The competition will take a well earned week off as the Australian Boomers squad prepare to play in two World Cup qualifying matches against Chinese Taipei and Japan. 

It will allow the battle weary Hawks to recharge their batteries as they look to close the gap on their top-four rivals leading into the busy Christmas period. Illawarra head into the break poised at 5-6 on the season following Saturday’s 87-66 defeat to the Taipans at Cairns Convention Centre.

The loss came just 48 hours after Illawarra surged to a dramatic 97-93 come-from-behind victory over arch rivals Sydney Kings in overtime. 

It leaves them in sixth spot on the ladder.

It’s a position Beveridge is happy with after Illawarra dragged their way back up the ladder following a 1-5 start.

“I said to the boys that I am very proud of what we have achieved,” Beveridge said.

“That was our eighth game on the road out of eleven. It is really tough, there is no question. For us to be sitting at 5-6, I am actually really happy with that. We have gone through some ups and downs and a lot of adversity. We have had some tremendous wins.

“We played [Cairns] less than two days ago in an overtime game so for us to physically, mentally and emotionally back up against a team that is so prepared, I knew was going to be tough.”

The weekend will be the first time in recent history that the league has taken a mid-season international break.

Beveridge felt it was a positive for the competition. 

“From our perspective it is outstanding,” he said.

“We are battle weary. No other team in the league has had eight games on the road. Our guys have been twice to Cairns, twice to Perth.

“We have had some pretty big roadtrips and a lot of them backed up with road games. Right now there is no question that we are tired. Physically, mentally and emotionally we are tired and I want our guys to sit back appreciate what they have done.

“A 5-6 [record] at this stage of the season with the amount of road trips we have had is outstanding.”

Beveridge plans to give his troops ample time to recovery from Saturday’s disappointing road loss in North Queensland. “It is over two weeks until our next game and our players deserve a few days off,” he said. “We are lucky to get some days off here and there but we will give the guys at least two days off to mentally get away from everything.

“We will get back into it next Wednesday and prepare ourselves for a couple of weeks down the track.”

Illawarra’s Nick Kay is the only player in the squad which will be playing for the Boomers.

The Hawks next travel south to Melbourne to face United on Monday, December 4.