Cairns Taipans secure Sam Waardenburg’s services for the 2025/26 NBL season

Cairns basketball fans will be rejoicing at the announcement that the Taipans have locked in a key player for the 2025/26 season. See the details.

Sam Waardenburg of the Taipans drives up court during the round 20 NBL match between Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets at Cairns Convention Centre, on February 06, 2025, in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images)

The Cairns Taipans have secured a major signing to keep their off-season rolling, with Sam Waardenburg locked in for the 2025/26 NBL season.

Waardenburg, who will now suit up in Far North Queensland for a fourth NBL season on a one-year contract, is coming off a career-best season highlighted by Taipans MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honours.

The 208cm, 26-year-old forward out of the University of Miami put up 14.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 50 per cent shooting from the field in 30 minutes per game throughout the 24/25 season.

Sam Waardenburg of the Taipans dunks the ball during the round 20 NBL match between Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets at Cairns Convention Centre. (Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images)

Waardenburg joins Kyrin Galloway, Alex Higgins-Titsha and Kody Stattmann as the current confirmed players on Cairns’ roster, with this latest signing set to be crucial as the Taipans look to fill out the remainder of their roster.

Waardenburg is currently in Puerto Rico playing for Indios de Mayagüez in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional - the country’s first-tier men’s basketball league.

Originally published as Cairns Taipans secure Sam Waardenburg’s services for the 2025/26 NBL season