The Cairns Taipans opened their 2018-19 NBL season against the Brisbane Bullets on Saturday evening

THE Mike Kelly-coached Cairns Taipans battled with former Snake Cameron Gliddon and the Brisbane Bullets on Saturday night. Find out if the Far North club started the new season with a victory.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — OCTOBER 13: Devon Hall of the Taipans breaks away from the defence during the round one NBL match between the Brisbane Bullets and the Cairns Taipans at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on October 13, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

MIKE Kelly’s official tenure as Cairns Taipans coach started with a big road win, clinching the first Sunshine Stoush of the season in Brisbane on Saturday night over the Bullets.

Just two days after the Bullets upset the Breakers across the ditch, the hosts came out flat in their home opener and the plucky Snakes took full advantage.

Import point guard Melo Trimble was Cairns’ leading man on debut, dropping 32 influential points, while centre Nate Jawai showed flashes of his quality after an injury interrupted 2017-18 campaign.

Cairns won comfortably in the end, 70-88, as they skipped away late in the last quarter.

“I felt great and confident,” Trimble said.

“I want to come out here and get my respect.

“I am one of the youngest players on the team and my teammates want me to go out there and be a leader.”

Trimble’s 32 points came on 8-13 shooting as well as 14-16 from the charity stripe.

The American dropped 12 of his 32 in the final quarter with the game of the line.

His 32 points is the most of a Taipan on debut in the club’s two decade long history.

Originally published as The Cairns Taipans opened their 2018-19 NBL season against the Brisbane Bullets on Saturday evening