ILLAWARRA are pushing for Sunday's abandoned clash with New Zealand to be replayed as the NBL considers whether it's interim call to award the Breakers the victory will stand.
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In statement released on Sunday evening, the NBL said it would take 24 hours to review its initial call, with the options of replaying the game, playing out the last 13.03 minutes or upholding a Breakers a win.
The Breakers led by 13 at the time of stoppage after rain leaked through the roof of the WEC, with play halted for 40 minutes before the final call was made to call the fixture off.
The Hawks have been out finals contention for months but coach Matt Flinn said his club won't merely concede defeat in any NBL match.
"We definitely want to challenge the result, personally I'd love to see the game replayed," Flinn said.
"Whether or not that happens, there's a lot of factors at play here with scheduling and travel and recovery and things like that.
"It was disappointing the way it finished and as competitors, professional coaches, players you never want to see a result go that way.
"For us, we want to play every game as if it's our last and we feel a little cheated at the moment that we didn't get a result. Obviously [our] record is what it is but, from our position, it doesn't change the way we approach the game.
"With the growth mindset we've got we're moving forward with this club. We've got a lot of young guys who want every opportunity they can so hopefully we get another crack."
The WEC has been the Hawks home for more than two decades but it has become visibly run down and subject to calls for an upgrade that have only grown louder following Sunday's incident.
Having seen the leak that caused Sunday's disruption on multiple occasions in the past, Flinn hopes it can accelerate plans for an upgrade to the state government-owned venue.
"Hopefully this will be a catalyst for change in terms of facilities and professionalism in the Illawarra," Flinn said.
"We're one of nine teams in the NBL which is a world class league so hopefully it is a catalyst for change."
The protest is a point of pride for the Hawks but could have big ramifications for New Zealand as they make a belated run at the playoffs.
The odds appear stacked in the Breakers' favour, with by-laws stating that all scores and statistics at the time of abandonment will stand provided a game has gone beyond halftime.
New Zealand's chief concern will likely be around percentages as they currently just a win behind fourth-placed Brisbane whom they face in the Sunshine State this Friday.
There is little precedent in the modern NBL for such occurrences, the closest being a clash between Cairns and Brisbane at the Cairns Convention Centre in November 2016.
That match was halted by a power outage with just 1.37 left on the clock and the Bullets leading 84-76. Brisbane were granted the win in accordance with by-laws. Cairns protested the outcome but were unsuccessful with Brisbane keeping their points.
The NBL's final determination is expected some time on Monday evening.