UNTIL they won the pre-season competition, a large part of the country had forgotten how good the Illawarra Hawks are.
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“They’ve lost Penney and Lisch, they’re done” was the common sentiment.
As coach Rob Beveridge, perhaps half tongue-in-cheek, said at the season launch during the week about Penney and Lisch: “They’re dead to me”.
All the bright lights of the National Basketball League in the lead-up to this season had been shining on the big city teams of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth etc.
Yet the team coach Beveridge and staff have assembled this year which is not just better than last year’s roster, it’s vastly better.
Admittedly the league itself seems to have gone up a notch as basketball again rides a crest of a wave in this country with the success of our players internationally.
Yet the 2016-17 Illawarra Hawks line-up has the potential to do great things and it starts on Friday night with a clash against the Adelaide 36ers at the WEC.
Soon after will be a clash with arch rival, the Sydney Kings, next Thursday. Let’s make the Kings feel particularly unwelcome.
This is where you come in.
To be a force in this league again this year, the Illawarra Hawks need to build a home fortress and drop either none or as few games home games as possible.
It’s time to get wild and crazy Illawarra.
Like the red army has done in Perth, let’s make the Illawarra one of the most feared road trips in the NBL.
On the back of last year’s “Festival of Cheeseburgers”, it promises to be a mighty ride so make sure you are on board early.
Let the Illawarra Hawks’ crowd be the league’s best sixth man.
The Illawarra Mercury is a proud partner of our only national representative team. We value the co-operation and spirit we get from the organisation and players in being able to promote the club.
Thank you to the Illawarra Hawks front office for that and a special to thank you to Rotnei Clarke for taking part in our special front page.
We are also delighted this year to be sponsoring the talented and all-round nice guy Cody Ellis. Cody has been a wonderful addition to the Hawks.
The Illawarra Mercury will bring you all the news and analysis throughout the season and you can follow our live blog of the season-opener at illwarramercury.com.au.
Good luck to the Illawarra Hawks.
