CHANGING OF THE GUARD
RODNEY Anderson’s passion for mentoring the region’s brightest basketballers has never wavered.
But the loss of his father this year showed him the importance of life away from the court, as he prepares to call time on his days leading the Heat alongside a fellow Townsville legend.
Anderson’s last campaign will remain one of his most memorable, despite falling in the NBL1 North quarterfinals against Cairns last week.
Initially the championship-winning coach was unsure whether he would even continue in 2021, only for a host of young guns including Richard Peachey and Luca Yates to arrive on the scene. With no imports possible due to the pandemic, Anderson led a team largely of players he had taught since they were in the under-12s, and it was that bond which spearheaded the Heat’s charge to third by the end of the regular season.
But ultimately Anderson said the passing of his father Percy, who used to sit behind his son every home game, left a hole in his basketball life while making him reassess his priorities.
“He always sat right behind the bench, so just the feeling there was really cool. I knew he was with me the whole time, and to not have his presence there felt very different,” he said.
“It’s like I was missing something. It’s kind of just pushed on me a little bit harder that family is the most important thing.
“I feel like I’ve done every job at Townsville Basketball – I’ve worked in the canteen, refereed, that whole place is part of my life. I know I’ll miss it, but by the same token I’m spending the time pretty well with the family.”
Anderson will call time on his career with the Heat alongside long-time skipper and friend Keegan Tudehope. The veteran of more than 200 Townsville appearance played alongside Anderson as a 16-year-old, before becoming one of the most trusted players under his tutelage.
Anderson said their journey had perhaps best summed up what he has taken away from the club. He said the chance to leave behind a legacy in each young player he helped make the jump to the elite level would always be something he would miss, and yet still continue through junior basketball when the opportunities arose.
“I will never forget right before we won the 2017 grand final, he (Tudehope) was on the bench, put his arm around me and starting singing the team song,” Anderson said.
“I’ve known him forever and he’s such a good mate and leader for all those years we were playing.
“I remember the first home game (this year) the two guys introduced were Luca Yates and Richard Peachey. High fiving those guys out for their first senior game was unbelievable, a real dream come true there. That’s the sort of stuff I’ll be missing; passing on the torch with all the stuff we’ve done over the last five years.”
Anderson’s final ride was also the chance to coach alongside his daughter, Brienna, who acted as his assistant throughout 2021.
The 17-year-old is said to have a very similar basketball brain to that of her father’s, and he backed his oldest child to take on a team of her own should that be the path she chooses.
“It was really cool, we kind of think about the game similarly too. When she sees something I really listen to her, it’s that trust factor and just knowing she was there every training with me and I could bounce things off her was a great experience,” Anderson said.