Illawarra Hawks’ Wani Swaka Lo Buluk touches down in Darwin

The Darwin Salties women have further cemented their title aspirations with dual WNBL talent joining an already stacked squad.

New Darwin Salties women's players Abby Solway and Abigail Curtain both gunning for NBL1 North glory. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin.

Finishing in the Top Four last season will be the minimum for the women this season as they start their quest for NBL1 North championship glory.

Always on the lookout for players who’ve experienced the pressures of a professional environment, coach Rod Tremlett said it was a no-brainer to sign two WNBL development players in Sydney Flames’ Abigail Curtain and Canberra Capitals’ Abby Solway for the upcoming season.

“Both Abby’s have done that (been a part of a professional environment),” he said.

“An ACT junior coming through the ranks, (Solway) will play the starting point-guard for us and provides a level of defensive pressure that we’re really excited to see.

“And Curtain is a super aggressive four player and we’re excited to have her on board.

“We’ve got a bit of a hole in that fourth position with Chelsea Brook leaving, and Abby’s really going to come in and fill that role for us.”

Like the men, the women will also kick-off their campaign on April 13, leaving only nine days for the entire squad to train together.

“Will be great to (finally) have the full squad together,” Tremlett said about marquee signing Courtney Woods and American Ashley Arlen touching down in the next two days.

“Training has been super competitive so far, which is what we want to see and the style of play we’ve put in, the girls are really buying into which is exciting.”

With big shoes to fill, Curtain has the belief that this new-look group has what it takes to go all the way, citing her work at the Flames adding new aspects to her game.

“That team (Flames) was incredibly talented, incredibly physical and it’s brought my game a lot of different aspects of physicality being aggressive rebounding, but also a level of communication and a level of professionalism,” she said.

“I feel like we have such a deep squad, we’ve got a really good starting group, and our full bench is equally as talented.”

Illawarra Hawks’ Wani Swaka Lo Buluk touches down in Darwin

Three-time NBL champ Wani Swaka Lo Buluk during his first training session with the Salties. Picture: Jack Riddiford.

The final pieces of the puzzle are starting to fall into place for a new-look Darwin Salties.

Deep into their pre-season training and gearing up for their third NBL1 North season, the Salties new small-forward Wani Swaka Lo Buluk wasted no time getting to the court, attending his first training session on Easter Monday.

“It feels good (to be in Darwin),” the three-time NBL champ said.

“It’s a bit humid at the moment but so far I’m loving it.

“I’m at my first training session and it’s been good, I’m pretty excited.”

One of four NBL players in the new-look roster, the 198cm Hawk said head coach Matt Flinn was the catalyst for his signature.

“I’d been speaking to him (Flinn) for some time and ahead of the first season of the Salties he wanted me to come here, so I just felt like this could be a good spot. And we’ve got a good team so I’m excited to kick this thing (season) off.

“I’ve heard great things about Flinny, once we got in contact we got along pretty well and we’ve continued that relationship from a couple years back.”

Much like the others, Buluk made it clear that his eyes are firmly on a championship and will fuel his new team with his ‘winning energy’.

“Winning a championship with the group; we’ve got a great group of guys, talented individuals and I think we have all the right pieces.

“That winning energy is what I really want to bring to this group and I’ll do everything I can on the court and off the court (to achieve that).”

The Salties will take to the court for the first time this season against the Cairns Marlins at Darwin Basketball Stadium on April 13, with action to get under way from 8pm.

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