Breaking down the Taipans: Superstar Rob Edwards, point guard chaos and the tough loss of Bul Kuol
It was another off-season exodus for the Cairns talent factory but coach Adam Forde has assembled a team of gritty “dogs” with talent to burn. Will it be enough to stay in the finals picture?
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It was another off-season exodus for the Cairns talent factory, but coach Adam Forde has assembled a team of gritty “dogs” with talent to burn.
Three brand-new imports — Rob Edwards, Tanner Groves, and Pedro Bradshaw — lead an almost entirely different roster into NBL25, with only Taran Armstrong, Sam Waardenburg, Akoldah Gak, and Jonah Antonio returning to the side.
“On paper, for me, this is probably one of the best defensive teams I’ve put together,” Forde said in pre-season.
Expect the same suffocating defence we’ve grown accustomed to during Forde’s reign, but there could be a beefed-up threat to this year’s offence.
Superstar Rob Edwards
Scoring machine Rob Edwards has all the makings to become a superstar in NBL25.
The 6ft 5in (196cm) combo guard is a ferocious slasher and a deadly shooter from mid-range and behind the arc, while there’s a smoothness about his game that could quickly make him a fan favourite.
Known as ‘the microwave,’ his threat from range and potential to catch fire as the fourth-quarter closer will open up driving lanes for floor general Taran Armstrong when he returns from a calf tear.
This season features a more balanced back-court; last season’s three-guard line-up of Armstrong, Tahjere McCall and Patrick Miller packed the paint and stagnated outside scoring.
There’s a sense of Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal in Edwards’ offensive game, while defensively, the hard-nosed defender isn’t shy about picking up opponents full-court. He has spent significant time in the G League since the beginning of his professional career, including stints with the Oklahoma City Blue and Delaware Blue Coats, and he made two NBA appearances for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2021-22 season. The 27-year-old could be the primary ball-handler against the Hawks this Saturday night.
Point guard crisis
Losing all four NBL Blitz matches was the least of the Taipans’ worries after all three rostered point guards are likely to miss the opening match of the season. 2018 NBL champion Kyle Adnam has travelled to Perth but is unlikely to play significant minutes after dislocating his kneecap. Jackson Makoi is suspended for the opening two matches following a DUI sanction; he was looking in fine touch after his contributions to South Sudan at the Paris Olympics. The biggest blow is young star Taran Armstrong (calf tear), who is set to miss the opening two games of the season, with Tad Dufelmeier called in as a nominated injury replacement player.
The chaos could open the door for hometown hero Kody Stattmann to get time on the floor across the opening fortnight.
Armstrong has been dubbed the new ‘head of the snake’ after being given the keys to the offence by Forde this season. With scoring machine Patrick Miller and gritty guard Tahjere McCall gone, the hopes of the Taipans now largely rest on the shoulders of the Tasmanian playmaker. The Taipans haven’t been shy about boasting Armstrong’s potential.
“You’re looking at a guy who, in my opinion, is probably going to be the Boomers’ point guard one day,” Adnam said earlier this month.
Given that Chicago Bulls point guard and current Boomers starter Josh Giddey is one year younger than the Tasmanian playmaker, it’s bold praise.
The success of the Snakes will rely on how quickly the 22-year-old can return to the floor and take his game to the next level.
The tough loss of Bul Kuol
A boatload of top talent walked out the door from Cairns in the off-season, but perhaps the biggest loss was the much-loved Bul Kuol.
After breaking out from being just a lockdown defender when he was crowned NBL22 Rookie of the Year, the 27-year-old became an effective sharpshooter and workhorse competitor who would gladly play a full 40 minutes if foul trouble didn’t get in the way.
During the injury crisis early in NBL24, he was utilised as the primary ball handler, adding further dimension to his game, but he will now suit up for the Sydney Kings this season. The South Sudanese Australian wing received high praise from NBA superstar Kevin Durant for his superb performances at the Paris Olympics. “He’s super physical. I love his intensity. I respect how he approaches the game,” Durant said.
Guard Tahjere McCall is another loss for the Taipans, ending his three-year tenure in the Far North this off-season. The team’s leader on the court and in the locker room, both tough perimeter defenders left it all out on the court most nights — a trait not easily replaced.
Ex-Indiana Pacers and Mad Ants wing Bradshaw will go a long way in filling the void as a team-first Swiss Army knife for the Taipans. However, the proposition of having both Bradshaw and Kuol as versatile weapons could have been a dream for coach Forde this season.
The Taipans will benefit from avoiding the setbacks that accompanied an early-season trip to the United States — playing NBA pre-season matches against the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors — which affected the team last October. Meanwhile, former Next Star and current Detroit Piston Bobi Klintman generated significant publicity as a highly sought-after NBA draft prospect in NBL24. It’s a more structured side this season, featuring interchangeable players that will look to avoid the 14 different starting line-ups used last season.
There’s been a focus on bolstering the rebounding department in the off-season, with former Melbourne United powerhouse Dillon Stith a secret weapon to watch. Losing every game at the Blitz has put the Taipans in a position they thrive in. Being the underdogs is in the Snakes’ DNA; they aim to punch above their weight as they search for a return to the playoffs.
Tip-off against the Hawks at HBF Arena (WA) is this Saturday at 8:30 PM (AEST).
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Originally published as Breaking down the Taipans: Superstar Rob Edwards, point guard chaos and the tough loss of Bul Kuol
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