Tag: Sport

#WNBL20: notes from a historic season launch

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In the genteel surrounds of Old Parliament House, the WNBL launched its 40th season. The Evening Game was there to soak up the occasion and quiz some of the competition’s key players on the upcoming campaign.

Defending champions start as favourites

With Kia Nurse, Marianna Tolo and reigning MVP Kelsey Griffin all back on board, the University of Canberra Capitals’ squad retains plenty of its championship lustre heading into #WNBL20.

By the time last year’s finals rolled around, the Capitals were less a team with momentum than a basketballing avalanche, but there was still a genuinely challenging moment for them after losing game two of the finals. The match saw them endure one of the most dramatic and heartbreaking defeats in a WNBL decider. Coach Paul Goriss gives an insight into how they picked themselves up after it.

“It wasn’t so much the physical fatigue, it was more mental fatigue,” he explains. “I won’t hide the fact that it took us a full day to get over the hurt and pain of that loss. But I think that’s what drove us in game three. We wanted to make amends.”

Nicole Seekamp’s last-second game-winner forced the first finals game three in WNBL history, but the setback had a silver lining for Gorris’ team. “It gave us the opportunity to come back home and win it in front of our home crowd, which was really important to us.”

Goriss believes every WNBL team have improved their squad since last year but that his team is well-equipped despite losing two of the league’s all-time great point guards in Leilani Mitchell and Kelly Wilson. “There’s not a replacement for those two, but it’s about getting the next best player we can,” he says. 

“Their experience and knowledge of the league is a huge loss but we’ve got Olivia Epoupa coming in and she’s played in big games in Europe and for France in the Olympics and World Championships.”

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Bendigo Spirit: killers on the road?

Diminuitive point guard Tessa Lavey inspired baffled laughter through the grand Old Parliament House members’ room when she revealed the Spirit had been playing “the murder game” on a recent pre-season road trip.

“It’s really fun,” she told The Evening Game, outlining the rules, which see players draw either a V (for victim) or an M (for murderer) out of a hat and then plot to figure out the assigned killer.

On-court, the Spirit promise to be just as fun, if a little less murder-y. The whippet-like Lavey is made for up-tempo basketball and says she opted for a return to Bendigo partly for the run and gun offence new coach Tracy York plans to implement.

“We’re going to try to lead from our defence, make sure we get in the lanes, make teams do something different and then just run,” Lavey says. Expect full-court presses and fast-break points galore.

Small-ball line-ups are also likely to be part of the M.O, with Lavey likening their new offence to the multiple-guard groups York oversaw as assistant coach of the Adelaide 36ers.

She anticipates playing long minutes alongside Kelly Wilson. “I think we’ll play a lot of swing one-two, where whoever gets the ball runs the play and vice versa.” It looms as an, ahem, killer backcourt pairing.

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The Sydney-Canberra shuffle

Lauren Scherf has switched from the Capitals to the University of Sydney Flames, a transfer that should instantly improve the latter’s rebounding and second chance points tallies. These were two areas where they struggled mightily last season after the injury-enforced absence of Alex Bunton.

The Flames have a new coach (Katrina Hibbert) and a new look without retired leader Belinda Snell, but Scherf says they still have some of the DNA of the side that romped emphatically to a championship in 2016/17.

“There’s still a few girls there and they’re very hard-working and passionate, so it’s a good environment. ‘Froggy’ (Hibbert) brings a lot of energy and a good atmosphere to the team, so I think if we have a good spirit, we can really do well.”

Standing at 196cm (6”4), Scherf could be pigeonholed as an interior player, but she’s seen the recent trend towards more and more three-pointers reshape the game and doesn’t mind it one bit.

“I do love to shoot a three myself,” she laughs. “(Bigs) being able to spread the floor, it’s changing the game. It’s making this league and the international game ten times better.”

Suzy Batkovic on WNBL19, the evolution of the game and the 1999 AIS WNBL triumph

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Suzy Batkovic’s career achievements are staggering, reading like some basketball version of that old Christmas carol: seven WNBL all-star five appearances, six MVPs, five championships, four WNBL top shooter awards and three (should have been four) Olympic tournaments.

The sheer weight of numbers easily makes her case as one of the league’s all-time greats, but what the accolades don’t quite convey is the hunger and competitiveness that she brings every game and that have made her one of the great winners not just in the WNBL but in all Australian sport.

The finish line is now in sight with Batkovic announcing this will be her last campaign. But she says the thought of retirement is still “surreal” and won’t be front of mind during the season. “I think it will be more put on the back burner, and I’m just focusing on my job at hand,” she tells The Evening Game.

“I still have plenty to give. I still love the game, and I know that eventually, I’ll miss it. But for me, it’s just business as usual.”

Reflecting on the evolution of the league, Batkovic says the days of easybeat teams have passed and talent is now evenly spread. “You could go back quite a few years ago, and you had your top half, and your bottom half. There’s no game where (you think) ‘At least we’ve got this team, and we should be fine against them’. You’re battling every team. I think that’s great. That’s what we want the league to be like.”

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The virtue of stubbornness: “I didn’t want to be put in a box”

Batkovic has long been dominant around the rim, but her game is based on a lot more than simply muscling into the key. She has a soft touch from mid-range, an excellent passing game from the post and enough nous to inevitably get to her favoured left hand and preferred shooting spots.

Discussing the evolving game and a trend of bigs increasingly becoming three-point shooters, Batkovic says the best fours and fives have always had a broad skill set.

“If you look at Lauren (Jackson), she has always shot threes,” she says. ”Myself, if I’m wide open, I’ll take a three ball. Darcee Garbin – that’s one of her strengths. Ally Mallott is the same.

“I still have plenty to give. I still love the game, and I know that eventually, I’ll miss it. But for me, it’s just business as usual – Suzy Batkovic on her final season”

“Back in the day, I remember people used to say: ‘Oh, posts, you just shoot from in here (the paint) and I remember thinking: ‘No, I’m not doing that. I’ll be working on everything’. I didn’t want to be put in a box.

“I was lucky enough that I had coaches that allowed me to work on that aspect of my game. I was probably a bit stubborn. I didn’t want to just be a post player, I wanted to be capable of doing a bit of everything.”

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“Just a bunch of kids”: the historic 98/99 AIS WNBL champions 

Batkovic’s first WNBL championship came in one of the most remarkable teams in the last quarter-century of Australian sport; the AIS student athlete team of 1998/99. It’s difficult to think of a comparable victory to this team of teenagers, who were assembled as a purely developmental team and ended up powering to an elite professional title.

That squad was a once-in-a-lifetime collection of talent with Penny Taylor and Kirsten Veal in the backcourt, Belinda Snell spacing the floor and an imposing Batkovic-Jackson frontcourt. Batkovic says the team also had an ideal mentor in Phil Brown, now an assistant coach at the University of Canberra Capitals.

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“He was a tremendous coach,” Batkovic recalls. “We were basically just a bunch of kids and, if anything, he probably coached us at our toughest point, when we were all going through different things. Puberty and whatever else, growing up. He was just incredible, the way he handled us and there was a lot of respect there.”

Batkovic says she entered the AIS not knowing all the rules of basketball and having never heard of a five-man-weave. She left a much more polished player and a champion.

In Lauren Jackson’s ‘My Story’, she recalls a turning point in the season where the coach and players met and agreed to shift from a development team evenly sharing minutes into a group firmly set on the unlikeliest of championships. Batkovic also remembers that moment well. “We were just playing and enjoying it, but you didn’t really think, like, “Oh, wow, we could actually win this.” Batkovic says.

“(Brown) kept his composure and kept us composed. We connected really well and I think a lot of credit goes to him, the way he handled everything. He took the pressure off for us so we could just go out there and play.”

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A friendship with the GOAT

Batkovic will exit the game with a lot of friends across the league and beyond. Abby Bishop is a close mate. Lauren Jackson, an old AIS teammate, is another. “We went through a lot together,” Batkovic says of Jackson. “We did NSW Country (junior rep team) together, AIS, representing Australia together and then we played in the WNBA together. We got to know each other so well.”

The pair still talk or text every week. “Even though she’s retired, she’s still that person for me,” Batkovic says. “She’s still that close friend. We share a lot of memories together. Our friendship wasn’t just all highs though, we have had the lows together.

“When we were younger, we both had stubborn and strong personalities. It was like: ‘How do you deal with this person?’ But over time, it just sorted itself out, and we got to really know each other, and bonded.

“Now, I’m grateful to have played with the best female basketballer Australia’s ever seen. I’m very grateful for that.”

Header image credit: Bruce

WNBL: Amelia Todhunter on 3v3 World Cup, dogged defence and her dog Louie.

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Third in season 2015/16 and second last year, it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that the Dandenong Rangers are slowly but surely building to something special. They recently re-signed tireless point guard Amelia Todhunter, whose relentless defensive work gives the side much of its identity. The 29-year-old says the team’s recent second place finish will be front of mind when they return to training. “We’ll embrace it for sure and use it as motivation” she says.

       “There’s the three of us coming back (with Sara Blicavs and Steph Blicavs [nee Cumming]), but we’ve recruited really well. Getting Kayla (Pedersen) back is really exciting”. As Todhunter says, the Rangers will have something of a new look squad next season, but it’s not like the group are complete strangers. Blicavs, Carley Mijovic and new signing Tessa Lavey all came up together at the Australian Institute of Sport and are looking forward to reuniting on court.

         Todhunter is currently playing for the Dandenong Rangers SEABL team, where she is putting up her best three-point shooting numbers (48%), making her more of an off the ball threat. 

         The Rangers SEABL side often plays Todhunter alongside fellow point guard and outgoing co-captain Aimie Clydesdale. Come the WNBL season, she expects to often share the court with Opals floor general Tessa Lavey in similar small ball two point guard lineups.


Todhunter often guarded the opposition's best scorer. Here, she sticks to Melbourne star Maddie Garrick and forces a turnover.Todhunter often guarded the opposition's best scorer. Here, she sticks to Melbourne star Maddie Garrick and forces a turnover.

Todhunter often guarded the opposition’s best scorer. Here, she sticks to Melbourne star Maddie Garrick and forces a turnover.

“It’ll be really good working with Tessa” she says. “I think we can play that way where whoever gets the ball is the one (for that play) and the other one can run up the court. I think playing together will work well and will improve both our games”.

       A smart, unselfish player on the offensive end, Todhunter is best known as a tenacious, pesky lock-down defender. Last year’s campaign, her tenth, was her best season as she racked up steals, snaffled rebounds from the clutches of larger opponents and pursued opponents up and down court and through mazes of screens, pushing herself into the discussion for WNBL defensive player of the year.

       Not blessed with any great size or height, Todhunter instead relies on hard work and basketball smarts to negate opposing scorers. Every week, Rangers assistant coach Reece Potter compiles a video of her coming assignment, and then Todhunter starts scheming. “I try to see what (her opponent)’s go-to move is, and I try to take that away” she explains.


Always ready to hit the floor to grab a loose ball, Todhunter is one of the league's ultimate hustle players.Always ready to hit the floor to grab a loose ball, Todhunter is one of the league's ultimate hustle players.

Always ready to hit the floor to grab a loose ball, Todhunter is one of the league’s ultimate hustle players.

        In the mould of celebrated on-ball stoppers like Shane Battier and Briann January, Todhunter studies the tapes of her opponents long and hard and draws on every minute of her experience, which has given her an extensive knowledge of players tendencies and habits. “I’ve been in the league for a while now, so I know a lot of players games really well” she says.

           Not only does she know some opponents better than they know themselves, she also has a strong grasp of her own game and sticks to a well-defined role. “I’m definitely more of a hard-worker than a finesse player” she says. “I pride myself on hustling and working really hard”.

Asked who her toughest defensive assignment has been, Todhunter says there are a number of very difficult covers. “The league is full of amazing players” she says. “I would say Leilani Mitchell, she is a bit smaller than me, which is hard to find, but she’s really tough and has so much experience”. Sami Whitcomb also rates highly, while she is glad she no longer has to guard new teammate Tessa Lavey in games and is expecting some tough battles against Adelaide-bound Aimie Clydesdale.


Todhunter guards Sydney Flames star Leilani Mitchell in last year's grand final. "She's a bit smaller than me...but she's so tough, and has so much experience" Todhunter says.Todhunter guards Sydney Flames star Leilani Mitchell in last year's grand final. "She's a bit smaller than me...but she's so tough, and has so much experience" Todhunter says.

Todhunter guards Sydney Flames star Leilani Mitchell in last year’s grand final. “She’s a bit smaller than me…but she’s so tough, and has so much experience” Todhunter says.

         Before those matchups, however, Todhunter will be part of Australia’s 3v3 team in the FIBA World Cup, which kicks off in Nantes, France on June 17. She will represent Australia alongside new Rangers recruit Mijovic, Bendigo’s Nadeen Payne and Boomer Bec Cole.

          Todhunter says the preparation has involved the squad upping their aerobic fitness to even greater levels. “A lot of the training has just been sprinting for ten minutes straight. It’s very physical and it’s a lot more fast-paced. In three on three, you’ve just got to be going and going and going”.

            Australia are relatively inexperienced in the format and will enter the tournament seeded 19th, but Todhunter says they have the nucleus of a successful team. “We’re working hard to be ready. (The format) is new to us, but I think we’ll pretty competitive. The games are going to be really physical, but being smaller, it’ll be nice to have a bit more space. Bec Cole and I will be looking to penetrate a lot and then kick the ball out”.


Louie, Louie: Todhunter's King Cavalier in the Dandenong Rangers calendar photoshoot. Louie, Louie: Todhunter's King Cavalier in the Dandenong Rangers calendar photoshoot. 

Louie, Louie: Todhunter’s King Cavalier in the Dandenong Rangers calendar photoshoot.

 

            Finally, here at The Evening Game, we take a strong interest in the WNBL’s top doggos and had to ask Todhunter about her King Charles Cavalier, Louie, whose listed interests include exploring, cuddles and “the ladies”.

           Her beloved pet is already something of a celebrity; he has his own Instagram account and even appeared with Amelia in the Rangers 2017 calendar. Todhunter says she has plans for an international-themed Louie post to tie in with her 3v3 campaign.

            “I’m going to get him a little Australian jersey!” she laughs. “I just have to find something small enough. It’s funny (the attention Louie gets), because I find him pretty adorable”.

Amelia Todhunter 2016/17 Stats:

Points per game: 4.89

Assists per game: 1.96 (5th on Rangers)

Steals: 46 (3rd in league)

 

 

 

 

The NRL’s Most Entertaining Players

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Every team needs its grafters, its share of cool heads and steady veterans. Not the All-Entertaining team though, which needs nothing but the game’s most electrifying, compulsively watchable talent. Here are our picks for the players with a licence to thrill in 2017.

 

1. James Tedesco (Tigers): A speed machine with great footwork, an instinct for support play and high level ball-playing skills, Tedesco always seems just one play away from another highlight reel moment.

2. Bevan French (Eels): Sheer blinding pace is the Tingha product’s most eye-catching attribute and he already boasts an average of greater than a try per game.

3. Jarryd Hayne (Titans): Sure, he’s picked out of his usual position in this team, but Hayne has the outrageous ability to be a hit anywhere in the backline. With size, speed, phenomenal acceleration and a love of the big stage, he is unlikely to be out of headlines or highlights packages for long this year.

4. Jordan Rapana (Raiders): Emerging from relative obscurity last year, Rapana led the competition in tries (23) and line breaks (26) and was second in tackle breaks (138), confirming his arrival as a multi-dimensional attacking weapon.

5. Tom Trbojevic (Sea-Eagles): Moved to fullback this year and now finally injury free, expect even more of Trbojevic’s eye-catching open field running and elusive ability.  

6. Anthony Milford (Broncos): His dancing feet and knack of wriggling free of tackles and exploding into the back field have already made him one of the game’s most lucrative assets. His best, however, is surely yet to come.

7. Shaun Johnson (Warriors): Jonathan Thurston may be the best halfback week in and week out, but Johnson has a crazy high ceiling and the most wicked step in the game.

8. Andrew Fifita (Sharks): A controversial figure, but also a cracking player capable of steamrolling his way through even the most impenetrable of goal-line defences. Just ask the Melbourne Storm.

9. Jake Granville (Cowboys): Explosive out of dummy-half and always asking questions of the defence, Granville injects huge amounts of energy and unpredictability into an already potent Cowboys attack.

10. Ryan James (Titans): The Titans front-rower crossed for 12 tries last year, the most in the game’s history for a prop. Many of these four-pointers showcased not only his strength but a surprising level of skill for such a huge man.

11. Bryce Cartwright (Panthers): Blessed with exquisite passing and off-loading skills and an instinctive, off-the-cuff approach, Cartwright is the epitome of Penrith’s youthful, freewheeling style that always makes for essential viewing.

12. David Klemmer (Bulldogs): While opponents often seem riled up by his aggressive approach and penchant for bone-rattling tackles, fans love the fire in his game and his apparent disdain for self-preservation.

13. Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys): His rampaging runs and ability to hit the ball like a runaway train are a joy to behold. He easily led the NRL in metres gained last year, many of which were accumulated with hapless defenders hanging off him.

Reserves:

Valentine Holmes (Sharks): Beautiful running style, balance and acceleration. A pure athlete and classy finisher who is likely to be more prominent this season.

Sam Kasiano (Bulldogs): A giant human with a knack for dainty passes, Kasiano has trimmed down this year but remains an intriguing player.

Sam Burgess (Rabbitohs): Even in a lean year by his standards, Burgess regularly bent the line back in 2016 and left attackers reeling from the impact of his granite-like shoulders.  

Dylan Napa (Roosters): Expected to bring his brutish style to the Queensland team this year, the hard-hitting Napa has all the makings of a classic Origin villain.

WNBL Semi-finals preview: Rangers v Lynx

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Dandenong go into this series with home court advantage (where they hold a 8-4 record) and the confidence of a 3-1 series result against Perth this year. The Lynx, however, are the leading offensive unit in the WNBL and in Sami Whitcomb boasts the overwhelming MVP and a player explosive enough to throw the most meticulous game plans into disarray.

Perth are particularly strong from three point range, though their strength in this area is somewhat eroded against Dandenong who have a pair of elite perimeter defenders in Blicavs and Cumming. Whitcomb averages 18.75 against Dandenong this year, down on her historically good season average of 23.6. Expect Dandenong to start the dogged, steal-happy Amelia Todhunter on Whitcomb, where she has had some success. Rangers are also like to employ reigning defensive player of the year Steph Cumming on Whitcomb at times as well. The Perth star’s remarkable ability to create her own shot means she is unlikely to be neutralised, but if Dandenong can stop her from going crazy (as when she scored 12 last quarter points in Perth’s win over the Rangers) it will go a long way towards victory.

Perth’s advantage in outside shooting becomes clear when you consider Whitcomb and Mijovic alone have made only one less made 3 pointer than the entire Dandenong team. In fact, Perth have almost 100 more 3 pointers than Dandenong over the course of the season (252-154). The disparity is particularly surprising as it’s not like Dandenong don’t have capable long-range shooter themselves, with Cumming (42% this year), Blicavs (40%) and Novosel (48% on a small sample size) all well above average. Novosel particularly likes to work from mid-range.

6’4 forward Malott is also hitting three-pointers at a good clip (39%) and could be the key to Dandenong going small, as they did with some success against Sydney before the fatigue of an unfriendly schedule and early flights caught up with them. If Dandenong do give Malott minutes at centre, Perth would likely counter with their own stretch four, Carley Mijovic. Mijovic is obviously a tough cover in her own right, but given that Hamblin was pivotal in Perth’s lone win over Dandenong this season, claiming 4 blocks, Rangers may prefer her role being minimised. Perth have also been a better rebounding team than Dandenong, but even winning the battle of the boards in their most recent meeting didn’t prevent the Lynx slumping to a 22 point loss.

Perhaps the biggest advantage for Dandenong lies in their enviably deep bench. In their four meetings this year, the Dandenong second unit has outscored Perth’s reserves by a total of 44 points. Former Opal Jacinta Kennedy is an absolute luxury to bring off the bench, while imports Novosel and Malott have had nice seasons and Rosie Fadljevic can contribute energetic defence at multiple positions.

Ultimately the Rangers seem equipped to neutralise Perth strengths and though the freewheeling scoring of Whitcomb and Mijovic should net Perth one win, Rangers in three seems the most likely result.

Prediction: Dandenong 2-1

WNBL Semi-finals preview: Flames v Fire

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Not for the first, second or third time in her career, the influence of Suzy Batkovic looms large over this semi-final series. The Townsville centre remains the WNBL’s leading inside presence and her ability to pick up cheap points, though Sydney have a capable big defender in Jen Hamson, one of the few players to have a height advantage over Batkovic. Still, the Flames will look to help on Batkovic as much as possible, with bench bigs Carly Boag and Shanae Graeves likely to be used in short spells to play physical defence and crash the offensive boards.

Teams have found it difficult not to give away fouls on Batkovic and Sydney will particularly want to keep the explosive Asia Taylor in the game as long as possible. Double teams on Batkovic will open up outside shots for Mia Murray (36% for the season) and Micaela Cocks (37%), who looms as something of an X-factor in the series, having exploded in last year’s finals series where she upped her productivity and was MVP. Expect Sydney to go under screens against point guard Natasha Cloud, and live with her shooting the three where she is only hitting on 21% from distance this season.

A huge reason why Sydney should be favoured in this matchup is their versatility; they can push Belinda Snell to small forward and may look to run Townsville around with three guard lineups including Tahlia Tupaea, whose form since returning from injury demands playing time. Leilani Mitchell is the clear #1 point guard in the league and has rounded into form at the right time of year, giving Sydney the edge in the backcourt.

Another intriguing player in the Sydney rotation is Sarah Graham. She hasn’t been required in some recent matches, but her long-range shooting (an eye-popping, league-leading 56% for the season) provides immensely valuable floor spacing and could net points in bunches if the Flames offence goes into a lull.

The defending champion Fire will not give up their title lightly and are a well-balanced squad, ranking third in both offence and defence. Overall, however, Sydney look to have too much depth and versatility over the course of the series. Further good news for Sydney is their irresistible form (8 wins in a rows) and they fact they were able to give their stars some rest as they coasted to a win over Adelaide in the last round.

Prediction: Sydney 2-1.

NRL Auckland Nines: Every squad, every player

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Brisbane Broncos
Lachlan Barr, Adam Blair, Darius Boyd, Gerome Burns, Mitch Cronin, Matt Gillett, Jordan Kahu, Sam Lavea, Matiu Love-Henry, Benji Marshall, Andrew McCullough, Anthony Milford, Francis Molo, Corey Oates, Jonus Pearson, James Roberts, Gehamat Shibasaki, Jaydn Su’A

 

 

Canberra Raiders
Jeff Lima (c), Zac Santo, Eddie Aiono, Thomas Cronan, Brent Naden, Nick Cotric, Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer, Dunamis Lui, Adam Clydsdale, Luke Bateman, Scott Sorensen, Jordan Turner, Paul Roache, Mark McCormack, Anthony Moraitis, Makahesi Makatoa, Topi Tafua

 

 

Canterbury Bulldogs
Brad Abbey, Tom Carr, Matt Frawley, Danny Fualalo, Craig Garvey, Kerrod Holland, Sam Kasiano, David Klemmer, Lachlan Lewis, Michael Lichaa, Rhyse Martin, D’Rhys Miller, Marcelo Montoya, Tyrone Phillips, Josh Reynolds (c), Reimis Smith, Renouf To’omaga, Francis Tualau

 

 

Cronulla Sharks
Wade Graham (c), Luke Lewis, Matt Prior, Chris Heighington, Gerard Beale, Kurt Capewell, Joseph Paulo, Jack Bird, Ricky Leutele, Manaia Cherrington, Jesse Ramien, Will Kennedy, Jayden Walker, Kyle Flanagan, Sione Katoa, Billy Magoulias, Malakai Houma, Kurt Kara

 

Gold Coast Titans
Morgan Boyle, Alexander Brimson, Tyler Cornish, Anthony Don, Kane Elgey, Jarryd Hayne, Ryan James, Max King, Chris McQueen, John Olive, Nathaniel Peteru, Pat Politoni, Leivaha Pulu, Tyrone Roberts, Tyronne Roberts-Davis, Hayden Schwass, Paterika Vaivai, Daniel Vidot, William Zillman

 

 

Manly Sea Eagles
Brenton Lawrence (c), Jono Wright, Dylan Walker, Brian Kelly, Akuila Uate, Jorge Taufua, Pita Godinet, Cameron Cullen, Peter Schuster, Tom Wright, Joey Lussick, Shaun Lane, Frank Winterstein, Jarrad Kennedy, Curtis Sironen, Addin Fonua Blake, Martin Taupau, Lloyd Perrett

 

 

Melbourne Storm

Kenny Bromwich (c), Young Tonumaipea (c), Josh Addo-Carr, Curtis Scott, Cheyse Blair, Linc Port, Cameron Munster, Brodie Croft, Mark Nicholls, Slade Griffin, Tim Glasby, Joe Stimson, Felise Kaufusi, Scott Drinkwater, Ryley Jacks, Jake Turpin, Dean Britt, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Charlie Galo (Emergency Player)

 

 

Newcastle Knights
Peter Mata’utia, Ken Sio, Brendan Elliot, Nathan Ross, Cory Denniss, Brock Lamb, Jaelen Feeney, Daniel Saifiti, Danny Levi, Jacob Saifiti, Mitch Barnett, Jamie Buhrer (c), Luke Yates, Tyler Randell, Jack Stockwell, Sam Stone, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Nick Meaney, Sione Mata’utia (Emergency Player)

 

 

New Zealand Warriors
Ryan Hoffman, Junior Pauga, Matt Allwood, Blake Ayshford, Ata Hingano, Solomone Kata, Shaun Johnson, Ruben Wiki (c), Mason Lino,Bunty Afoa, James Gavet, Tuimoala Lolohea, Jazz Tevaga, Ofahiki Ogden, Lewis Soosemea, Toafofoa Sipley, Isaiah Papalii, James Bell

 

 

North Queensland Cowboys

John Asiata, Javid Bowen, Gavin Cooper (c), Kyle Feldt, Gideon Gela-Mosby, Jake Granville, Ben Hampton, Coen Hess, Shaun Hudson, Corey Jensen, Kane Linnett, Ethan Lowe, Michael Morgan, Justin O’Neill, Kalyn Ponga, Jason Taumalolo, Johnathan Thurston, Shane Wright

 

 

Parramatta Eels
Nathan Brown, Kenny Edwards, Jamal Fogarty, Bevan French, David Gower, Clint Gutherson, Josh Hoffman, George Jennings, Cameron King, Suaia Matagi, Tepai Moeroa, Corey Norman (c), Marata Niukore, Scott Schulte, Rory O’Brien, Semi Radradra, Honeti Tuha, Joseph Ualesi, Troy Dargan

 

 

Penrith Panthers
Dylan Edwards, Corey Waddell,Waqa Blake, Jed Cartwright, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Nathan Cleary, Kaide Ellis, Sione Katoa, Darren Nicholls, Tyrone May, Moses Leota, Sitaleki Akauola, James Tamou, Christian Crichton, Corey Harawira-Naera, Isaah Yeo (c), Zach Dockar-Clay, Oliver Clark

 

 

South Sydney Rabbitohs
Angus Crichton, Damien Cook, Bryson Goodwin, Aaron Gray, Zane Musgrove, Siosifa Talakai, Tyrell Fuimaono, Braidon Burns, Kyle Turner, Alex Johnston, Anthony Cherrington, Cody Walker, Hymel Hunt, Robert Jennings, Thomas Burgess, Robbie Rochow, Cam Murray, Dave Tyrrell

 

 

St George Illawarra Dragons
Patrick Herbert, Nene Macdonald, Euan Aitken, Levi Dodd, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Kurt Mann, Siliva Havili, Cameron McInnes, Luciano Leilua, Tyson Frizell (c), Joel Thompson, Jack de Belin, Tariq Sims, Taane Milne, Shaun Nona, Will Matthews, Matt Dufty, Jai Field

 

Sydney Roosters

Connor Watson, Daniel Tupou, Dale Copley, Latrell Mitchell, Joseph Manu, Paul Momirovski, Mitchell Cornish, Isaac Liu, Paul Carter, Kane Evans, Ryan Matterson, Mitchell Aubusson (c), Aidan Guerra, Chris Smith, Zane Tetevano, Brendan Frei, Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck, Bernard Lewis.

 

Wests Tigers
Josh Aloiai, Luke Brooks, Michael Chee Kam, Joel Edwards, Matt Eisenhuth, JJ Felise, Watson Heleta, Justin Hunt, Jack Littlejohn, Kyle Lovett, Esan Marsters, Matt McIlwrick, Kevin Naiqama, Jordan Rankin, Ava Seumanufagai, Bayley Sironen, Sauaso Sue, Elijah Taylor

 

 

WNBL MVP race: can Suzy Batkovic win her fifth?

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It’s been another tightly contested WNBL season with some of the competition’s legends joined by exciting new names. As the league rounds into its second half, we take a closer look at some of its standout players.

Sami Whitcomb (Perth Lynx)

The WNBL’s leading scorer with an even 24 a game, the Perth shooting guard has been both a revelation as both an inside and outside threat. Possessing an explosive first step and a range of jab steps and crossovers to get separation, Whitcomb has been deadly from three-point range (41%). She is also a strong enough facilitator to frustrate double teams, with 4.1 assists per game and a disruptive defender, with 37 steals, good for first in the league. In a tightly-contested competition, her plus/minus stats of +69 for the season are impressive, and include a crazy +44 in just 25 minutes against Adelaide. Whitcomb’s 33 points first half masterclass against a quality team in Bendigo must have sent shivers through the league and is the kind of scheme-wrecking dominance which makes her the MVP frontrunner.

Susy Batkovic (Townsville Fire)

Batkovic already has four WNBL MVPs to her name and a record-breaking fifth wouldn’t surprise, given a monster season which has seen her rank second in both points (21.4) and rebounds (10.4) per game. Her size, touch around the rim and sheer canniness as a low-post player remain undiminished and she gets to the foul line more than any other player in the competition. Controversially left out of the Opals Olympic team, Batkovic has proceeded to bend opposing defences to her will, recording a whopping 9 double doubles and has also made some huge clutch plays, not least an off-balance reverse layup to force overtime against Sydney Uni Flames in a match the Fire eventually won.

Marianna Tolo (University of Canberra Capitals)

A hydralike rim protector (her 33 blocks ranks 3rd in the competition) and supremely reliable inside scorer, Tolo is having another strong year with her combination of length, instincts and mobility making her one of the competition’s elite bigs. Her 38 point, 12 rebound performance against the tall timber of Sydney’s frontcourt was one of the most dominant single games of the season.

Laura Hodges (Adelaide Lightning)

Usually players on winless teams don’t figure in MVP discussion, but Hodges’ work on the battling Adelaide lightning makes her an exception to the rule. The four-time Olympian has used her quickness and finishing nous to again put up strong numbers as a scorer (18.50, 4th in the WNBL) and rebounder (7.90, 8th in the league) despite a glaring lack of support.

Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe (Bendigo Spirit)

The athletic Canadian has made an immediate impact in her first season, with her polished offensive game netting 16.27 points a game (7th in league). She has been a particular menace on the offensive glass (53, 2nd in league), a major reason why Bendigo have won the battle of second chance points in 12 of 15 games. Raincock-Ekunwe has also been a model of efficiency as an inside scorer, with her 58% shooting percentage tied with Marianna Tolo for the best in the competition.

Asia Taylor (Sydney Uni Flames)

Another first year WNBL import who has made a smooth transition to the league. In the games Taylor missed through a concussion, the Flames went 1-2, as opposed to the 9-3 record they have with her on the floor. Taylor is crashing the boards (8.67 per game) and dishing out assists at a rate rarely seen by a frontcourt player. Having failed to score double figures only once, she figures to be one of the most influential players in the race for the finals.

Steph Cumming (Dandenong Rangers)

The reigning defensive player of the year has quietly become one of the most productive on the offensive end, with her 17.53 per game ranking 6th overall. Against Perth, her 31 point, 12 rebound and 4 assist tally included five three-pointers. Cumming’s outside shooting (46%) rates among the league’s best and her strong two-way game has been a major factor in Dandenong heading into the new year first on the ladder.

Honourable mentions: Kelsey Griffin (Bendigo Spirit), Mikaela Ruef (University of Canberra Capitals), Leilani Mitchell (Sydney Uni Flames), Jen Hamson (Sydney Uni Flames).

NBA thoughts on the run – Pacific

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Golden State Warriors

Last year, they claimed the NBA’s record for most wins in a regular season (73). This year, with the benefit of hindsight, they probably won’t expend so much energy chasing that record, leaving themselves fresher for a tilt at the Finals. They’ve also replaced a useful player with a transcendent one. Throw in the fact they bottled a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals to give them some extra hunger, and you have perhaps the most talented group of players in the history of the league with a rare level of motivation. Replacing Andrew Bogut with Zaza Pachulia has been a major downgrade in their rim protection, which hurt them in a heavy first up loss to the Spurs who feasted on their interior defence. Depsite looking like they’re still a fair way from fully realising their awesome potential, they’re already leading the league in points and steals and look positively scary for the rest of the league. Last year: 73-9, So far: 7-2

 

Los Angeles Clippers

They’ve been good – really good and already forcing us to reconsider whether what looked like roster inertia was actually an admirable move to build continuity into the side. The combination of Paul/Griffin/Jordan/Reddick and any other human basketball player is torching opponents and their defence has been the best in the league, even managing to slow down the multi-faceted scoring of Kawhi Leonard in a big win over the Spurs. With their bench looking the best it has in a long, long time, they look early favourites to meet you know who in the Western Conference finals. Last year: 53-29, So far: 8-1

Los Angeles Lakers

They have youth on their side: the giraffe-like Brandon Ingram is an exciting prospect, albeit a long-term one and D’Angelo Russell will continue his upwards trajectory. New coach Luke Walton brings calmness and the know-how of having (albeit briefly) coached a record-smashing Golden State side. Pre-season prognostications were that their improvement was unlikely to be major; big money signing Timofey Mozgov looked a head-scratching acquisition and major questions remain over their defence, depth and playmaking. But they’ve already secured an unlikely win over the Warriors and the progress of Julius Randle has been promising; his defence is still a minus but his passing game has been an unexpected bonus. Speaking of defence, Nick Young plays it now, a testament to Walton’s motivational powers. They’re unlikely to stay above .500, but their early improvement is very welcome found money.

Last year: 17-65, So far: 5-4

Phoenix Suns

Last year, significant injuries (their three highest paid players in Bledsoe, Chandler and Knight missed a combined 97 games) turned them from a team anticipated to hover around .500 into a basketball disaster. The stellar scoring of rookie Devin Booker provided some glimpses of hope in an offence which ranked an abysmal 28th. They’ve added a pair of hugely promising but still raw rookie stretch fours – Marqueese Chriss and Dragan Bender, both of who boast have a versatility and size which fit in perfectly to the NBA’s new small ball revolution. Both are only up to developmental minutes at this stage though and their lack of plus defenders (only Bledsoe is outstanding), three-point shooting (they rank 28th in the league) and penchant for turnovers are ongoing problems. Their rebounding numbers (led by Tyson Chandler and Alex Len) have been a real strength and are good for 2nd in the league, but the playoffs are already looking a distant goal for this season at least.

Last year: 23-59, So far: 3-6

Sacramento Kings

Perhaps unsurprisingly, having an attack that ranks 25th and a defence that places 20th is not a surefire recipe for success in a 30 team league. Yet that is the predicament facing the Kings, who also manage to be the second worst rebounding team despite the presence of low post monster Boogie Cousins. Throw in their high foul numbers and there is little to like for Sacramento, though where there is Boogie, there is (some) hope, and he still ranks high in the advanced metrics

Last year: 33-49, So far: 4-6