TAIPANS JUST NEED TIME

QYou worked as the Cairns Taipans sales manager from 2009-2013. There would have been a few tough times there when the club was in trouble?

ADefinitely tough times but I still do feel really proud to have been part of the rebirth of the Taipans under the community ownership model that is still operating today. We used to joke about my computer keyboard not having a letter “S” on it as we couldn’t afford to replace the thing. But, it has been great to see the community support continue to grow for our only national team and to see the club grow from strength to strength. It was really great to be a part of a tight-knit operation, doing the hard yards but the highlight for me was sitting with 2000 Cairns fans at the Townsville Entertainment Centre and beating Townsville to advance to the grand final show- down against New Zealand.

QI know you are still a big follower of the Snakes even though you no longer work there. How have you seen the first season under Mike Kelly?

AIt’s funny. I still have visions of Mike Kelly (right) in Townsville Crocodiles colours destroying us in the early years, so I’m probably still warming up to seeing him in Orange. But in all honesty, we’re a small market team and we’re going to have some seasons like we are currently having now. Fans need to be patient and understand just how hard it is to compete in the NBL after such a shake-up in the roster and coaching staff. We’re never going to win a chequebook war with the bigger clubs for elite talent so we have to out work, out hustle and invest in other areas that can make the club better all around.