Taipans haul in catch from NZ
Forde keen to see talent
THE Cairns Taipans have hauled in another catch from across the Tasman Sea in the latest off-season signing.
Sam Mennenga, a 21-yearold from Auckland, followed in fellow Kiwi Sam Waardenburg making the jump to Far North Queensland.
The versatile 206cm forward made the decision to play for two seasons under Coach of the Year Adam Forde over his senior year at college.
Forde said he could not wait to see what the talented New Zealander can do.
“He brings another element to us, especially on the offence which is something we struggled a bit last year,” Forde said.
“He is different in a sense he is a great post target, he can steal, he can get on the rim, he can get to the foul line but he can also stretch is as well.
“For him to forgo his senior year and trust in us to get him to where his basketball journey gets to the highest level possible is pretty special.
“I am excited to get him here, he is excited to get here and ready to get the season rolling.”
Mennenga was hyped as one of New Zealand’s most promising basketball players during high school and selected the famous Davidson College over 30 other offers from US schools.
In his 2022/23 season, Men
nenga averaged 15.2 points, and 6.7 rebounds per game.
In 2022, Mennenga represented New Zealand at the FIBA Asia Cup and in his Tall Blacks debut he led the team in scoring (21 points, nine rebounds) with a 100-47 win over India.
“The reality is we are now showing a game plan that is fun to play in but is also showing growth,” Forde said.
“When you lay out our game model and what makes us competitive in the market, the appeal of what other teams have to offer and things you can’t control.
“I think that is what gives us the edge over the competition is that we are true to our word, we stick to it and the by-product of that is we can generate wins out of it.”
Forde said this is the first signing of many that will eventually show the competition what the identity is of the Taipans on court.