THE Taipans have moved quickly to reassure Kerry Williams he remains a big part of their future plans despite his season-ending knee injury.
Williams (pictured in Sunday’s game against Townsville) was ruled out of the upcoming NBL season yesterday after scans on his injured knee revealed he had torn his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments and will need reconstructive surgery.
While they will require another back-up point guard, searching for a new player was second priority yesterday to planning Williams’ treatment and rehabilitation.
As a local product and a player seen as a long-term Taipan, the club built much of their recruitment around Williams.
"To have him in the mix from an early planning point of view is something that’s not going to be able to be replaced overnight," general manager Mark Beecroft said.
"We think now about what to do."
Beecroft said the Taipans were under both the salary cap and points cap, enabling the club to find a replacement while Williams is out injured.
But coach Aaron Fearne said Williams remained in the club’s long-term plans.
"He’s going to have to have the surgery and do the rehab but he’ll bounce back and be ready for next year," Fearne said.
"He’s been a part of this thing for a long time and a big part of our culture and what we look for in a player.
"He’s a big part of our future."
Williams’ injury leaves the Taipans without a local product, although Fearne said another Cairns junior, Deba George, would come into consideration.
Williams suffered the injury during Sunday’s pre-season clash against Townsville, with George playing a leading hand after replacing his teammate in the match.
"Obviously we need to decide what we want to do in that back-up point guard position," Fearne said. "Deba put his hand up pretty high and hard (on Sunday) with his display.
"But we’ll do what we need to do to be a championship calibre team.(George) will definitely be in that (equation) for sure. We know what he’s capable of doing.
"He’s a great guy. But it’s going to be a tough and important decision because it’s an important position.
"Every guy that’s on that roster of 10 has to be capable of performing if things happen."
Williams’ injury continues a tough pre-season run for the Snakes, who were without four starters – Phill Jones, Arizona Reid, Alex Loughton and Ian Crosswhite – on Sunday due to a mix of injury and representative and personal commitments.
Crosswhite (quad strain) and Reid (hip flexor) are back training this week, while Loughton is due back today after heading to Perth on Friday for the early arrival of his son Liam.
