"Nothing's ever been given to us": Tassie vows to fight

01 Feb 2026

tasmania jackjumpers

new zealand breakers

Scott Roth insists the JackJumpers will make no excuses as they defend sixth spot in a crucial Round 19 clash against the Breakers.

Following Friday’s two results, New Zealand defeating Melbourne and Cairns edging Tasmania, the JackJumpers hold just a one-game lead for sixth spot.

That one-game lead is on the resurgent Breakers, who Scott Roth’s side play in a massive Round 19 fixture at MyState Bank Arena on Sunday.

Despite a mounting injury toll, which now includes Ben Ayre alongside the likes of Will Magnay, Bryce Hamilton and Sean Macdonald, Roth’s side will go into the crucial clash with a winning mentality.

“We don't make any excuses, and this situation is no different,” Roth said during Friday’s post-game press conference.

“Nothing's ever been given to us in our five years of existence.

“We have to go earn it and take it if we can and that's what we'll try to do again on Sunday.”

As well as the four aforementioned players, Tyger Campbell couldn’t finish the game due to cramp and Majok Deng had just returned from concussion protocols.

Roth said two other players were also ‘playing through injuries right now’.

“There's not much we can do about freshening up for Sunday, it [the short turnaround] is what it is, and we just have to recover and get ready,” Roth said.

“We've got players dropping like flies, so Stoddy (Nick Stoddart) and Nunny (Brody Nunn) are going to have to give us some important minutes, and it's a good chance to evaluate them over these last two weeks.”

Similarly, Roth’s counterpart Petteri Koponen and his Breakers find themselves with the same mindset, due to key injuries to Sam Mennenga, Rob Baker and Izayah Le’Afa.

“There are no excuses on Sunday for us, because Tassie is coming back from Cairns, but it's one of those games where we will find out how mentally tough we are,” Koponen said in Friday’s post-game press conference.

“The biggest message tonight was that we still believe we have enough quality and talent [to make the post-season], and they showed that tonight by playing a really good game.”

Sunday’s fixture tips off at 2.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN and Channel 10.