After trailing by as by as much as 15 points, the Snakes were making a run at the Hawks and pegged the margin back to seven when Simon tossed the ball into the front row.

It was his only turnover in more than 55 minutes on the floor across the opening two games but, for a player who prides himself on earning extra possessions, surrendering one burned.

It showed on the very next play when the former Big East Defensive Player of the Year turned a block on Majok Deng into a transition lay-up and a nine-point cushion for his team.

"You've got to have that next play mentality in basketball," Simon said.

"There's so many possessions in a game and, for me, I want to take away possessions not give away possessions. To turn the ball over like that is really uncharacteristic for me even though I like to play fast and fearless.

"I take pride in defending at a high level and, whatever my assignment is, making my presence felt. Whether that's scoring the ball, facilitating, getting stops, whatever it is, I just want to make plays to help my team win."

It was one of four blocks for the game, two days after producing five steals in his side's first-up win over Brisbane. His 23 points, 20 boards and eight assists are nothing to be sneezed at either, but there are plenty already willing to chisel his name on the NBL's DPOY trophy.

It's a feather in his cap, but the 24-year-old insists he's chasing wins, not individual trophies.

"I'm happy with how I'm playing but I know I can still take it up another level just like I know our team can take it up another level," he said.

"That's our team [mentality] right there. It all starts from the top with coach Goorj, the way he prepares us for games. It's about defending at a high level, having each others backs and getting stops.

"You get stops you get out and run easy offense as far as playing in transition, playing free, so we're not taking the ball out of the net every time and having to run a set. We want to play fast and it starts with getting stops at the defensive end."

It's an ethos that's spurred the Hawks to a franchise-first 2-0 ledger at the conclusion of round one, with the ride to continue their a second outing against Brisbane on Thursday night.

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Like all games in the foreseeable future, the Hawks will be chasing another road win, but Simon says his squad is relishing the chance to be spoilers in away gyms.

"Winning is always great but winning on the road is even better," Simon said.

"It was big time for us just set the tone for the season and get these first two wins. We're embracing being road warriors and looking to steal some of these game early on the road.

"The unfortunate [COVID] events have brought us even closer together. Going to Albury and then being up here in Cairns we're spending so much time together off the court and it just shows how close we are on the court.

"We're all connected and clicking and it's great to see that so early, but I still feel we've got another notch to take it to. Now we're about to play [Brisbane] again so we'll see how we match-up."

It'll be a third game in just six days for Goorjian's injury-affected roster, but Simon feels the rejigged schedule plays into the hands of a team that's spent more than enough time on the practice floor.

"We've been going at it at practice so we were happy just to be finally playing against someone else," Simon said.

"We've got a chance to show our depth and we've just got a group of competitors, a group of hungry guys that just want to compete and play to win.

"We're fortunate enough to be playing these games so there's some people that aren't. When we step out on that floor we just want to have fun and play at a really high level.

"We worked so hard for so long, so when we get out there we just want to perform well and compete to win a ball game. We have a lot of depth and guys who want to compete and do whatever it takes to win."

That depth has been tested by injuries to marquee stars Deng Adel and Cam Bairtow, who were both missing from Monday night's emphatic win over Cairns.

Adels possible return against Brisbane on Thursday was ruled out late on Wednesday, Bairstow also wont play after injuring his ankle in Monday's pre-game warm-up.

It's made back to back victories all the more impressive, with Simon saying his side has found a silver lining to a couple of stars being out.

"It's unfortunate they went down this early in the year but they're going through the recovery process and looking in good shape to be back sooner rather than later," Simon said.

"Having those guys out hurts but I think it speaks volumes to the depth we have on this team. We have guys one through 14-15 that can just go.

"We have that next-man-up mentality we're just a bunch of competitors that want to play hard every night. We got a group of guys who'll just do whatever it takes to win.

"We've got the first two games and looking forward to doing it again. We want to keep doing that so when those guys do come back they'll hit the ground running."