Former Cairns Taipans centre Matt Smith revealed as ALP’s candidate for the key seat of Leichhardt in Far North Queensland

A slam dunk candidate will run for the ALP in the critical seat of Leichhardt with a former professional basketball star aiming to replace retiring Liberal MP Warren Entsch at the next Federal election.

Former Cairns Marlins veteran Matt Smith will trade hoops for the campaign hustings at the next Federal election. Picture: Brendan Radke

A slam dunk candidate will run for the ALP in the critical seat of Leichhardt, with a former professional basketball star aiming to replace retiring Liberal MP Warren Entsch at the next Federal election.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit the Far North later this week to officially name ex-Cairns Taipan Matt Smith in the hopes the Together Union organiser can become the first Labor MP to hold the seat since Jim Turnour won in 2007.

Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch will retire, making way for new blood within the Coalition. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Entsch, 74, announced he would retire prior to the last Federal election but made the shock decision to recontest his seat after former PM Scott Morrison urged him to stay on following the global pandemic.

Remarkably, the outspoken MP was a campaign juggernaut, winning all nine elections that he contested dating back to 1996, choosing not to run in 2007 to spend more time with his family.

Cairns Taipans’ centre Matt Smith throws down a dunk during his NBL career in a clash with the Gold Coast Blaze. Picture: Brian Cassey

Mr Smith, who stands at an imposing 210 centimetres, played four seasons for the Snakes before being coaxed out of retirement on multiple occasions to play in the second tier competition with the Cairns Marlins.

Matt Smith with his daughters at the Cairns Convention Centre before a Taipans game in 2018.

The former NBL big man at a Cairns Taipans training session in 2009.

The popular former Taipan suffered a health scare in 2019 while playing AFL for the Cairns City Lions when he suffered a minor stroke in his first game for the club.

Remarkably, Mr Smith diagnosed himself during the match at Fretwell Park in Edmonton before being whisked to Cairns Hospital in an ambulance.

“It was all a bit scary. I’m incredibly lucky though,” Mr Smith said at the time.

“But, I’m assured that with rehab and time, I will make an excellent recovery.”

It’s understood that the search for Mr Entsch’s successor within the Coalition’s ranks is already underway with at least five candidates believed to be in the mix for preselection.

The massive seat which spans from Cairns to the Torres Strait is expected to be hotly contested with ALP insiders believing Leichhardt could be snatched from under Queensland-based Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nose.

Mr Smith did not return calls from the Cairns Post prior to deadline.

The Prime Minister’s office declined to comment when contacted on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Entsch could not be reached for comment prior to deadline.

Originally published as Former Cairns Taipans centre Matt Smith revealed as ALP’s candidate for the key seat of Leichhardt in Far North Queensland