Loe returns for Breakers

The New Zealand Breakers aren’t expecting miracles but they’re rapt to have a further personnel boost with Tall Blacks centre Rob Loe rejoining the team for their Australian NBL campaign, starting tonight in Melbourne.

Loe played five games for the Breakers this season before deciding to return to New Zealand in February. He and wife Kelly had their first baby, a boy, in December.

The experienced centre averaged 6.4 points and 4.4 rebounds before his early return home.

But it is one step forward, one back, with Loe’s addition offset by the loss of star point guard Tai Webster (19.4ppg, 6.0apg) for up to a month with an achilles injury. New Aussie signing William McDowell-White will step in as starting point guard while the younger of the Webster brother rehabs his tendon.

Coach Dan Shamir told Stuff from Melbourne that the change in circumstances opened the door for a Loe return.

‘‘With the border open between the two countries, and Rob still being under contract with the Breakers for this year and the future, we decided to reintegrate him to the team,’’ he said.

‘‘Obviously with him being away from playing for so long it’s hard for us to say how this process will go, but we think anything we can do to help the team we should do.’’

Loe’s return further solidifies the Kiwi club for a potential run at a playoff spot over the back half of the season, though at 5-12 they have a lot of work to do. They have just had Corey Webster return from a long stint out with a knee injury and McDowell-White join them out of managed isolation.

Both played, and showed predictable signs of rust, in the 92-85 defeat to the South East Melbourne Phoenix on April 4 that dropped the Breakers to 5-12 for the season.