'Difference-Maker' proves coach Justin Tatum right

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NBL25 Coach of the Year Justin Tatum was right.

On October 28, the Illawarra Hawks head coach said: "I promise you, in a month's time, we'll be having a different conversation" after the NBL25 champions were humbled 120-100 by the defending champions Sydney Kings in Round 2.

Fast forward to Round 8 and the Hawks have won back-to-back games for the first time since February, dominating the Cairns Taipans in the second half to win their fourth game in 12, 107-95 at the Cairns Convention Centre on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

"Really good from us," Tatum said.

"Something that we came out to do, making sure that we find a way to build off that last win.

"We know we're on the road for a while on this trip, and we just want to find a way to build momentum.

"Extremely pleasing to come out and win the second game in a row.

"We'd win one game and lose two or three in a row, and that wasn't acceptable by myself or the players.

"We just want to find a way to build momentum, and we're trying to do our best job while we're on the road."

The Hawks are still on the bottom of the ladder at 4-8, but anyone-can-beat-anyone NBL27 has them just two games behind sixth-placed Cairns at 6-6.

Illawarra did it on both sides of the ball, holding the Taipans to just 13 points in the fourth quarter while getting balanced production: Makur Maker ($99,800) had 24 points in 31:35 minutes; Tyler Harvey ($271,700) had 19; Kelan Martin ($277,000) 19 off the bench; import guard Milton Doyle ($274,700) 18; and William Hickey ($331,600) 12 in 25:04 minutes off the bench.

"I think as a team, we came out well," Harvey said.

"Obviously, they did too, but I think on the road you have to find a way to get stops.

"We came in at halftime, like JT said, made some adjustments and slowed them down a little bit.

"Down the stretch, we were able to hit some shots and sort of run away with the game.

"But this is a tough place to play. It's always going to be close here. The fans get into it. They play off the crowd energy.

"To get out of here with a win, we'll take it."

Taipans' wing Jaylin Galloway ($196,400) was ruled out at least until Christmas before tip-off with a low-grade spinal compression fracture. He'd play just three games after returning from shoulder surgery.

Cairns head coach Adam Forde inserted NBL Next Star Luke Paul ($115,000) into the starting lineup for the first time in his NBL career.

"We wanted to try something different where we got Jaylon (Jaylon Brown ($277,000)) off the ball to get him going, especially with Jaylin Galloway out.

"We wanted to get some free shots for Jaylon off the ball, which for the most part was really good.

"So, moving a point guard to especially get Keanu (Keanu Pinder ($300,000)) and Jack (Jack McVeigh ($349,800)) going early.

"Between Luke and Brucey (Shaun Bruce ($76,500)), they really did a good job sharing the role."

Paul, 17, finished with 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 17:47 minutes.

A significant part of Tatum being right is the impact 26-year-old 2.11m centre Makur Maker has made for the Hawks.

His 24 points came on 9-for-14 from the field, including 2-for-4 threes, to go with nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and just one turnover.

"Yeah, that's a bad man right there," Tatum said.

"He had a really good game. He's a difference-maker for us.

"He's blocking shots, he's rebounding the ball, and the capability of him making shots and making passes is unbelievable.

"We just want to keep that going and keep building his confidence up, and everybody else will just come along."

Harvey added: "I think he just goes about his business silently.

"Like JT said, he's just a cold killer. You look up, he has 25 points, and you're just like, 'Yeah, just get this man the ball'.

"He's definitely been a difference-maker.

"If we get beat driving the lanes, he's there to wall up and have our back.

"He's definitely been a great addition to this team, and he's been getting better every game."

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NBL27

Cairns Taipans vs Illawarra Hawks | Round 8 Highlights

Watch the highlights as the Cairns Taipans take on the Illawarra Hawks in Round 8 of NBL27 on November 5, 2026.

What you need to know

• The Illawarra Hawks beat the Cairns Taipans 107-95 at the Cairns Convention Centre in Round 8 of NBL27 on Thursday, November 5, 2026, for their second win in a row, moving to 4-8 while Cairns fell to 6-6.
• Cairns won the first quarter 35-32 and still led 62-61 at half-time and 70-64 with 7:35 left in the third, but Illawarra won each of the last three quarters, 29-27, 26-20 and 20-13, finishing the third on a 23-12 run to lead 87-82.
• Makur Maker ($99,800) top-scored with 24 points and nine rebounds on 9-from-14, while Keanu Pinder ($300,000) led Cairns with 21 on 8-from-16.
• Cairns made 8-from-10 from three in the first quarter and 5-from-24 after it, including 0-from-8 in the fourth, when they scored 13 points on 6-from-22.
• Illawarra shot 39-from-65 from the field to Cairns' 34-from-74, and after Cairns closed to 93-91 with 6:32 left, the Hawks scored the next nine points while Cairns went three and a half minutes without a point.

Milestones

• Hawks assistant coach Matt Flinn reached 500 games with Illawarra, 32 as a player, 28 as head coach and the rest as an assistant, per the Hawks.

Illawarra Hawks

• Makur Maker ($99,800) had 24 points, nine rebounds and two blocks on 9-from-14, including 2-from-4 from three, and Illawarra were +19 in his 31 minutes.
• Kelan Martin ($277,000) scored 19 off the bench on 7-from-13, including 3-from-7 from three, with three assists in 23 minutes.
• Tyler Harvey ($271,700) scored 19 on 7-from-12, including 5-from-8 from three.
• Milton Doyle ($274,700) had 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals on 5-from-9, and went 6-from-7 at the line.
• William Hickey ($331,600) added 12 points off the bench on 5-from-8, with four rebounds, three assists and three turnovers.
• Wani Swaka Lo Buluk ($145,200) scored six on 3-from-5 in 18 minutes.
• Johny Narkle ($69,000) had two points, four rebounds and a steal in under 10 minutes off the bench, one of all 11 Hawks to score as Illawarra's bench outscored Cairns' 38-20.
• Illawarra shot 39-from-65 from the field, 12-from-27 from three and 17-from-24 at the line, with 36 rebounds, 15 assists and 12 turnovers.

Cairns Taipans

• Keanu Pinder ($300,000) had 21 points and eight rebounds on 8-from-16 and 5-from-7 at the line, with four turnovers.
• Jack McVeigh ($349,800) scored 20 on 6-from-13, including 3-from-6 from three, and 5-from-5 at the line, with a team-high seven assists in 38 minutes.
• Jaylon Brown ($277,000) had 14 points and five assists on 5-from-10, including 3-from-6 from three.
• Luke Paul ($115,000) scored 12 on 4-from-6, including 2-from-2 from three, with four rebounds and two steals in his first NBL start.
• Malique Lewis ($207,900) had eight points, eight rebounds and six assists on 3-from-8.
• Kyrin Galloway ($176,000) made all three of his shots for seven points in under seven minutes off the bench.
• Reyne Smith ($156,300) scored six off the bench on 2-from-8, all of his shots coming from three.
• Cairns shot 34-from-74 from the field, 13-from-34 from three and 14-from-17 at the line, with 34 rebounds, 26 assists and 10 turnovers.