherland.
01:55:31
Speaker
She walked on it walked in at the Blitz it's in Shaft's kit and said, I still said i i still don't believe it. I like it, but still don't believe it. It was like she she torched Sutherland in the Anzac Day game last year, won the Anzac medal.
01:55:46
Speaker
Now she has to go down to Illawarra on Anzac Day. As a Sutherland player. um So i imagine that, ah well, it's actually, thiss there's a bit of work. Like Sutherland, their new head coach, Michael Turton, your boy, Squint.
01:56:07
Speaker
Uh-huh. Respect for Turton. He's got a few options because if you look at their top seven, Fabbro, Dent, Nicholson, Curtin, Maddie Norris, Emily Garland, and Liv Douglas.
01:56:23
Speaker
And apart from Liv Douglas pretty much cementing the five spot when she plays, there's a lot of versatility in there in how they might want to play. Yeah. do you want to go with Papro and Dent and Nicholson at the three? And then is Curtin or Norris?
01:56:42
Speaker
Is it Garland? When's Garland in? Where, what position does she go? There's just so many different options in the way they can play. and they're all really good players. Like,
01:56:53
Speaker
I think Emily Garland is highly, highly underrated. When she gets on a war just not putting the ball in the basket as well as they probably could have last year at times.
01:57:06
Speaker
But I think Sutherland, it's, you know, it's it's revenge season for the Sharkies. They've gone out, they've found really good players, um,
01:57:18
Speaker
They weren't great at rebounding last year. Sheldon would have never been great at rebounding, I don't think. So going out and getting someone like Abby Curtin really shores that up. Her numbers last year, 10.7 rebounds per game, if you don't mind.
01:57:32
Speaker
So that'll be massive. And I think Abby will... benefit from not having to have such a massive load at both ends, yeah which he really had to do at Comets last year. You know, 23, 20, the best part of 24 points and 11 rebounds um is just, that's massive for a team that is, you know, even struggling to make finals. Like she really put that team on her back last year. So really looking forward to her being able to just, know,
01:58:07
Speaker
not take a step back, but not feel like she's got so much pressure because she has so many other options. And look, any team that's got Lauren, I say it every year, as long as the Sharkies make the finals, if Lauren Nicholson's in the lineup come the end of the season, they're a chance to win it.
01:58:23
Speaker
And Skrinn, we were talking about this offline. I think there's a lot to be said for players like Nicholson, like Munger, like Talia Tupaya,
01:58:35
Speaker
who can put the ball under their wing, get to the rack and finish with physicality. And you said it, Squinn, that the player the centers, the long players, they don't you know they don't get the reward of being physical. you know they It's hard for them to draw fouls sometimes in this league.
01:58:55
Speaker
I think Unique was one of your ah examples. um which is very true. And I'm sure Sammy Mack will back you up on that one. But there's a lot to be said for these players. like I think Nicholson went to the free throw line 50%, 50% as many free throws as she had field goal attempts in four games. Talia, we mentioned 60%.
01:59:15
Speaker
So these players that really get their head down, get beat the defender with the first step, don't commit offensive fouls, with commit charges. There's a lot to be said for having one of those in his line-off.
01:59:28
Speaker
So Sharky's, this lineup, they have to want a top four spot. It's just it just how it is. Sorry.
01:59:39
Speaker
So me now thinking as well, Michael Turton, I grew up knowing him as a New South Wales Metro State coach. But now now I know that he, I'm pretty sure he's based in Wollongong. I know that he's got twin boys that have been playing reps for Illawarra.
01:59:54
Speaker
So i wonder if he, was a big drawing card for Ella Dent to make the move. i had that thought. and I haven't actually been able to talk to Michael. um Obviously I'll see him on, on Saturday, but, um,
02:00:06
Speaker
It's definitely an interesting an interesting angle. I'm sure he'd have the connection. But we'll just run through the rest of the roster. Mel Andreunis there keeps coming back. She'll provide plenty of defensive punch.
02:00:20
Speaker
Young Geordie Dewhurst, I think she is now out of youth league as well. So, like, sorry, Mowbray will not have to pull double duty. Yeah. Ash Waller comes back. evi Gooding e elevated to the NBL1 team.
02:00:34
Speaker
And then the two big names, Jackie Piper, Lauren's sister, back for back for another go-round. And then this ah surname may be familiar, Hayley Carter.
02:00:47
Speaker
Yeah, that's BJ's daughter.
02:00:52
Speaker
No. I'm old, but I'm not old enough yet to be... to see bj carter's daughter in nbl1 no no thank you good night that is it for me yeah so yes so she um well it wasn't he her mum also captained the uh the sharks as well in the 2000s but um she'll be pulling double duty uh they actually did a pretty good um pretty good little write-up about her so ah two three
02:01:23
Speaker
um yeah obviously mom and dad both played played for the shark sharks legends and bj you know king's three p sharky's three pete as well i mean how many players can say that so yeah we don't know you know how much playing time she'll get she obviously it's her first season out of 18s but really looking forward to see how she uh progresses over the next few years Especially because like Maddie Carey filled that um that youngster spot almost in the roster, but she's now off at college. And, well, she could come back and play as well, which would be ah nice to see because she is killing it over there. But, yeah, really good first seven or eight and then – first seven and then the bench can still um definitely produce.
02:02:14
Speaker
Good stuff for the Sharkies. Yeah, I think they're definitely up for a redemption season this year. They had all the pieces, like you said, in 2025, but just the pieces couldn't really fit together. So, yeah I think definitely redemption season. in Any final notes, James, before we throw back to you for our next team?
02:02:35
Speaker
um I was just going to, I mean, I think Lockie really covered it all. No surprise. um But ah just one thing, I think Maddie Norris, I reckon, like, she's already such an elite player in this league, but I reckon she could go next level this year. I reckon just with that year of flames under her belt, and I think as well with a lot of other players kind of taking a lot of attention away from her on offense, I'm really surprised see getting three, four, five, threes a game. I think she's going to come back with on on a totally new level. and
02:03:05
Speaker
I don't know. I was going to hot take and say maybe she'd be a star five player. I mean, it will be hard because this team is quite stacked, so there's going to be a lot of other scorers. But I just don't underestimate the the um impact of even if you're not playing that much a year in in ah in a pro system like the WNBO. I think the same will be with Zoe Miller, um what it does for a player's confidence. We saw it with Carla Pittman previously, Caitlin Martin as well. When they come back from even just being around,
02:03:32
Speaker
um The Flames program, they come back on just a whole new level because they they spend the whole summer playing um at at the top flight. So it wouldn't be surprising to see Maradie Norris have a huge year. um And yeah, kind I can't wait to see it. I mean, just looking at the starting five, I'm i'm really keen.
02:03:50
Speaker
you I'll see the Shark Tank, guys. Come on. so the Best canteen and best food truck in um in in New South Wales, in my opinion. We don't we don't have a food truck anymore, mate. No. Okay, maybe I'll do one.
02:04:03
Speaker
There's a third headset. Oh, okay. At Comets, we have five headsets. We can't fit them all in the mixer, but we've got them. yeah that sounds sounds like it sounds like a band more than a more than a commentary table i'm happy look i'm happy to grab a third headset and be on drums if that helps but yeah oh i'll tell you what i'd like yeah i'd love to come down to the the shark tank i think spiders are playing down the shark tank this year so maybe see that but this is going to a really exciting lineup but i think mark turn's got a hard task to try to get all these well all these band members to sing from the same same sheet because um yeah there's a lot of talent here
02:04:41
Speaker
Now, Turton's old school. He'll get everyone in line. He'll establish everyone's roles very clearly, very early. And if you deviate from that, he will politely tell you what you need to change.
02:04:55
Speaker
Also did previously coach at St. Alwesha's College as well for third shout out of the night. Sorry.
Bankstown Bruins' Roster and Community Impact
02:05:01
Speaker
Sorry, my private school's showing. But and My dad went to Newington, so.
02:05:08
Speaker
yeah. I did not. but Too many flexes on here. This isn't a gym yard, Lockie. um All right. Very, very good ah for the Sutherland Sharks. And, yeah, James, you're back on the Soapbox telling us more about the Bankstown Bruins Women.
02:05:31
Speaker
The Bankstown Bruins. Now, sorry to Bankstown. did have a big script written up to do a preview show about both the men's and women's this season. But they just kept on adding players. So I had to keep on fixing the script. And eventually I just moved on to other clubs. But, wow, their lineup is not just stacked. I know I've said that about a lot of teams. But it's very deep as well. Yeah.
02:05:54
Speaker
We'll get into some of the players later, but a lot of that youth league talent and a lot of talent that went to other clubs is now coming back. they're also seem to be poaching a lot of youth talent from other clubs. But at the top end now, shout out to Lauren Curtin. She's done a great job recruiting, but also keeping an eye on that youth talent. But it seems like the, I mean, if last year was the trust the process year about, you know, trying to give these young guns a bit more of a run,
02:06:19
Speaker
I think the process is almost over already. I mean, this ah this lineup is is good to go, starting with Tylee Toppea signing with bankstown the Bankstown Bruins. In fact, may say returning to the Bankstown Bruins.
02:06:32
Speaker
um And I'm sure the Bruins fans will remember last season she was with Bankstown. She averaged 29 points. That's 29. I'm bad at maths, but I know that's a pretty high number. um Eight rebounds and five assists. That was in the 2021 season, so it was a little short and seasoned. i don't know what was going on in the world at that time in 2021. I've already forgotten. But um Talia, this is a return of sorts to Bankstown. Of course, she has been a long-time Panther and ah just a plethora of experience in the WNBL, mainly with...
02:07:03
Speaker
um the caps and with the flames but we all know what she can do and last year she was just beast that um that two that two players show with k christina moore the inner west bulls was almost enough to lift them into the finals um and tyler and christina were just on fire but it looks like i really doubt sharlah hill is going to come back this season but i think the thing that that is good with the like-for-like kind of replacement there is this system's already set up to be around star point guard. So I think ah ah you don't really have to change your offensive sets, um how you play defensively that much if you're slotting Talia into um the fold there. And also, outside of
02:07:42
Speaker
outside of her resume, her stats, her numbers, I think she's going to provide some really good leadership for what is a very young squad. And sorry if I say this is young squad a lot because, i mean, it it really is. um But a player isn't particularly young, who is coming back and coming back in a way, i know you talked about this the last podcast, Davida Dale, um former defensive player of the year with the Sydney Comets, averaged, I think, was it 15, 20, 50, 60, 100 steals a game. the Sydney Comets numbers could be wrong, as they were with Mason Petling earlier. um He had shot on 50 games. I just checked that off in the break. Sorry, I got the number wrong. added seasons in twice.
02:08:21
Speaker
But yeah, just correct that one for the record if I do get sued for it. But yeah, Davida Dale was just a steals monster. offensively as well, was contributing so much with the Sydney Comets.
02:08:32
Speaker
um So I think she's going to not just add a defensive edge, but also be one of the leading scorers on this Bankstown Bruins team. um Last was playing, i think, in Manchester um in England.
02:08:43
Speaker
And I think we'll play the the two or the three. But looking up and down at this line-up, they can really lock in defensively, which I think has been a problem um in the first few years. The Bruins program in the East, they had a few scorers here and there, but defensively they were leaking a lot.
02:08:58
Speaker
Last year under Laurenkert, they started to really build ah build up a bit of a defensive identity. But I think with Tyler and DeVito, that's a really oversized backcourt haven't even gotten to the frontcourt yet.
02:09:10
Speaker
um Lily Austin as well, a player who was particularly impressive last season returning. um i think, unfortunately, had to play a bit too much point guard. um i think maybe that's not her preferred position. I could be wrong, but I really would like to see Lily Austin play a little more off ball. And I think they'll be able to do that with Talia in the side now.
02:09:30
Speaker
um a young gun coming up through that Bankstown system who could easily be starting at a lot of these games. I'm just going to rattle off a few names here because they have announced quite an extensive lineup and I think you're right in the last episode to shout out to the Bankstown um social media team because they pretty much had their team announced before New Year's, um which really helps creators because you're like, all right, well, you're going to announce your lineup. I guess we'll make a video about you.
02:09:52
Speaker
um ah Yeah, so Tara Calvitas and Sienna Alley. Tara's come back from the Bulls. um So really good to see Tara back with Bankstown and Sienna Alley.
02:10:06
Speaker
They're UTS teammates, actually. So there you go a Quick shout out Sienna Alley, an underrated player. I always say, mark my words on her, she is D-dog and one of the best mid-rangers in the business. So... Those two young guns um to go with as well, ah Talia Bywater, they've got a lot of young players there um that can fill in in those guards positions.
02:10:24
Speaker
So moving into the wings, the Dunlop sisters, Rachel Dunlop, kind of more of three over of four. um I think we're still yet to see the best out of her. um i think every season she's had to play a different position, but I think defining her role will really help her go to the next level.
02:10:40
Speaker
um Rachel Dunlop, and ah got to say, like, I think she should be starting. We'll see. but um I really think we'll get to the next level this season. Same with Jane Dunlop as well. There was a few games last season where she just caught five from three and was unstoppable.
02:10:57
Speaker
um But especially defensively, Jane Dunlop, long wingspan, hyper-athletic, super agile, um can cause a lot of nuisance on the defensive end. And we'd like to see them run a few more sets for her maybe to get her open on the three-point line.
02:11:12
Speaker
Xena Albero, um ah a player who people might remember who played for Spiders last year, um but maybe people weren't watching Spiders much, but hey, you're watching Xena, she was, what was the end of the rotation, but she's another Bankstown junior who's coming back and joining her as well. Jen Tachian is a Spiders player who has also joined Bankstown Bruins. So again, plenty of depth on this time team. Moving on the frontcourt.
02:11:36
Speaker
A player who i think really will step up this season, ah think has really defined themselves is Keanu Davis-White. Now... I think with Davida, Talia and Lily Austin in this team, she'll finally be able to just like get into position and play power forward a little more, play small forward a little bit.
02:11:54
Speaker
She can really play inside and outside, but she is a player who's really strong. And when she's playing off the perimeter, she can just get that first step in and kind of bully her away to the basket and spot up for threes. But we'd like to see play a little more inside-outside opposed to having catching the ball. So fire outside the paint. So counter-Davis wide, I think, is due for a huge season as well.
02:12:14
Speaker
um But getting into the other import that we might not be familiar with in NBL1, but if you've been following French basketball for the last decade, which I know we all have, um ah is Margot de Fritters. Now, I have to dig around a bit for a bit of information on her, but she's been playing for Toulouse or Toulon. Toulouse, Toulouse.
02:12:38
Speaker
ah My French isn't that great. But either way, she's been there in the second division in French basketball. um And she's been playing in their top team since 2016. ah Very experienced um and a bit of a strange connection. So if anyone from Bankstown can give us the heads up on how they got Margot to come out and play, please hit us up.
02:12:57
Speaker
But I think she will be a perfect fit. but talking about the guard depth talking about the forwards the versatility before looks like margot is a bit of an out and out big so that really fills in the void in the middle i mean last year with jada rice she was an absolute force kind of sad to see her not coming back but um i'm sure maybe she's pursuing another professional opportunity but think margot will fill in that void in the middle um and i think she's gonna do okay Again, been playing at the top flight since 2016. In her last season with Toulouse, she averaged 8 points, 6 rebounds, um and a block per game as well.
02:13:36
Speaker
Lost 74% from the throw line, so not too bad. But all throughout a career, she's been hovering around those numbers. So seems like an import... who may just be a a really solid role player.
02:13:47
Speaker
You never know. um her game might convert really well and she might end up being a kind of double-double kind of player, but definitely someone to fill in that starting lineup. And um yeah I think we'll start at the five.
02:13:59
Speaker
um As well as a young guy, Nadia Kuzo, who previously is had experience with New South Wales. um I think I'm not too sure which age group it was, but she'll probably be the other big.
02:14:10
Speaker
um As well as Leila Nifilemu, power forward is going to back up as well. Sorry if I just listed off a whole bunch of names with a big bingo card, but Bankstown, noticed in the men's and women's, announced very big squads. um So i'm not too sure who's going to fit into youth league, who's going to fit into the NBL one squad. But one thing I do know about um the Bankstown women's team is they're very deep.
02:14:35
Speaker
And I think that's something that members struggled with their first few years in NBL One East. um But I think a starting lineup of Talia, Davida, either of the Dunlops, Keanu Davis-White and Margot de Fritters, that's very solid. And especially defensively, that's going to be a very dangerous ah dangerous lineup. So think Bankstown are ready to go to the next level.
02:14:58
Speaker
i think I really think they are this season. I know I've said that a lot during what i' with a lot of those players, but um I think a lot of them got thrown in the deep end last year and the year before.
02:15:08
Speaker
ah But I think it's about time that um the crops that they planted a couple years ago are ready to be um harvested. And I think backing their young talent is paying off in the long term and joined by import veterans and um and even Australian veterans like Talia. So, yeah, going to be an interesting time in Bankstown.
02:15:29
Speaker
Hmm. Going to be going off at the, now, wait, the Bruins home court is the hideout? No, that's the Bandits. It's the Bruins' lair. It's the lair. I should know it's the Bears' lair. Hmm. I have that um image and that signage in my brain from when I used to have ITC camps there many moons ago, so I should know the Bears' lair.
02:15:57
Speaker
Yeah, it it really will be. it's it's It's going to be an exciting season. But yeah, it's going to be um yeah tough tough tough to see how they fit in into um the whole finals race and to the ladder, I think, but like after maybe the first...
02:16:10
Speaker
five to ten games will have a pretty good idea but i reckon lauren curtain's going to get in playing a good print of basketball and that's a that's a coach that i think everyone around nsw around new south house community has ah a lot of good things to say about so if she if anyone can get this team to work well together it'll be lauren curtain yeah she's a great role model for especially a lot of young female players and she's been coaching at a high level for a really long time so she's going to um Certainly set a really good culture for that team.
02:16:41
Speaker
She's going to be very fair, but she's going to be very supportive and encouraging. I think she's a coach where she'll be able to develop some of those younger athletes really well and then be able to maintain a core group for a really long time.
02:16:55
Speaker
i think she's I think she's going to be really the start of something ah sustainable for Bankstown Bruins in terms of their talent and their performance level of competitiveness over the next couple years. So it's great that she's there and I hope that she's there as long as she wants to be there.
02:17:13
Speaker
Yeah, and just one player I'm not too sure. i may have just missed the name, but um is Sienna Tutani. I'm not too sure if she's back this season, but I got big raps on her. And a lot a lot of the Bankstown players, when you ask them who's like the hardest working player, player who maybe doesn't get enough attention, they'll say Sienna Tutani. But um I may have missed it, but I haven't seen her name pop up. I could be wrong. I i haven't either.
02:17:38
Speaker
Yeah, I really liked her last season, Lockdown Defender. she has great potential. So hopefully she's coming back or hopefully she's okay. If she's not deciding to come back, the thoughts are okay. If she's having a rest, but yeah, I haven't seen her name out there either. So sorry.
02:17:56
Speaker
I screwed this on. How can I also miss as well? i was just waiting for the the last little bonus round, which is Kayla Proctor as well. Wow. So I'm so sorry. I miss missed her. Um, cause as said, the the list is very, very long, but no excuses for missing Kayla Proctor. um really balled out recently at the Under-20s Championships as well, Caleb Proctor. There's been a lot of media coverage about her um because of her famous brother. But hey, we're an NBL One East fan, so keeping more of an eye on Bankstown than I am on the Cleveland Cavaliers at the moment. um But Caleb Proctor is...
02:18:30
Speaker
like one of those prototypical modern point guards in the same ilk as your Jessie May Halls and your Ruby Perkins, which a bit of a preview for later. But yeah, Kayla Proctor is lightning quick. I know she's been putting in a lot of work with Breakdown Basketball um and Ney out there um on a jump shot.
02:18:47
Speaker
And um I think she could be really, really special. Another one of those players who I think get in while it's still free to watch them play. ah because Kayla Proctor is going to be going places. And it looks like they don't have a lot of out-and-out point guards. So I'm bit surprised they're to get big minutes because she had some big games and a big impact last season with the NBL One squad. And I think, I'm not too sure how old she is, but I think she'd be like 17 or 18. But seriously, play it's like um plays fearlessly. So Kayla Proctor is going another one to watch.
02:19:21
Speaker
Yeah, she has some MBA Academy experience under her belt as well. I'm pretty sure she um took some time away to attend one of those camps overseas, but yeah bankstown brawns it's one of those teams whether it's the men i should say clubs because one of those it's either the men's or women's team that you just want to really get behind there's something about them um where they always feel a little bit like the underdog and you can see that they're doing so many things right on and off the court um like you like we always talk about their social media team even very prompt with their announcements um they're always doing stuff right so you really root for them
02:19:59
Speaker
And yeah certainly hope that they make the finals this time. And of course, the stat commentary line up with Caleb and SJ as well.
North Bears' Season Strategy and Player Development
02:20:09
Speaker
man, they run deep on the court and off the court at Bankstown, I tell you what.
02:20:17
Speaker
what's not to lie yeah it's a hu they're go to have to if they don't already they're goingnna have to get a um portable grandstand on the same side where caleb and as j commentate to really pack their rafters because i think they're just kind of garhana such a a a bigger crowd this season they're gonna have to bring bring in that grandstand so good stuff from bankstown we love to see it uh and then we've got two teams to go guys lucky this is your last team to feature and it is your beloved north bears from is there anything that i don't love no there is not there is not there's always a reason to love all of the teams
02:20:59
Speaker
Yeah, okay. But, okay, not North, yeah, okay, North were my life. Well, actually, North. And, well, it was North and Hornsby, and then half the Hornsby team moved to North in the old Waratah League days. So, um yes, North i have a long, long history with the Bears. And, well, last season, when we got to a preliminary final weekend, I think everyone and their mother was saying, all right, North Manly Grand Final, here we go.
02:21:24
Speaker
And then they lost to Centre of Excellence. um which wasn't very good. So they finished 17-3 in the regular season last year. the Top offensive rating in the league, four points clear of Manly per 100 possessions, and third best defensive rating in the league, which actually gave them... They were the top net rating team in the league, despite the fact they finished one win behind Manly. But when the top teams are beating up so hard on some other teams, it does skew the numbers a bit. But...
02:21:55
Speaker
We move on. Of course, we've mentioned already Carla Pittman's off to Mount Gambier this year, taking 17 points and 9.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game with her. ah jamesss are James' club has ah stolen Ruby Perkins away. The Shaq Shora connection has a...
02:22:15
Speaker
led Ruby Perkins up the Pacific Highway to the Brick Pit. And, know, Ruby didn't start. don't know if she started any games last year. She did. It wasn't very many. Um...
02:22:27
Speaker
But she was actually pretty high up there on their um on their scoring. So yeah, Ruby didn't start a game, but she averaged 13.8 points per game in 24 and a bit minutes.
02:22:39
Speaker
So she was filling it up last year. So to lose her is is more of a hold than it appears, particularly in light of Pittman leaving as well.
02:22:51
Speaker
And to be honest, when I saw this roster come out, i was like, all right, it's looking the same. Where's Matty O'Hare? They got Jazz Simmons, but they'd lost Carla Pittman, Ruby Perkins, Jolene Anderson retired, Jess Bygate retired.
02:23:06
Speaker
But it wasn't quite there for me. It was maybe fourth or fifth, you know, some of these younger players like um Peggy Schell, Emma Donnelly, you know, they'll have increased roles and then Izzy Morgan and Kaitlyn Martin will be fine in the backcourt, but I really wanted them to have something more.
02:23:25
Speaker
And then they went and signed Taylor Wurtz.
02:23:29
Speaker
And then they didn't sign Taylor Wurtz because a couple of weeks later, they pulled the pin on that, um Taylor's availability. So what did they do instead?
02:23:41
Speaker
Well, we don't know it was instead, but what did they announce next? Oh, yeah, we've signed Jasmine Shelley, the NBL One South MVP, Opal, All Big Ten first team, Nebraska legend,
02:24:02
Speaker
WNBL player, um and then you're just like, all right. Can you Opal? I did say Opal. Yeah. Asian cup medalist. um World cup medalist.
02:24:17
Speaker
And then. Yeah. That just immediately put them straight back into. Well, if they weren't, they were already finals contention, but back to like minor premiership contention, top two, top three. Yeah.
02:24:33
Speaker
Her shooting stats were down a bit in the WNBL last year, this season. I think that was sub 30%, but not really that concerned about that with what Jazz can do. So she can, she had, she's had her struggles playing the one, but I think she's got past those now largely.
02:24:50
Speaker
um i mean, when I say struggles, this was mostly in college rather than playing an Australian brand of basketball. um So largely past any problems there. And, Down playing in NBL One South last year, shot the three ball at 35%. So as part of shooting, 42% overall, goled up seven and a half as rebounds per game, dish six assists per game. So, you know, she is coming in. She is going to be absolutely mammoth. And you remember she's doing that in NBL One South.
02:25:22
Speaker
And we know we like to say don't sleep on the East. The East is on the come up. Here's the homecoming. But the black fact is, our East champ got towed by the South champ and the South champ only just like Geelong beat everyone in the South except Knox.
02:25:42
Speaker
So jazz Shelley, it was on a very good team playing a very good league. So she is going to go absolutely nuclear here. I reckon she's going to be so good. Um,
02:25:54
Speaker
We'll just shoot the three ball for fun. know, she's got Martin and Morgan there in the backcourt. Whatever combination Renee Gullough sees as fit, I think is going to work just fine.
02:26:08
Speaker
And then... to whether this is to replace works, whether this is already in the pipeline, who knows, doesn't matter. and went out and got Talia Brugler, third leading scorer all time at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, which plays in the A10, which, as I mentioned, is the same conference that Davidson play in and lot of other very good teams. Richmond, who Nebraska played in the first round of the NCAA tournament, that's their conference.
02:26:38
Speaker
So she's also their six got the sixth best field goal percentage of all time for St. Joseph's, and she just puts the ball in the basket from close range. um 17 points and six rebounds in 35 minutes a game over in Greece this season, playing for PAS Giannina, which I think is even better numbers than Christina Moore was putting up in Greece this season.
02:27:02
Speaker
So there's your, know, it could be a no lazy comparison because they play for different clubs, but it's the comparison we've got. um Plays 3x3, won a World Uni Games bronze medal 3x3. So you know she's probably pretty good defending one-on-one because you don't get a lot of help D in ah three x three um And the best part is she gets deep in the paint to shoot.
02:27:30
Speaker
she's not flinging it up from 12 and 14 feet and saying oh yeah got in the paint she is properly in the paint so i'm very looking forward to that because i don't think um i mean on that roster they've called up lulu hastings they've got maddie delmado for a bit of you know some height but they don't have that experienced Ford to go go hard in the paint for big minutes per game. um And I think we also really have to mention with Matty O'Hare out, is Jazz Simmons going to take over that kind of role
02:28:08
Speaker
just with less three-point shooting. I think Shelly, but the thing is with Shelly now in the roster, the fact that Matty O'Hare was the top three-point shooter for Norse last year doesn't really matter as much.
02:28:18
Speaker
um So Jazz Simmons can be the one to get the downhill, get out and running. i think in Jazz Simmons' last NBL One season, she was O of O from three-point range.
02:28:30
Speaker
So she was just getting out, getting downhill, or getting out and running the floor, which... We've watched her do since, well, you want to she won an under-17s World Cup gold medal in 2016, alongside Jess Shelley.
02:28:46
Speaker
So, you know, we've been watching her do that for forever. um Just hyper-athletic, get to the rack.
02:28:58
Speaker
One of my absolute favourites of all time. New South Wales country product as well. from Golgol down there on the r on the banks of the Murray, fortunately on the north side.
02:29:09
Speaker
um But also worth remembering, she is coming off a season out. So will it take her a few games to get her feet under her?
02:29:21
Speaker
because she was meant to play for Central Coast last season, but unfortunately that fell but fell by the wayside. And I think North's were a good team for her to join because they actually were really high. i think they were top they were top of the league in fast break points, both in total number and the percentage of their scoring last season.
02:29:37
Speaker
So... And you're not going to sign Jasmine Simmons if you don't plan on using her to run. Like, you just wouldn't do it, so...
02:29:50
Speaker
I think we can ah very much trust Renee there. And honestly, with this roster, I mean, we'll wait ah we might wait a couple of weeks to do our full predictions to see if there's any last minute signings, but geez, I'm, I'm, you'd be a brave man to bet against them at this stage, which we're not allowed to do because we all signed our terms and conditions.
02:30:12
Speaker
Yeah. I don't have enough money to bet.
02:30:16
Speaker
ah And last $20 in my bank accounts. It's going to beans and tin fish. to go up with the r To go with what's on the shelf already. Yeah, that's that's that's all I got left.
02:30:29
Speaker
but um yeah don't know You don't have budget for rice. It's just beans and tin fish. No rice. That's all we got. But, I mean, they've still got Emma Donnelly coming back, Peggy Schell, Holly Wills, and Rebecca Donnelly. So if they need another three-point shoot-up for Rebecca Donnelly, areas one there is one.
02:30:50
Speaker
She can shoot it for days. I mean, Youth League finals last year, she was just ridiculous at times. Yeah. That big three of, well, one's now at Hornsby and Lola, but between Donnelly, Hastings and Grollton last year, that North's big three was electric in Youth League. And it's good to see that they've all been officially, I think Hastings was technically in the North's NBL1 squad last year, but good to see all three of them have now been officially elevated to the NBL1 roster, either at North or Hornsby. But, yeah, North's,
02:31:25
Speaker
I'm really high on them. You've got to be always be high on Norse, but I think particularly this year with Shelley and Brugler in and Simmons. I was, cause I was, was kind of wondering what's going on with Maddie. Okay. I mean, she's officially not announced anywhere. So, you know, if you want to make a last minute announcement North, I wouldn't, I wouldn't, wouldn't be against it.
02:31:44
Speaker
yeah my bed would be i don't think he's coming back that's not any any insider intel or anything i just think i mean if matthew has coming back could be one of the first people you announce for a signing but he does like represent it definitely the the end of of that kind of golden generation or the old firm as we used to call them in commentary for north's um with you your c-bombs your shikas your hares m simons um these kind of players uh i think that that era's um unfortunately come to an end but i mean north are just rejuvenated and they could be even bigger and better than ever yeah scary that's how you i mean and that is the thing with these these clubs like in north and manly you mentioned before is um if you remember when manly won the waratah league title and they like it was belinda snell kristen forbes candace trevena it was like these players are not like
02:32:36
Speaker
I haven't seen them play for Manly before very often. ah Rebecca Duke was there. i was like, and now it's all Manly. Yeah. It's all Manly players, like juniors,
Hornsby Keringai Spiders' Growth and Key Players
02:32:48
Speaker
most them. Or, I mean, the Delanys are very much entrenched in the Manly community, even though they're not from there originally. But it's very Manly based.
02:32:59
Speaker
Awesome. So the lucky last team that we're going to, that we're hotly anticipating for the NBL1 East 2026 season is another team on the women's competition we need to be getting high on.
02:33:13
Speaker
It's the Hornsby Keringa Spiders. James, this roster is on fire. yeah know. Geez. Yeah. um Wow. No bias in picking this one, but like yeah anyone can tell you that this Hornsby Keringa side is,
02:33:29
Speaker
Oh, it's just ridiculous. and And I think actually before I get to the roster, we'll start with ah the coaching staff. I think getting going out and getting Shaq Shaw to return Hornsby Kringa, of course, he was originally youth league player at Hornsby.
02:33:45
Speaker
um ah so ah Just a fun story I had from that. Shaq actually met his current wife um ah playing youth league at Hornsby, um which is just, you know, all the dreams come true at the Brick Pit, what can I say? But um to bring Shaq back, who, again,
02:34:02
Speaker
met his wife played youth league coach junior reps um at Hornsby Keringai he went over to Norths for a couple seasons had some great success learning under Renee Gallup I mean you could get no better mentor and the coaching ranks really um And then to win a youth league title there, um go 11 and 11 in the NBL one games where Renee wasn't available.
02:34:25
Speaker
um And then to come back to Hornsby, I think that was actually the first domino to fall in what's been a huge off season for the Spiders. um And I think Shaq um not only did, did recruit really well, I just think on court,
02:34:39
Speaker
He's just a really great coach and off the court as well. I think he's a great personnel manager. So a personnel manager sounds so professional way of putting it. He's just a good guy and people want to play for him. um yeah None of that HR talk here. But yeah, and obviously the first player he brought um with him was Ruby Perkins, which is just...
02:35:01
Speaker
yeah that's it's a huge one i mean the spiders know not to say they really needed any more guards but ruby perkins is going to be one of the best young talents in aussie basketball at the moment um heading off to california to to play for california in ncaa um at uni but before that she's representing new south wales represented australia um was one of the few non-COE players to be in um ah in that Sapphire squad. And yeah, she was actually one of the better players on that squad as well. So it wasn't like she was just riding the end of the bench.
02:35:36
Speaker
Ruby Perkins has done it all. Like she really has done it all in her junior career um and was already playing NBL one, I think at age 16. I think that was 20, 20...
02:35:47
Speaker
I can't remember. It was when the Bears said the awful jersey with the logo on it. I can't remember. It was the Under Armour year. 2023. But then they redesigned the jersey and it looks great this time. But anyway, back to the Spiders. So yeah, Ruby Perkins, I can't speak more highly of her. She is one of the hardest working players you'll ever meet. Remember when I used to work front desk at North, Ruby Perkins would be there before me, normally because I'd sleep in a little bit and forget that I had to open up the stadium. No, I'm kidding. But she'd be there before, ready to go, ready to get shots up every day.
02:36:17
Speaker
um And you can just tell it pays off. She's also a good learner as well, always seeking out coaching from all these different sources to try to improve her game, try to get that little edge. And it just shows out on the court. She was just relentless, but also very high IQ point guard. um And of course, won the youth league championship um and grand final MVP um with North two years ago. um so really...
02:36:43
Speaker
I'd say a pretty good signing. I'd say actually maybe a very good signing, Ruby Perkins. yeah um And also coming with her from um the Bear Cave, again, as part of that that that traditional migration pattern between Hornsby and Norths is Lola Grolton, who are I'm really high on actually after seeing her play through her youth career and junior career at Norths. Was her under-16s um for New South Wales. She's a really feisty point guard, I tell you what. Hyper-athletic, gets up and gets into defenders. like she is is like I really respect that in a player because anyone can get out and get buckets, besides me. um But no, anyone can get out there and and fill them up and then slack off on defense. But how a player plays defensively says a lot about their character and um what kind of what what what kind of talent they are and how they approach the game. And Lola's just a relentless on-ball defender.
02:37:37
Speaker
Plays with a real intensity as well, which you'd like to see in young players. oh, yeah, turning up, i'll let my talent do the to the talking. that did ah um She's another real hard worker. So i think shell she'll back up Ruby this year, um also still eligible for Youth League. She played Youth League um on the weekend for the Spiders.
02:37:55
Speaker
um So i could see her coming off the bench or even starting some games at the point, but is actually quite tall. um So I think can actually fill in at the two and the three as well. So a lot of versatile looks for Shaq Shorah.
02:38:09
Speaker
Oh, who else I have in the backcourt? Oh, right. Jesse May Hall. man. Wow. never heard is not yet This backcourt, I tell you what, like commentary my head is just going to be going side to side. Like ah it's going to be way too fast.
02:38:24
Speaker
um With Ruby and Jessie, they're going to be playing a high tempo, Hornsby Korean guy. um And Jessie May Hall, since she burst onto the scene in that first season, um i think she's still 16 as well in her debut season, i just tore it up. And she's just had games where it looked like she was going to go for triple doubles of steals, rebounds, assists, and even quadruple doubles sometimes um with points included. You're like, this play is just unbelievable. It's like hard to describe sometimes. She's just so, so quick.
02:39:00
Speaker
I don't know what it is. There to be some kind of sports science breakdown of her fast twitch muscle fibres, the way she gets in a passing lane, gets out and runs, can beat a defender on that first step. um jesse may hall and ruby perkins that that backcourt is just must watch television so make sure you're tuning into the hornsby games this season or come to the brick pit it's the place to be um just a bit of an exclusive they do have a bar now at the brick pit um and their own exclusive beer at uh the brick pit so sorry to get a bit of a plug in there but it's going to be the place to be this season but uh especially to watch these two players
02:39:33
Speaker
um I think backing up, Jessie May, this season's going Nikki Sainsbury, who's another player of huge raps on. um absolute we call it sniker Sniper Sainsbury um or Flamesbury. um most still The poll's still on her nickname, but yeah, Nikki Sainsbury, another really hardworking player. um I think this will be her third season now with Hornsby Kringai.
02:39:53
Speaker
um and really earned earned her minutes throughout the year. um Again, another really intense defender um and can get them up in a hurry. um And her play a fair bit of UBL back with UTS um when they had a team and they will be returning this season by Nikki Sainsbury when she's called upon. Lucky, if you want to do commentary, hit me up. um ah I've already talked to Paige about it.
02:40:16
Speaker
All right. let's Actually, no, okay, all right, all right. Sorry. I don't want to turn it back on UNSW, but we'll get to that later. um Because, yeah, Nikki Sainsbury, in that team, she actually did have a bigger role in UBL, and she showed that she can really step up when she gets more shots. So if they need to call her number, um she's ready to go and always plays with that kind of like next person up mentality um off the bench. So Nikki Sainsbury, another good culture fit, another great hardworking player.
02:40:43
Speaker
all right. Moving in to the forwards positions. um I want to talk about the import. Layla Hartman. Here we go. Hornsby. Two imports to this season. Layla Hartman um ah is a former um'm college teammate with assistant coach Jess Sancadolato.
02:40:57
Speaker
um And ah they played at Northwestern together um And ah i think played four seasons there, Layla three of which were with Jess.
02:41:09
Speaker
um Then i think transferred to and NYU um to do a film and documentary degree. She's actually got a documentary on YouTube, which you should check out. So a very creative kind of person. um But then Jess was telling just sent her a text out of the blue and Layla's like, yeah, let's go. Let's let's come. let's let's let's ah Let's give Australia a go.
02:41:29
Speaker
um so ah yeah, she's she's arrived in Australia. She was going to play at the Blitz, but of course the games got cancelled. But Layla Hartman, a real kind of 3 and d player, I think like more of a kind of small forward, um but definitely because of her defensive skill, can play a little bigger sometimes. So Layla Hartman... um Yeah, definitely keep an eye out for her and from reports from coaches and stuff, she's playing very unselfishly, which sometimes you don't get from your imports. Um, but she's really bought into the system from what I've heard. So, um, an import for the Hunsburg Greengrass Spiders won an ACC championship back with Northwestern as well.
02:42:07
Speaker
Um, but I'm not a huge NCAA fan, but I think, I think that's a big deal. Lockie is it no just since it is a, uh, it'd be a big 10 championship if it what was Northwest big 10, sorry.
02:42:19
Speaker
why it's good but that is there we go i see yes that's a big deal i mean it's a big 10 deal so um yeah yeah so as i said i don't know a whole lot about college i don't really follow college but i mean it's just to play at that level i mean you've to be doing something right um So, yeah, she'll she'll fill in the three or the four. um Definitely has a good three-point shot. I think backing it up, we're going to have Dayla Walker, um a Hornsby lifer. Briefly spent a bit of time in Maitland, but came back to Hornsby in season two of NBL One East.
02:42:50
Speaker
Everyone's familiar with Dayla Walker. She's one of the friendliest people in basketball in New South Wales um and is the captain of the squad as well, Dayla Walker. um Can really play... Every position, even at UCS, so playing point guard a little bit.
02:43:04
Speaker
ah So a perfect player who can really slot in in any kind of position. um Now, moving on. we didn't even get to the big sign of Christina Moore back at the brick pit.
02:43:15
Speaker
Ah! ah This is crazy. She was top five, top five in MVP voting last season. If you guys remember that stretch of five games she had in Hornsby's first year, think she averaged like 26 or 27 points in five-game stretch.
02:43:31
Speaker
um ah Has been playing, played for Central Coast the year after. um Was hoping to return to Hornsby, but things maybe just didn't work out. Then went played for Rachel Manpar. I mean, who wouldn't? At the Central Coast um briefly and then with the Bulls last year. But yeah, now finally back at the Brick Pit where it all started, where she played her junior basketball alongside Nicole Hutchins, alongside Jess Sanctilato. Wow. I mean...
02:44:00
Speaker
it's ah It's just a great it's is a great story. Like I've got to say, Christina Moore is just a walking bucket. Those years in college with Flora and Georgetown, you can tell, just shaped her into a player who cannot be stopped.
02:44:11
Speaker
um And I think what's going to be great for Coach Shakshora is she can be an extra ball handler, which I think she did a little too much of with the Bulls last year. But hey, if you need her playmake, she can and to free up Jessie and Ruby. um But she can also play big.
02:44:24
Speaker
because again bulls used her as a center and a power forward last year as well so um can do a bit of everything but i think hornsby's going to be playing a pretty high pace so i'd be surprised to see christina playing like kind of the small ball four and maybe even sliding into the five every now and then um but moving into the big positions i just can't believe christina more sorry but Yeah, we don't have enough time to go into how big that is. um ah We've got ah the two bigs, Iyana Bey and Nicole Hutchins back for another year. Nicole Hutchins, a legend of the Spiders, um another player to go find another club, um but came back once Spiders got back into the NBL One East. Nicole Hutchins is, again, not one of the nicest people you'll meet, does a lot of volunteering work around the um club and is just...
02:45:08
Speaker
a force in the paint as well. in Nicole Hutchins is like, if you're if you're an opposing center, you don't want be matching up against her, especially defensively. to To get a shot over that wingspan or to try bully her, it just can't be done in the paint. So Nicole Hutchins, I think, is going to fit in really well with this team If you look up and down that roster, you really don't need that much more scoring. So Nicole is going to be going to be setting a lot of screens, going to be pick and rolling a lot.
02:45:32
Speaker
And um I think, yeah, she's going to be a perfect fitter. That five spot, Have I frozen up a little bit? Oh, no, there we go. I'm back. Okay. You're still good. Sorry. i yeah You just thought I was like still, my head was still exploding from um the town of the thrower. And Iana Bay, love to see it. Import third year back with the spiders. Has really made a home um at the Brick Pit. And um I think in her first year, really so really started to average around 16 points.
02:46:01
Speaker
um Last year, had a bit of a different role. Had to do a lot more of the dirty work. um But I think Iana Bay, I think just a multi-talented player defensively and offensively.
02:46:12
Speaker
um But I wouldn't be surprised to see her playing a little more of the five this season as well. um so maybe um last year we saw a lot of Bay and Hutchins on next to each other. Maybe this year you'll see them rotated as your two bigs. And of course, your your third big is Genevieve Audet, who's a Spiders junior. had a bit of injury trouble. um but is a really multi-talented center um who could fit into the squad really well, Genevieve Audette. So hopefully she can stay healthy this year because a lot of people around the brick pit have big raps on Genevieve as the star of the future for them.
02:46:43
Speaker
So just in conclusion, if you're starting five, let's just let's just do hypothetical here. is Ruby Perkins, Jesse May Hall, Layla Hartman, the new import, Christina Moore and Ayana Bay. and That's dangerous.
02:46:57
Speaker
So compared to the first year of Spiders in the NBL 1 East, in just a matter of four seasons, they've turned themselves into an extremely legitimate squad.
02:47:12
Speaker
You reckon they're making top eight this year, James? I don't want to jinx it, but I'd say yes. I'd say so um They may have been pushing a bit higher. But ah the reason I say that, though, obviously this roster is talented, but in NBL1S and across all basketball, you see rosters with talent like this.
02:47:34
Speaker
I think the X factor is, again, Shaq Shora and Coach Jess as well. I think they'll get all these people playing a good brand of basketball, a style that works, that is defensive-minded, gets out and runs, and is unselfish.
02:47:47
Speaker
So I think because of the coaching staff bringing all this talent together, they could be ah top five team. Top five. Very nice. Very nice. So ah I know that this has probably been the longest episode we've ever had ESCOT game. It definitely could have been a two-parter. Sorry, guys.
02:48:05
Speaker
Yes. Don't be sorry. Don't be sorry. This is why we're here. um I mean, next time I think we could plan it as a two-parter, but we'll know that for season five, so that's okay. I know there'll be lots of EGG fans, the long-term loyal EGG fans who will be frothing over a near three-hour episode. So we're going to make a lot of people happy nonetheless. But i what I want to do, I just want to finish this episode on SJ's question he asked on an Instagram live video a little bit earlier, which I thought was a great question and worth holding on to the end. So now that we've talked about the men's and women's teams that we're most excited about ahead of this 2026 season that tips off on the weekend, we're
02:48:49
Speaker
SJ's question for everyone was, which team that missed the top eight last season has the best chance of making the top eight this season? And who do you think is going to fall out of the top eight?
02:49:03
Speaker
So if you need, i can bring up the ladders yeah from last season and give you a reminder of the top eight because I was also like, great questions. Let me look at the latter, though, because there ain't no way I'm remembering the top eight. So if we go back and talk about the men's first, given that we covered their rosters first, top eight after the regular season in 2025, from first to eighth went Illawarra, Centre of Excellence, Canberra Gunners, Sydney Comets, Bankstown Bruins, North Bears, Manly Warringah The Eagles, Sutherland Shark. So the question is,
02:49:43
Speaker
Who is falling out of that top eight and who is going to make it in the top eight this season that didn't last season? Well, Maitland's the team that's making it in the didn't last season in the men's. Correct. probably the most obvious answer.
02:50:01
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. And, I mean, if I'd have to pick one out of all these teams, I'd probably have to go Manly Warringah on the men's to fall out. I mean, they only just scraped in, as did Sutherland last year.
02:50:13
Speaker
yeah They both had an 11-9 win-loss record ah with, I think, Manly getting the split because Sutherland Sharks actually had a better points percentage, but they must have had the... Yeah, i please stop reminding me. We'll leave it at that. So, Lockie, you're saying Manly Warringah Seagulls are meant to fall out of the top eight and replaced by Maitland Mustangs. I think that's a...
02:50:41
Speaker
Pretty good bet, to be fair. What do what do you think, James? i'm I'm just going to go for someone different just to keep it spicy. um I think the team that's jumping in is going to be NOS Bulls um with Bleachmore, Kobe Shannon, Malok Majak.
02:50:57
Speaker
Sorry, there's too many plays to list. Go watch my video, please. um But, yeah, there's there's plenty of ah talent on the Inno West Bulls. If they can play together, though, um if they can like get the chemistry going well, I think they'll be very dangerous this year.
02:51:10
Speaker
ah But I think the team dropping out, I'm sorry to say, is to be the Sydney Comets. ah Just... Based on chemistry, I just think they've got... I mean, I still... Don't get me wrong. I still think they most likely will be in the top eight. But I think out of all those teams, they've just had a bit too much roster change. And I think there's not enough games in the season to kind of figure out a whole new playing squad. But again, ah i didn't want to pick anyone, but I just think maybe Sydney Commons, even Centre of Excellence, depends who they have, um might may drop out. But yeah, I definitely think keep an eye on the Inner West Bulls to...
02:51:46
Speaker
um be on parade into the top eight. Very good. And I do have to say, I've got to apologise, Instagram Live updates.
02:51:57
Speaker
I was a bit behind on them. We had Lockie Everett saying, give me all the stock on Izzy Morgan if she's if she's a second half of the year signing.
02:52:09
Speaker
But she's been announced. so She's already been announced. She's a lock. It's just when she actually gets to play is the thing. And, yeah, actually, i saw some photos from the Blitz it looked like she was on court for Norths. know she had an injury in with the Flames, but it looks like she's... um from Yeah.
02:52:29
Speaker
Back, I'm not too sure. That's...
02:53:00
Speaker
what's there And also this just in for our mate Jacob, who's also one of the photographers from a la around the league. He's just said, have you done the Hornsby NBL1 women's yet? Which we didn't unfortunately, but Typer Anderson.
02:53:15
Speaker
My who? You mean Hills? Hills, sorry. first Officially very happy. Apparently. they Two hours out and you play getting signed. That's that's incredible. Wow. The words Therese Bueller. This year.
02:53:29
Speaker
Yeah. Our friend Robbie Clayton, who is a commentator at Hills, he's predicting both the men's and women's teams to make top eight this season. Oh, wow. Yeah, well, I mean, now they've got Kalea, Johnson, Belko, Piper Anderson. Chris Namo.
02:53:48
Speaker
Yeah. Wow, yeah. WNBL talent on that. Wow. ten oh You heard it here last, guys. It's that's great. No, mean, no. list' love it Yeah, it's to be huge. Okay, we'll have to do another episode. Damn, wow.
02:54:03
Speaker
Yeah, Hills Hornets. This is why we don't do our predictions anymore until after round three or four because it's just like, get
Top Eight Speculations and League Competitiveness
02:54:12
Speaker
All right. And then lastly, same question but for the women's competition, who is making the top eight that didn't last season and who are they going to replace? So I'm going to go through the top eight after the regular season for 2025 for the women.
02:54:28
Speaker
So Manly Warringah Seagulls, minor premieres on top. north bears the second newcastle third albury wodonga fourth center of excellence fifth bankstown brewing six maitland mustangs seventh canberra nationals eighth
02:54:50
Speaker
do i need to say it well obviously yeah i think the the inns sutherland for me and hornsby for for james i was gonna pick sutherland and i think you were gonna pick spiders because we're not biased yeah but um i'm gonna go i'm gonna go the spicy take and say coe to drop out oh okay okay locky lots of confidence that's good so coe to drop out and in sutherland i don't know i know they've got some really good players that are getting a year older but i just think like they finished 12 and 8 with satay afagan
02:55:29
Speaker
do they have a player that good that yeah it's always hard to tell what's their way yeah well I think like the top the top four from last year are staying in Bankstown are going to be better Canberra are going to be better I don't want Shaq and Sezi in my DMs if I pick Maitland Yeah, i think i think Maitland will have a turnaround year, but, again, we don don't have time in the episode. But i think I think last year was a bit of a glitch, to be honest. I think they think they're going to be um yeah they're gonna be much better this season.
02:56:03
Speaker
they're pretty good last like 10 and 10, but, and yeah, they then they're going to really, like, go to another level this season. Yeah, I think it's a coin toss for me between someone like, say, Hogan,
02:56:18
Speaker
Maitland and Hornsby. think that, I think, i reckon it' will be Maitland and Hornsby fighting for the eighth spot.
02:56:28
Speaker
Yeah. There's too many teams for the number of spots. Too many good teams. yeah it's good i think yeah i think in previous years maybe the women's competition has been very top heavy with like like the top four five six have been dominant like really dominant teams um to like which has kind of brought down the lower teams as well but i think definitely this year it's going to even up a lot um let's have chemistry questions maybe with bankstown hopefully they can get it all working out and Newcastle, I think, will be really good. i definitely don't think they're going to drop out of the top eight, but i just hope they ah there's not too much of a log jam in the middle.
02:57:03
Speaker
I hope um they can figure out the spacing, but I think they yeah they'll still be top eight. Damn, it's really difficult. Mm-hmm. I think you made a good point. Good question, SJ. think you made a good point, James, that it does...
02:57:17
Speaker
Oh, he's just tuned back in. Do you all have Bruins in top eight? Yes, we do, SJ. We definitely do have Bruins in top eight. We just covered your question, by the way, mate, so hopefully you caught the end of that. If not, you can tune in on your preferred streaming platform to find the episode. ah Gentlemen, I think we need to call it there.
02:57:39
Speaker
yep Yeah. As much as I love ah nerding out about the NBL 1 East with both of you, i think I've exploited your expertise and your time and your efforts and your hard work enough for three hours to cover this episode. um And I think we better call it. And I think it's, I mean, it's not so much a timeout. We better call full time on this one.
02:58:03
Speaker
I think so. But before we go, James, James, can you just remind everyone ah where we can find Waratah on VCR? Oh, um okay. You can just hit up Waratah on VCR on Instagram.
02:58:16
Speaker
But please, more importantly, please follow like follow ah the videos on YouTube. I put a lot of effort into doing those preview videos. Yeah. about eight to 10 hours sometimes. Anyway, um like, and they're they're very detailed, but um of course, a lot of the basketball communities on Instagram, but please jump over to Warrattah and VCR on YouTube because that's really where I put a lot of effort into the content. um Of course, we'll be doing a lot of stuff on Instagram, but yeah, I'd love to just get a few more people tuning in on YouTube because I put put a lot of effort into those videos, but yeah, definitely um definitely hit me up. But I thought of a good sign off, but I'll let you guys say a few more things.
02:58:57
Speaker
No, please. The last thing I'll say is that SJ said we've gone into triple OT and that's the perfect way to describe it. So I will throw back to you after that, James, with the sign off. And then I'm going to hit that outro video.
02:59:10
Speaker
I was going to say, we got to go get some sleep. But remember, don't sleep on the East.
02:59:31
Speaker
Oh, okay. You guys are still here.
02:59:37
Speaker
I keep hitting end stream. Oh, there we go. Now we're ended.