Illawarra Hawks' NBL role players teach CoE lesson

• ‍WNBL stars add 'Fire' to NBL1 rosters in 2026‍
• Scores of NBL players flood NBL1 rosters in 2026‍
• How to watch every NBL1 game LIVE and FREE
• NBL1 Ladder

Illawarra Hawks strengthened their contender profile with a 107–95 win over Centre of Excellence, while Penrith Panthers produced the shock result of Round 5 by edging Sydney Comets by one point.

What the Round Told Us

• Illawarra belongs in the top-tier title conversation
• Mason Peatling and Todd Blanchfield give Hawks proven firepower
• Penrith showed they can close under pressure
• Sydney’s record still does not match its statistical profile
• The top five are separating from the chase pack

Illawarra Hawks 107 def. Centre of Excellence 95 – Watch the Replay

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: 24-21, 26-20, 30-31, 27-23
• Largest Lead: 12 points (Illawarra)
• Game Context: Illawarra controlled the scoreboard across four quarters and held off CoE’s third-quarter push

Mason Peatling delivered a dominant 32-point performance, leading Illawarra Hawks to a 107–95 win over Centre of Excellence in a top-five clash at The Snakepit Stadium.

Peatling was the offensive anchor, shooting 13-from-19 from the field, including 4-from-7 from three, while adding six rebounds. His efficiency gave Illawarra a reliable scoring base against one of the competition’s strongest young teams.

Todd Blanchfield produced the all-around game that separated the Hawks from most teams in the league, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. He also hit five threes, giving Illawarra two high-end scoring options and a veteran creator who controlled tempo.

Matthew Mims added 19 points and eight assists, while Mohamed Kone contributed 13 points, six rebounds and three steals from the bench.

Centre of Excellence had strong individual production, led by Alexander Dickeson with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Ajak Nyuon added 20 points, while Jai Faale scored 19.

But Illawarra’s shot-making and ball movement decided the result. The Hawks made 18 threes, finished with 28 assists, and turned the ball over only 10 times.

By the Numbers

• Illawarra: 107 points - 18-from-41 3PT - 28 assists - 10 turnovers
• Centre of Excellence: 95 points - 49 rebounds - 18 turnovers - Dickeson 21 pts, 11 reb

Penrith Panthers 68 def. Sydney Comets 67 – Watch the Replay

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: 11-12, 18-25, 22-17, 17-13
• Largest Lead: 10 points (Sydney)
• Game Context: Penrith fought back after halftime and closed a one-point upset

Simun Krpez scored 21 points as Penrith Panthers stunned Sydney Comets 68–67, producing the biggest upset result of the round at Minto Indoor Sports Centre.

Penrith trailed by eight at halftime but flipped the game across the second half, holding Sydney to 30 points after the main break and closing the final quarter 17–13.

Krpez gave Penrith its main scoring punch, hitting 4-from-7 from three and adding three blocks. Jack Ticic was critical inside, finishing with 12 points, nine rebounds and a team-best efficiency rating of 21, while Brodie Schwarzer added 13 points.

The Panthers did not shoot well overall, finishing at 32.4% from the field, but their defensive activity kept them alive. They forced 20 Comets turnovers, recorded 13 steals, and blocked six shots.

Sydney had chances to take control through rebounding, winning the glass 55-42, including 19 offensive rebounds. Akil Douglas led the Comets with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Ahmed Barba-Bey added 11 points and Ethan Marten-Coney scored 10 off the bench.

But Sydney’s shooting hurt them late. The Comets shot 34.3% from the field and 30.8% from three, while Penrith’s defensive pressure turned a low-scoring game into a one-possession finish.

By the Numbers

• Penrith: 68 points - 13 steals - 6 blocks - Krpez 21 pts
• Sydney: 67 points - 55 rebounds - 20 turnovers - 34.3% FG

Other Results

• Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 82 def. Central Coast Crusaders 71
  Manly stayed inside the top three with another controlled win.
• Norths Bears 92 def. Hills Hornets 62
  Norths maintained second spot with a 30-point result.
• Maitland Mustangs 104 def. Bankstown Bruins 78
  Maitland produced a major scoring performance to move to 3–4.
• Sydney Comets 92 def. Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Spiders 69
  Sydney split the weekend after beating Hornsby before the Penrith loss.
• Newcastle Falcons 77 def. Sutherland Sharks 58
  Newcastle secured its first win of the season.
• Canberra Gunners 115 def. Albury-Wodonga Bandits 75
  Canberra stayed unbeaten at 6–0.
• Centre of Excellence 113 def. Albury-Wodonga Bandits 72
  CoE responded from the Illawarra loss with a 41-point win.
• Inner West Bulls 86 def. Newcastle Falcons 81
  Inner West closed the round with a five-point win.

Watchlist – Round 6

• Bankstown vs Manly – top-eight pressure test
• Norths vs Newcastle – Bears chasing Canberra
• Centre of Excellence vs Manly – top-five measuring stick
• Sutherland vs Canberra – unbeaten Gunners on the road