It's no secret that Illawarra have enjoyed wildly fluctuating fortunes this season, but Friday's loss to New Zealand was concerning.

It was evident in Rob Beveridge's language following Sunday's win over Perth when he said he couldn't let his side "just fall away.”

It's what appeared to be happening against the Breakers on Friday when he had to ask his side "do you guys want to play?”

People might say he had nothing to lose, but starting with rookies Daniel Grida and Emmett Naar against Perth was a gamble.

It became a much safer bet when he was able to throw the veteran Andersen in alongside them to start in the five spot.

His 21 points was a personal high in Hawks colours and showed all the veteran nouse Beveridge banked on in bringing him back to Wollongong.

“I had it in my notes for the game as a do-or-die game for us,” Andersen said.

“I had it written down and I stick to that. It was definitely one of those games for us. 

“The guys were really good finding me in the right spots, I hit a couple of tough ones to.

“It's a great feeling to contribute to a team and to a win like this at a time of year when we need it.

“That's why Bevo and the club brought me along, to guide these younger guys and give them encouragement when they need it and a steady head when things aren't going too well.

“I've always been pretty vocal throughout my career and I hold guys to a pretty high standard and it’s no different here. 

“This team's got a lot of potential and I think we can go far we've just got to stick to the game plan and bit more and keep that focus.”

Some might remember Beveridge did the same in another do-or-die clash with Melbourne United in round five. 

The Hawks were staring down the barrel of a 2-5 start to the year and desperately needed a home win, and a confidence boost, against one of the league's big dogs. 

Beveridge gave Andersen the start and he delivered with 18 points in an 87-81 win, a performance similar to what he produced on Sunday.

“He's just a winner,” Beveridge said.

“When Dave was available bringing him in was a no-brainer. I know we've got some young guys but, with his leadership, he just knows how to win games.

"He's a steadying influence. There's times I might go overboard and get a bit cranky but I get good re-enforcement [from him].

“He can play that role to say 'hey let's do this, let's back what the coach is saying’. He's like having another coach there.”

GOOD CALL BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN FOR BEVERIDGE

Changing his starting unit proved a masterstroke from Beveridge on Sunday, but whether it’s a formula for consistent success is a different question.

In their last five games prior to the weekend, the Hawks were at a combined  -33 over the first and third quarters but +22 in the second and fourth.

It’s obviously more nuanced than pure numbers show, but it does point to the fact that the starting group hasn’t been getting it done with any regularity.

Dave Andersen was the star, but coming from the bench saw AJ Ogilvy and Cedric Jackson play key roles in the tide-turning third quarter.

Neither are in the line-up to bring impact from the bench, Beveridge will need more from both if the Hawks are to make the playoffs, but the little shake-up certainly allowed both men to play freely.

If it can spark that type of form on a more consistent basis than it really will prove  a masterstroke on Bevo’s behalf, but he insisted the changes weren’t punitive.

“It had nothing with a starting five or bench [players], I just don’t believe in that,” Beveridge said.

“We have 11 contracted players. It’s not a punishment by not starting someone. These guys are leaving their ego at the door.

“A lot of people like to be a ‘starter’, they like to have their name called out, it’s great for their mum and dad, their wives or partners.

“It’s good for them [to], but I don’t want our players to develop that ‘I’m better than you’ mentality.” 

It’s also unlikely we’ll see Todd Blanchfield starting many games on the pine, but injecting him from there on Sunday prevented the Wildcats from keying in on him from the jump.

They clearly struggled to then do so on the fly, with Blanchfield finishing with 19 points, including the dagger three. It’s an approach Beveridge also used with former sharpshooter Rotnei Clarke.

Again, it’s unlikely we’ll see a lot of it, but it might not be a mere one-off either.