'Felt like my old team': Hawks go back to future

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Get stops, run, gun and get the crowd pumpin' - that was how the Illawarra Hawks won the NBL25 championship and the second half of the defending champ's 97-78 win against the Cairns Taipans in the NBL26 Round 15 clash in Wollongong on Saturday, January 3 2026.

"It felt like my old team that helped us be successful last year as champions," head coach Justin Tatum said.

"Seeing the guys smile in the crowd, being extremely loud and happy for us, especially when we started on the defensive end in the second half.

"We took a look at the box score and did really well in all the categories, but it was just good to see the guys get the groove back.

"The momentum was there. Seeing the guys jumping up and down and being vocal in the timeouts, really getting after each other. There wasn’t much I needed to say beyond what play or structure we needed to run.

"The guys were very vocal with each other in the huddle, then went out and displayed it on the floor. I was happy with how that went, and I know the crowd saw a lot of what they saw last year.

"We feed off the crowd. We love hearing the Illawarra chant wherever we are.

"The light switched on. We don’t want Cairns or anyone else beating us. We want every win to get into the top six and defend our title.

"Right now our mentality is that we’re 2–0 this year. Eight and 13 is the record, but mentally we’re 2–0 fighting for the top six."

Tatum now has two elite bigs with JaVale McGee and Sam Froling tag-teaming minutes but also playing together, he's moved Biwali Bayles into the starting line-up and William "Davo" Hickey is back to running the bench unit. Cult Hero Dan Grida is all energy, All-NBL First Team guard Tyler Harvey is splashing threes and import QJ Peterson is creating his own shots.

The Hawks structure, balance and Tatum's rotations now have a similar feel to NBL25.

Cairns led 49-45 at half-time but the "old" Hawks came out after the break and blew them away, outscoring the league's bottom team 51-29 in the second half.

McGee and Froling combined for 32 points, 13 rebounds and six assists out of the pivot.

"It’s a lot of fun," Froling said.

"I started my career at the four, so I know how to play that spot.

"He’s (McGee) incredibly effective and efficient. I can find him in spots, but I can also get other guys involved — Tyler in the pick-and-roll and coming off actions. When teams worry about me and Tyler, it frees up JaVale.

"It stops him from having to sprint end-to-end constantly. He’s so big and athletic around the rim, I don’t think there’s anyone who can stop him.

"That’s been a massive help. We’re working on the three ball, and JT’s going to start running some sets for me."

The 8-13 Hawks are three games back of the 11-13 Tasmania JackJumpers in 6th, are equal 7th with 8-13 New Zealand but the window is getting tighter.

Illawarra has a double-header in Round 16: South East Melbourne Phoenix on Thursday, January 8 and the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday January 11.

The JackJumpers go on the road to league leaders Adelaide on Friday, January 9. At the end of Round 16, Tatum's defending champions could be just a game back of the Play-in.

Key Details

• Result: Illawarra Hawks 96 def. Cairns Taipans 78
• When: Friday, 3rd January 2026
• Where: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Tyler Harvey (Illawarra Hawks) starred with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists in 28 minutes
• Sam Waardenburg (Cairns Taipans) scored 17 points, three rebounds, one assist in 28 minutes

What Happened

The Hawks established early control with a solid first quarter, leading 22-18, but the Taipans responded emphatically in the second period. Cairns outscored Illawarra 31-23 to take a narrow 49-45 halftime advantage, setting up an intriguing second half battle at WIN Entertainment Centre.

The third quarter proved pivotal as Illawarra regained control through superior offensive efficiency. The Hawks outscored the visitors 27-15 in the period, building a commanding 72-64 lead heading into the final quarter. This eight-point cushion would prove insurmountable as Cairns struggled to find consistent scoring opportunities down the stretch.

Tyler Harvey orchestrated Illawarra's offensive attack with an efficient 18-point performance, shooting 7-from-13 from the field including four triples from nine attempts beyond the arc. His leadership proved crucial in the Hawks' 24-14 fourth-quarter dominance that sealed the 18-point victory. JaVale McGee provided excellent interior presence with 16 points on outstanding 7-from-12 shooting, while Sam Froling contributed 16 points on exceptional 7-from-10 field goal accuracy.

The Hawks' shooting superiority was the defining factor in this contest. Illawarra connected on a solid 48.7% from the field (38-from-78) compared to Cairns' disappointing 37.1% (23-from-62). While both teams managed nine three-pointers, the Hawks' superior two-point shooting and better ball movement generated 20 assists to the Taipans' 14. Defensively, Illawarra controlled the boards with 46 rebounds to 38, limiting second-chance opportunities.

For Cairns, Sam Waardenburg led the scoring with 17 points on efficient 4-from-8 shooting, including perfect 7-from-7 from the charity stripe. Jack McVeigh added 16 points but struggled with efficiency, managing just 5-from-11 from the field. The Taipans' 14 turnovers proved costly, as they struggled to control the ball against Illawarra's defensive pressure throughout the contest.