BATTLES BRING SUCCESS

QJust from the outside looking in, it seems like Matt Nielsen ( right) is a ready-made head coach in the NBL, is that how you see him?

AHe has a lot of experience as a player and now he is gaining that experience on the other side as a coach, teaching the game and transferring what he knows. The challenge will be for him to define over the next few seasons what he wants to do. But, absolutely, his background should lend himself to becoming a head coach in the near future.

QThe Taipans started their season last night against Illawarra at home, how do you see the club’s prospects in 2017-18?

AEvery team has made moves and look great on paper at this point of the season. The league just continues to get better. But, focusing on this Taipans group, the thing I like is the stability the roster has and the core group that has been together for a number of years that has been consistently successful. They are battle hardened. And if you look at the teams that have had success in the NBL over the last few years, Perth and New Zealand mostly, they have had a core group that has stuck together for a number of years and been through the battles. They have grown together as a group, had some tough losses then found a way to win when it matters most. The Cairns group have been through that and now the challenge is to take that further. It is exciting to come to another club that has that group of players.