Rest week good timing for Snakes’ forward
JORDAN GERRANS FIST-PUMPING skipper Alex Loughton is nearing full fitness from his ankle injury, with vice-captain Lucas Walker expecting his fellow power forward to return against Illawarra on Friday.
The experienced Loughton has been missing from the Taipans’ last three games but with the NBL having a FIBA bye, the 35-year-old has been back on the training court with his teammates this week.
With the Snakes looking to get their season back on track against the Hawks, the veteran presence of Loughton will be more than helpful to the team.
“He is good and back to full training at the moment,” Walker said.
“That is another blessing, I guess, having a couple of days off this week allowing him to get fully right.
“He has been going hard with the rest of us.
“We expect him to be back in two weeks when we play.”
Walker has been in the NBL since 2010 and believes sticking together is the key for Cairns to break their long winless run.
“If you try to change too much, there is a lot of confusion that can get created among the group,” Walker said. “We have done a good job of sticking with what we are doing, staying with the process, trusting the system and trusting each other.
“This is a great time for character-building.”
Tip off for next Friday night’s game is 6.50pm.