Game Report: Hawks vs Breakers | Rd7 NBL26

It wasn’t the result the Illawarra Hawks were hoping for, but Friday night’s Indigenous Round celebration at WIN Entertainment Centre was a powerful occasion filled with pride, purpose, and unity — even as the New Zealand Breakers claimed a 102–60 win.

In front of a passionate crowd that braved a pre-game Halloween storm, the night began with a moving Welcome to Country and an emotional halftime performance by the “One Mob” dance troupe.

Former teammates Tyson Demos and Nate Jawai also addressed a packed pre-game function, sharing stories of friendship, heritage, and resilience — with Jawai reflecting on his journey from Bamaga to the big leagues.

The Hawks ran out in their Indigenous uniforms through a tunnel of high fives from a group of Healthy Deadly Kids, with Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service (IAMS) proudly serving as the night’s game partner — reinforcing the club’s deep connection with community and culture.

On the court, the Hawks made history late in the game by fielding three Indigenous players — Will ‘Davo’ Hickey, Biwali Bayles and Johny Narkle — in the same lineup. It was a proud moment for the club and for the league, marking the first time three Indigenous Australians have shared the floor for a single team in an NBL game.

While the scoreboard didn’t fall the Hawks’ way, the night will be remembered for its deeper meaning. The 42-point margin was statistically the biggest home defeat in Illawarra franchise history, across 681 games over 48 seasons played in Wollongong. It was also a historically cold shooting night, with the Hawks hitting just 2-of-23 from deep (8.7%) — their lowest ever three-point percentage at the WIN Entertainment Centre (419 games played).

JaVale McGee fought valiantly inside, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds, including a powerful dunk in the second quarter. Tyler Harvey added 11 points but was hounded all night by a swarming defence.

There were still moments of pride in the second half — a big-time rejection from Daniel Grida, and a soaring two-handed slam from Hickey in the fourth that let out a roar of emotion and gave the fans something to rise for. Hickey was later awarded the Tyson Demos Medal as Hawks Indigenous Game MVP.

Friday also marked the return of Hickey from injury, the the debut of import guard QJ Peterson both who will only get stronger with time and rhythm.

Head Coach Justin Tatum and the Hawks now look ahead to regroup quickly, with a brutal run of games in  the next seven days that will define the coming weeks.

🛫 Next stop: Adelaide this Sunday to face the 36ers.
🎟️ We’re back in The Sandpit Wednesday, Nov 5 vs Melbourne United – grab your tickets now at Ticketmaster.
📲 And don’t forget to check out our social media for more photos, highlights, and behind-the-scenes moments from Indigenous Round.

HUNGRY JACK’S NBL SEASON 2025/26 RD7 (Boxscore)
NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 102 (Mennenga 21, Baker II 19, Lopez 14, Brockington 12)
ILLAWARRA HAWKS 60 (McGee 13, Harvey 11, Hickey 6)

📺Watch the Press Conference