Stoushes of old unrivalled

Former Croc-turned-Hawk recalls NBL’s fiercely contested derbies

Townsville junior and Illawarra Hawks vice-captain Mitch Norton (above) is not sold on the new NBL rivalries. The new Queensland derby, the Sunshine Stoush, between Cairns and Brisbane is only in its infancy after the Reptile Rumble ended abruptly, while Norton is only just learning the ropes of the New South Wales derby, Illawarra and Sydney.

TOWNSVILLE junior and Illawarra Hawks vice-captain Mitch Norton is not sold on the new NBL rivalries.

The new Queensland derby, the Sunshine Stoush, between Cairns and Brisbane is only in its infancy after the Reptile Rumble ended abruptly, while Norton is only just learning the ropes of the New South Wales derby, Illawarra and Sydney.

The 24-year-old was quick to recall an infamous Reptile Rumble when asked if he still feels the Cairns and Townsville rivalry despite playing for the Hawks now following the Crocs’ sad demise.

In 2009, Townsville Crocodiles import Rosell Ellis and Taipans fan favourite Dwayne Vale were involved in a thirdquarter melee which spilt into the stands, resulting in both players’ ejection from the contest, which ended in an NBL tribunal appearance.

“I still remember the days when Dwayne Vale and those guys were throwing punches,” Norton said with a chuckle.

“It fell into the corporate box, it was unreal. Something happened and then they were in the corporate boxes, the Swamp got pretty loud that night.”

Despite growing up always wanting to beat his Cairns rivals, Norton, who represented Australia at the FIBA Asia Cup alongside Snakes Cameron Gliddon and Mitch McCarron earlier this year, says he has plenty of friends in the Far North.

“Through juniors, our Townsville side used to beat Cairns a fair bit,” Norton said.

“I still have a lot of friends I played against and we used to play Queensland north together, so we used to team up too.

“It is funny because everyone down here in Wollongong focuses on the big Illawarra and Sydney rivalry.

“I guess I have two this weekend with Cairns as well.”

Before last night’s clash with the bottom of the ladder Sydney, fifth-placed Illawarra (4-5) have won three straight, all on the road, and Norton is keen to keep the ball rolling into Cairns Saturday night.

“We are really playing to our strengths and as a group, we have started to click,” Norton said. Getting to know how our new imports play has helped as well.”

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