Kendle still puzzled by Taipans’ lost bid
TONIGHT
JORDAN GERRANS IT WAS supposed to happen.
That is how Brisbane Bullets import Jeremy Kendle this week recalled his near signing with the Cairns Taipans, before the deal fell over at the last minute.
The 30-year-old comboguard has bounced around the NBL over the last few years, the Bullets first, then to Sydney, and now back to Brisbane, but it was the Far North’s club that had the initial interest in the American.
Then Snakes’ import guard, Markel Starks, suffered a hamstring injury on December 17 of 2015, ruling him out for two straight games, and former coach Aaron Fearne wanted immediate help to continue their finals push.
“It (joining Cairns) was supposed to happen,” Kendle recalled this week.
“I was doing the visa on my end and for whatever reason, it did not get done in time. “The deal did not happen. We were really close to making it happen a few years ago and unfortunately it did not happen.”
While Kendle is wellknown to NBL fans these days after his three different stints, back then, he was relatively unknown, after winning MVP honours in the QBL with the Toowoomba Mountaineers.
“We went up there and won in Cairns, which was like the first time in 12 or 15 years or something Toowoomba had won there,” Kendle said.
“We had a heck of a game and I think Fearney and his staff were at that game.
“They knew about me, and whatever reason why it did not work out a few years ago, it is what it is.
“We had a great year in Toowoomba.”
In his second stint with the other Queensland NBL club, Kendle believes the team’s culture is much better than what it was in his first time round.
The Bullets and Snakes meet for the third time this season, with Cairns claiming the first two contests.
Cairns Assistant Coach Jamie O’Loughlin says the return of Dexter Kernich-Drew from injury will boost the 3-16 Taipans.
While he has spent six weeks on the sidelines, Kernich-Drew has helped the coaching group, focusing on rebounding.
“He seems to be getting up to full strength and we are hopeful he will have an impact this week,” O’Loughlin said.
“I think the coaching stuff will help him and the structure, not just his role but his own.
“He has been part of the coaching staff on game nights, too.”
Cairns vice-captain Lucas Walker was in a moon boot at training on Wednesday but the coaching staff expect him to face Brisbane.
Tonight’s game is the first for the season at Boondall and the Bullets will also host the Sydney Kings there next Friday night.