Cairns Taipans to face fired-up Illawarra Hawks in Round 8 of the NBL season

Former Cairns-based sport scientist Stephen Bird says the Illawarra Hawks have been challenged to step up their form from before the bye when the NBL season resumes this Friday in Cairns. Bird, who works with the Hawks as a performance adviser, says Illawarra coach Rob Beveridge has demanded a repeat performance against the bottom of the ladder Cairns.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA — OCTOBER 21: DJ Newbill of the Taipans drives to the basket past Cedric Jackson of the Hawks during the round two NBL match between the Cairns Taipans and the Illawarra Hawks at Cairns Convention Centre on October 21, 2018 in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

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FORMER Cairns-based sport scientist Stephen Bird says the Illawarra Hawks have been challenged to step up their form from before the bye when the NBL season resumes this Friday in Cairns.

Before the FIBA break, the Hawks broke a three-game losing skid with a convincing 120-109 victory over Adelaide at home, and they now turn their attention to the Snakes in the Far North.

Bird, who works with the Hawks as a performance adviser, says Illawarra coach Rob Beveridge has demanded a repeat performance against the bottom of the ladder Cairns.

“Bevo is really good at not letting that one great game against Adelaide be the be-all and end-all of a season, that is one game,” Bird said.

“That is now done.

“It is about what can we now produce on the road in Cairns flowing on from that.

“The mental fortitude is needed from the players now to be in the game from the first quarter and starting off strong.”

Bird last month moved to New South Wales to take up a job with the University of Wollongong after previously working with the Northern Pride, Marlin Coast Marlins and many other athletes from Far North Queensland over the last few years.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA — OCTOBER 21: Melo Trimble of the Taipans looks to get past Marshall Nelson of the Hawks during the round two NBL match between the Cairns Taipans and the Illawarra Hawks at Cairns Convention Centre on October 21, 2018 in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Bird believes the Hawks physical performance against the 36ers, which saw three players ejected and a whopping nine technical fouls called for the match, will be the club’s benchmark going forward.

“Mentally, some of the players, with what Bevo had spoken about with the group and their core values and what it means … they wanted to make a point,” Bird said.

“A lot of the players took it personally to prove a point, not to themselves, their peers or the coach, but to the rest of the league.

“That game was pivotal in the context of where the group is at.

“That is one of the few times the entire group has been together as a collective.”

The Taipans will be looking to break an eight-game losing skid when they host the Hawks on Friday evening at the Cairns Convention Centre.

Originally published as Cairns Taipans to face fired-up Illawarra Hawks in Round 8 of the NBL season