Cairns Taipans coach has issued a firm warning to his starting five to respond after losing to the Adelaide 36ers

Taipans coach has given his starting five a “second chance” to prove themselves when Cairns hosts ladder leaders Illawarra Hawks on Thursday night.

Taipans coach has given his starting five a “second chance” to prove themselves when Cairns hosts ladder leaders Illawarra Hawks on Thursday night.

Coach Adam Forde questioned his players maturity after they dropped another home game against the Adelaide 36ers on Sunday, claiming the bench will be “playing 40-minutes” if he didn’t get a response.

“I think they have done a good job to work their way back to understanding what we want,” Forde said.

“It maybe a short leash, but I am going to give the guys a second chance at it.

“Now we get another chance to play two very tough teams this weekend to redeem ourselves.”

Adam Forde, Coach of the Taipans has given the starting five one last chance to prove themselves when they take on the Illawarra Hawks on Thursday night. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

The Taipans shot selection was a major training point this week ahead of the games against the Hawks on Thursday and the Wildcats in Perth on Saturday.

“There was some things we really want to target and even as we prepare for these next two games, we are so quick to come down and shoot the early shot,” Forde said.

“Where, as Kyle says ‘make the offence sing a little bit’.

“I think Tanner Groves has been having a great run now that he has worked out the foul discipline side of things, so I want to get him some looks.

“He ends up just doing a lot of laps up and down the floor if guys are just jacking the first shot.

“So I want to be able to reward him for his effort and look to get him some real good looks at the back end of an offence.”

The Taipans defeated the Hawks on January 3, ending their worst losing run of 15-games in a row.

Forde said the pressure to beat them again is more in house.

Taipans forward Akoldah Gak was a shining light in the loss to the 36ers, with the 210cm giant hitting 12 points to go with 12 rebounds and two assists.

Gak said the Taipans just need to forget about the loss and move on.

“Just bounce back,” Gak said.

“Just forget about the loss, it’s a quick turnaround.

“Nothing to lose man, we are a bunch of young, very just ambitious dudes.

“So we got nothing to lose, just go out there and play the game we’ve been playing for so long.”

The 22-year-old has kept a simple look on how to defeat the Hawks on Thursday night.

“Just stop their star players,” Gak said.

“Trey Kell, Tyler Harvey, Sam Froling, they have a very good core group.

“So just limiting their shots and shot attempts and making it tougher for them.”

Tip off for the Taipans and the Hawks is at 6:30pm at Cairns Convention Centre.

Taipans coach takes aim at immature and sulky starters

Taipans coach Adam Forde has put his starting players on notice after his starting five showed a “lack of maturity” in their 19th loss of the season.

Forde has kept a calm head at most press conferences this season despite the Taipans losing a club record 15 games in a row.

But the Taipans coach frustration hit boiling point after his side’s latest loss to the hands of the Adelaide 36ers.

“I am probably going to fire a bullet, the starters really let us down, aside from Tanner (Groves),” Forde said.

“This is the first time there was a level of selfishness that I don't even bother trying to disguise.

Tanner Groves of the Taipans catches the rebound during the round 17 NBL match between Cairns Taipans and Adelaide 36ers at Cairns Convention Centre, on January 19, 2025, in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images)

“I don’t care how this looks, we need to start being adults and mature and professional and they collect a pay cheque and they don’t understand what it is like to work a regular job and shovel the shit.

“Sometimes you do get a little bit entitled and sometimes you get a little precious when you don’t know what the other side looks like.”

The Taipans were coming off a massive win against Queensland rivals Brisbane while the 36ers had to make their way home from Perth.

Forde was not using travel as an excuse.

“Adelaide travelled from Perth, came via Brisbane,” Forde said.

“No what it is, is a lack of maturity.

“You can either be aggressive and step up to the mark or we can hold each other accountable but what it ends up being is just sulkiness.

“And sulkiness is infectious, just like every other type of energy.

Taipans Head Coach Adam Forde has called out his players for a “lack of maturity” during the sides loss to the Adelaide 36ers. (Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images)

Alex Higgins-Titsha of the Taipans goes to the basket during the round 17 NBL match between Cairns Taipans and Adelaide 36ers at Cairns Convention Centre, on January 19, 2025, in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images)

“So then it’s like well he is getting these shots, now I am going to shoot, rather than saying ‘well that's not set, that's not a good shot’.

“It’s not until we get guys off the bench that understand and sometimes I have always said, it's the guys sitting on the bench witnessing it going they can see it in third person.

“They can see it play out and go ‘oh I see that, I see the lanes that are available’.

“I highlight Alex (Higgins-Titsha) where he cut in the last quarter, where he cut from the corner on AK (Akoldah Gak) roll, knowing it was his man tagging AK.

“So then that created him a wide open lay up, why is it a guy who has only played 11 games understands it and yet I have guys who are a little bit more experienced?

“They’re sulking, they are sulking, when it has gone our way it is great and it is all kumbaya and everyone is all nice.

“And when it is like this, everybody is sulking, they don’t hold everybody accountable, they don’t step up to the standard, they just sit there and sulk.”

Cairns will now host ladder leaders Illawarra Hawks on Thursday night, a side the Taipans defeated by three points in their first game of 2025.

Forde expects a massive response from his side, especially his starting five.

“Yeah I hope so, and if not, then we have the bench playing 40-minutes,” Forde said.

“Because again I looked at someone like Alex and there’s a dude whose, a 24-year-old DP and there is a level of hunger with that hasn’t had an opportunity and he is absolutely cashing in on it.

“So I will ride with guys like that.”

The Taipans and Hawks tip off at 6:30pm on Thursday January 23 at Cairns Convention Centre.