NBL23, Cairns Taipans: Full draw locked in for new season

CAIRNS Taipans plan to restore Cairns Convention Centre to the intimidating fortress it once was when the new NBL season tips off. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW >>

Harry Murtough and Matt Logue

3 min read

August 15, 2022 - 3:42PM

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CAIRNS Taipans plan to restore Cairns Convention Centre to the intimidating fortress it once was when the new NBL season tips off.

The 2022-23 NBL championship race is tipped to be the tightest in recent history after the league released its draw for the season.

The Australian competition will return to its traditional October to February window, with 18 rounds over four months before the finals.

The schedule is loaded with rivalry clashes and new marquee games, highlighted by the defending champion Kings making history when they host rivals Melbourne United on Christmas Day.

Other key games include:

■ Grand final rematch: Kings vs JackJumpers in Sydney on December 11,

■ Breakers return home for the first time in 489 days to play the JackJumpers on October 7,

■ Open-air game: United vs Taipans on December 23,

■ New Year’s Eve: Hawks vs Wildcats and Taipans vs 36ers,

■ New Year’s Day: JackJumpers vs Phoenix and Bullets vs United,

■ Australia Day: Bullets vs Breakers.

Sydney v Tasmania - NBL Grand Final: Game 3

The Taipans start the season with a road double, gracing their home hardwood for the first time on October 10 when Bryce Cotton and the Perth Wildcats come to town.

It is a venue Taipans CEO Mark Beecroft is keen to see restored to an intimidating fortress, as the Snakes, who are chasing an elusive maiden championship, celebrate the return of a full season schedule for the first time in years.

“It’s time to make the Cairns Convention Centre the fortress it once was,” Beecroft said.

“Before Covid, I think we all took for granted the ability to plan for six months in advance, but we finally have a sense of normalcy again. We cannot wait to take our game night entertainment to another level and welcome the return of club events that we have not been able to deliver in recent years.”

Adam Forde, in his second year at the helm, has built a roster fans are eagerly anticipating the chance to watch as they look to improve on last season’s ninth-placed finish,

NBL award-winning duo Bul Kuol and Keanu Pinder are back at the Taipans. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

The Kings will open the season against foes Illawarra in Wollongong, but four home games in two weeks over Christmas looks set to define their title defence.

Sydney will commemorate the unfurling of the club’s fourth championship banner in round two when they host Brisbane on October 7.

Kings CEO Chris Pongrass, is confident about his club’s title defence in NBL23.

“We’ve been able to maintain a core group of championship Kings,” Pongrass said. “The re-signing of Xavier Cooks, who established himself as one of the best players in the country last season, was huge for us as was securing starting shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic.”

The NBL is coming off one of its most successful years in recent history achieving unprecedented growth with the total number of fans swelling to almost four million and attendances up 17 per cent.

Average TV audiences are up 12 per cent.

NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger is anticipating another close season.

“We are thrilled to be back where we belong on the sports’ calendar and playing through the summer months, through to March next year,” Loeliger said.