How to watch & talking points: Cairns v Tasmania

30 Jan 2026

cairns taipans

tasmania jackjumpers

The Tasmania JackJumpers look to solidify their spot in the top six when they travel to Cairns to battle the Taipans.

Cairns Taipans (9th) v Tasmania JackJumpers (6th)
Friday, January 30, 7.30pm AEDT
Cairns Convention Centre

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Talking points

Added motivation
Any time you play your former team, there's added motivation and we saw that from the first Blitz game that Jack McVeigh had against the JackJumpers.

What makes this even more of an enticing watch is the fact that McVeigh has been playing at an incredibly high level of late, even with his team struggling to stay competitive in games.

The Taipans superstar would love nothing more than to lead his team to a win on their home floor on Friday night.

A must-win
The JackJumpers have destiny in their own hands as they look to cling onto sixth spot on the ladder.

While they have been decimated by key injuries, out of the three teams left to fight it out for the play-in tournament, Tasmania has the friendliest schedule and it starts with making sure they get a big win in this game.

Majok Deng has been cleared of concussion and provides a much needed boost for Scott Roth, who will be hoping that everyone relishes the extra opportunity.

What they're saying

Taipans assistant coach Will Lopez on his team's mentality to finish the season:
“We don’t have any veterans who are winding down their careers, we have motivated guys who see beyond these games and the next few years.

“These are guys who want to get better everyday. They want to push for more, win games and progress their careers.

“We’ve got a group that aren’t taking any backwards steps or phoning it in for the rest of the year. They want to work, they want to get better, they want to set themselves up. No game is taken for granted wherever you sit on the ladder.”

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth on the culture at his club:
"I just believe that we've got good guys, that's been my number one thing for the last five years is just picking good dudes that will come here to work, and buy into what we're doing.

"It says a lot about the group and my coaching staff's been incredible and we've just got good dudes, and there's just no giving in.

"We might get smacked around over these next few weeks, but it won't be by a lack of effort or a lack of being prepared, and we'll stay with our standards and I'll hold them accountable and we'll do what we need to get done."