ILLAWARRA coach Rob Beveridge admits the return of Kirk Penney can’t come quick enough after the Hawks slumped to their third loss in four games without their Kiwi sharp-shooter.
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The seemingly ageless Penney is averaging more than 20 points a game to lead the Hawks in scoring this season and has been a major factor in his side’s nine 100-plus scores this season - five more than their nearest rival Adelaide.
But the 35-year-old hasn’t played since limping from the court in the Hawks double-overtime win over New Zealand three weeks ago.
The Hawks have dropped games to Perth and Adelaide on the road without Penney who also watched Thursday’s home loss to Melbourne from the bench.
Asked how much his side is missing their most potent scoring threat Beveridge said: ‘‘Massively, there’s no question.
‘‘You take [Chris] Goulding or [Stephen] Holt out of Melbourne it’s a massive hole.
‘‘It’s not only his 20 points a game and his however many assists, it’s his leadership.
‘‘You have to defend him and when we don’t have him it just means they can play a lot more attention to [Kevin] Lisch and [AJ] Ogilvy and that’s what teams’ have done the last few games.’’
The Hawks will host Townsville on just one day’s rest on Saturday before a six day break leading into their final regular season clash with Adelaide on Friday.
Keeping Penney on ice for the Crocs clash would give him an extra week to fully recover from the burst blood vessel in his hamstring but - with the Hawks play-off spot not yet assured - Beveridge said Penney will play if fit.
‘‘We’re leaving that up to him. He’s a 35-year-old veteran with 17 seasons as a pro and he knows his body better than anybody,” Beveridge said.
‘‘It’s not my place to say ‘well you have to play’ because it’s desperation time or things like that.
‘‘We’ll leave it up to him and the medical staff.
“If he thinks he can go he’ll go but there’s no pressure for him to play whatsoever.’’
