The Cairns Taipans will need tons of support from the Far North

CAIRNS Post NBL columnist Cameron Tragardh writes that star Taipans import Melo Trimble needs to become the team’s leader on defence if they are to start winning games.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA — OCTOBER 26: Melo Trimble of the Taipans brings the ball up the court during the round three NBL match between the Cairns Taipans and the Adelaide 36ers at Cairns Convention Centre on October 26, 2018 in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

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WE want you.

That must be the message Taipans headquarters will be sending out to its legion of fans this week, as the team prepares for its biggest match of the year to date.

Tonight’s game against reigning champions Melbourne United is about as close to a must win as you can get.

The Snakes sit at 1-3 and have already been bested twice on their home floor.

The rot must stop, and first-year coach Mike Kelly’s men need to keep pace during the “feeling out” period of the opening rounds.

Any significant gap between Cairns and the top four could easily bode as a knockout blow, as teams find their feet and the stakes rise.

There’s been plenty to like about the Taipans new pace of play and exciting style.

But Kelly must engineer a way to turn fun into wins.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA — OCTOBER 26: Melo Trimble of the Taipans takes a jump shot during the round three NBL match between the Cairns Taipans and the Adelaide 36ers at Cairns Convention Centre on October 26, 2018 in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Melo Trimble has been a standout, leading the competition in scoring, but his lack of interest at the defensive end is concerning.

Whether he likes it or not he is the leader of this team, and the head of the Snake if you’ll pardon the pun.

The team will mimic him at both ends of the floor, and right now he needs to take a stand.

You may think I’m being harsh but that is the nature of this league and the price that must be paid to wear the “Superstar” tag in the NBL.

Melbourne are the champs and Cairns are rebuilding but it all counts for nothing tonight as the men from the Far North really need this one.

Cameron Tragardh is a Cairns Post NBL columnist

Originally published as The Cairns Taipans will need tons of support from the Far North