Wollongong Hawks new recruits to give them the edge

Experienced Townsville Crocodiles coach Shawn Dennis says the addition of big-men Luke Nevill and Adam Ballinger will change the way opposition teams approach Wollongong this season.

Ballinger and Nevill both stand at more than two metres tall, and the latter is the tallest player in the NBL at 2.18m.

Combined they add 4.23m to the Hawks’ overall height.

‘‘I think for the first time in a couple of years they’re a lot deeper as a team,’’ Dennis said.

‘‘Bringing in the likes of Adam Ballinger gives them another legitimate big man.

‘‘Bringing in Luke Nevill, they’ve got some genuine size about them which is not something they’ve had for a couple of years.

‘‘Which allows guys like Tim Coenraad to play his more natural position, Brad Hill to play his more natural position.

‘‘And they’ve got some real quickness in their guards in Gary [Ervin] and Jahii [Carson].

‘‘So all of a sudden they’re a whole different beast to what they have been. They’re going to present a great challenge.’’

Dennis will have the task of shutting down Wollongong’s key recruits when Townsville goes up against the Hawks in the NBL season opener at WIN Entertainment Centre on Friday night.

The journeyman coach has the advantage of having spent time with giant centre Nevill when working as an assistant with the Perth Wildcats in 2011-12.

Dennis knows Nevill will be a handful but is confident the Crocs have the players to counter his impact on the court.

‘‘You can’t stop Luke all the time, he’s a good player,’’ he said.

‘‘We’re probably lucky that we have two of our own seven-footers in Mickell Gladness and Greg Vanderjagt.

‘‘At the end of the day Luke’s got to turn around and guard Mickell as well, who has shown that he can be quite a handful.

‘‘I’m sure they’ll create a lot of problems with him on the ball, with Garry and Carson.

‘‘It will be challenging for sure.’’

The Crocs will touch down in Wollongong on Thursday afternoon and spend Friday preparing for the round one clash.