Jackjumpers’ sights set on instant glory

GUN recruit Jarrad Weeks fired a shot across the bow of NBL rivals by saying the JackJumpers were coming in hot for their debut season and the target was the championship.

Weeks had his first run with the team on Tuesday and said by this weekend all Australian-based JackJumpers would be in Hobart ready to ramp up preparations.

The JackJumpers are out to make a good first impression.

“We’re coming in this year trying to win the championship,” Weeks said.

“There’s no long-term

goals, we are here to win the championship this year.

“These early days will set the tone and start us off right.”

Weeks, a 32-year-old point guard, has a wealth of experience, having played for the Sydney Kings, Illawarra Hawks, Cairns Taipans, Southland Sharks and New Zealand Breakers on his way to the JackJumpers.

“It’s a new team, and everyone’s just coming into the franchise,” Weeks said.

“I’m trying to bring a lot of leadership and experience, try to lead the guys and really set the tone with the culture – that’s going to separate us

from the other teams this year.”

Weeks is no stranger to Tasmania, having played for the Hobart Chargers in 2016

“I loved my time with the Chargers,” he said.

“It was a big part of coming back to Hobart. We love this city and in 2016 they were so keen to get a [NBL] team down here so for everyone to get this team up and running is amazing.

“It is going to do wonders not just for Hobart but for all of Tasmania.

“The chance to start this team from scratch is exciting.”

Weeks is fresh from two weeks of hotel quarantine with his wife and baby, and is ready to hit the court.

“Quarantine was quite an experience. The club set us up with a nice place and we had some nice views of the water but it was a bit of a mental grind,” he said.

“You try to stay as fit as you can inside the four walls but it was good family time with the young fella. That was the best part of it.”

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth said the preseason would officially start next month as some of his players did their thing at Kingborough Sports Stadium on Tuesday.

“I’m a defensive coach, and if you want to win a championships you’re going to have to play strong defence, so we’ve started that from day one and it will be a theme for the next seven months,” Roth said.