It was only a couple of years ago when the picture looked grim. Very grim.

In announcing a $359 million half-year profit, Mr O’Malley acknowledged the worst was over for the Port Kembla steelworks operation.

Companies, particularly those answering to shareholders, must make a profit.

It’s pretty simple business.

The company was forced to find $200 million in savings at the end of 2015 to remain open and viable.

To do that, in part, cost some workers their jobs and others pay cuts.

Those sacrifices were made to get the steelworks exactly in the position  it is now in – profitable and possible of a bright future.

It in fact makes all those sacrifices of 2015 worth it.

“Port Kembla is through the worst of the pain – it is about the future,” Mr O’Malley said.

They are words many thought we’d never hear or were even possible just two years ago.

Where it was once thought when the life of the last blast furnace was probably closely aligned to the list of the steelworks itself, it seems more promising.

Now there is talk of relining the blast furnace.

Again, something few thought more based in myth than reality.

Only time will tell but the signs are very positive.

The Illawarra Hawks are well and truly alive in the National Basketball League finals.

A win over the Adelaide 36ers at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Sunday afternoon sent their NBL semi final series into game three in Adelaide on Thursday night.

There will be a small but passionate band of Illawarra supporters in Adelaide on Thursday night. However, we are giving you a chance to be there in spirit.

Live at the www.illawarramercury.com.au we have a message board where you can leave your messages for the players and the team.

Those messages will be printed out and plastered over the walls of the Illawarra Hawks’ change room walls. Get on it #Hawkheads.