How new Wildcat landed on his feet
BASKETBALL AFTER a troublesome spell in Greece, former Taipans shooter Clint Steindl had no idea what was coming next in his career.
The former Townsville and Cairns long-bomber trained with the defending champions Perth Wildcats in the NBL preseason before opting to return to Europe, signing a deal with Greek club Panionios.
But after just three games and a concerning time with the Athens-based team, Steindl decided to call an end to his European spell and return to Western Australia to be with fiancee Kayla Standish.
“It was purely about player welfare, leaving Greece,” Steindl said. “You hear stories about guys not getting paid and not being put in the ideal living situation, compared to how players are treated in Australia.
“For me, I was thinking ‘I am not dealing with you guys (Panionios) if you do not want to help me out’.”
Unbeknown to the Mackay junior, veteran Wildcats power forward Matt Knight was about to retire, due to ongoing concussion concerns, opening up an Australian roster spot in Perth.
Steindl then inked a twoyear deal with the defending NBL champions for the remainder of the current campaign and next.
“I was back for five days and got the call from Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson,” he said.
“It all quickly.
“You do not fall on your feet that quickly in pro sport very often so the stars really aligned for me.”
Steindl said coming into the Wildcats squad mid-season was a huge learning curve as when he filled in as a top-up player during the preseason, he didn’t play with imports happened pretty Jean-Pierre Tokoto, Bryce Cotton and Derek Cooke Jr.
He comes up against his old club the Snakes tonight and says his Wildcats are focused on securing a top-two finish.
“We have clinched a finals spot, we have ticked that one off the list and we are very happy about that,” Steindl said.
“The work gets even harder now for us.”
The sharpshooter is unsure if he will play any state league basketball through the winter, with his focus on getting married to Standish, who joined WNBL club the Perth Lynx last off-season.
I WAS BACK FOR FIVE DAYS AND GOT THE CALL FROM WILDCATS COACH TREVOR GLEESON. IT ALL HAPPENED PRETTY QUICKLY
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Today Melbourne v New Zealand Perth v Cairns Tomorrow Sydney v Brisbane Sunday Illawarra v Adelaide New Zealand v Melbourne When: Tonight, 8.30pm, Perth Arena Taipans starters: Cameron Gliddon, Mitch McCarron, Jarrad Weeks, Nnanna Egwu, Alex Loughton Wildcats starters: Jesse Wagstaff, Damian Martin, Angus Brandt, Bryce Cotton, Jean-Pierre Tokoto Ladbrokes odds: Taipans $6, Wildcats $1.13