Taipans' focus on regaining 'identity'

Fresh off re-signing with the Cairns Taipans on a multi-year deal, Head Coach Adam Forde has quickly outlined the club’s main priority for the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season.

In an interview with Taipans Media, Forde explained the Far North Queensland franchise is determined to regain its ‘true identity’.

“A large part of the recruiting and the timing was knowing that last off-season we were late in the recruiting piece, just with the timeline and how everything was trying to fall into place,” Forde told Taipans Media.

“This off-season, we got in early, and we have sort of gone back to what our original DNA is, which is high-level recruiting early on to entice local talent to fill out the main spots on the roster, and then trying to be very diligent in finding those gems in the import spots.

“We’re sort of going back to what our true identity is in what we’re doing in attracting talent.”

‍>> READ MORE: HUNGRY JACK'S NBL27 SCHEDULE REVEALED

Part of that new recruitment plan is building around returning Australian Boomers Jack McVeigh and Reyne Smith, who are both locked in for the 2026-27 campaign.

“This off-season we’re not relying on something that may or may not happen, and so we’re recruiting a group which we’ve always been capable of doing,” Forde said.

“We’ve gone back to our DNA of getting sought-after players that are looking to make the next step in their career, which we can provide.”

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Despite three straight losing seasons, after NBL23’s Playoff appearance, Forde believes this strategy will go a long way to delivering the Snakes their first championship.

“The last [few] seasons were rough,” he said.

“But what gives us the motivation is knowing that the strides we’re making to close the gap, because the model works, and once we get all the stars aligned, we’re going to walk out of here very successful and say told you so.

“We have to be, because we’re overdue. We’re starved for it.

“I’m growing impatient with it, because there are multiple times where we can sit here and say that it’d be easy to pivot and go in a different direction, but the changes have been made that now we should have immediate success.

“I feel as impatient as everybody else, and this is what we’re going into this season knowing that these are the results that we want to get.

“We’re going to get out of the gate straight away and try and make a splash and fix all the areas that we need to fix.”

The Taipans will open their Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season on the road, playing the Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, September 20 from 5pm AEST.

‍Read the full story here >> Returning to the proven formula