Game Report: Hawks vs Taipans | RD15 NBL26

Wani and Grida Ignite The Sandpit in Dominant Victory

The Illawarra Hawks have kicked off 2026 in spectacular fashion, dismantling the Cairns Taipans 96–78 at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday night. After a tightly contested first half, the Hawks (8–13) used a ferocious second-half explosion to blow past their "bogey team" and secure their second straight win.

Coach Justin Tatum returned captain Tyler Harvey to the starting five, while Quentin Peterson (QJ) moved to the bench to provide a high-octane spark for the second unit. The move paid immediate dividends as the Hawks bucked a bizarre seasonal trend that had seen the away team win every previous encounter between these two sides this season.

The Turning Point

The energy in the Sandpit shifted for good late in the third quarter during a controversial sequence involving Mason Peatling. With the game hanging in the balance, Peatling drilled a clutch sideline triple, but the celebration was cut short as officials ruled he had stepped out of bounds.

Fans close to the action immediately erupted, signaling to the bench that Peatling was in. Coach Justin Tatum acted quickly, calling a timeout to challenge the decision. While the challenge was successful and the out-of-bounds call was overturned, the Hawks were denied the three points and were instead awarded the ball from the sideline. Despite the points being wiped from the board, the perceived injustice and the successful challenge acted as a lightning bolt, igniting the home crowd and fueling a ruthless Hawks run.

The Explosion

Leading by just three with under two minutes left in the third, QJ Peterson channeled that crowd energy into a tough step back two to make 68-63, before it was then 72–64 by the final break. From there, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Daniel Grida completely took over, turning the arena into a pressure cooker of noise.

Grida electrified the fans with a massive dunk and a tough and-one finish, while Wani provided a scintilating few minutes. Not only did Swaka Lo Buluk’s offensive outburst—including a massive crowd-pleasing dunk and two huge triples—swing the game, but his defense on Cairns' leading scorer Jack McVeigh was legendary. After McVeigh put up 16 points in the first half, Wani clamped down to keep him scoreless for the entire second half.

By the time the pair subbed out at the 5:34 mark of the final frame, the lead had ballooned to a staggering 91–69.

Key Stats & Performance

• The Surge: The Hawks' largest lead reached 24 points in the final period, fueled by a 13-0 scoring run.
• Paint Dominance: Sticking to our interior identity, the Hawks outscored Cairns 50–26 in points in the paint.
• Elite Efficiency: Ball security was elite; the Hawks committed a season-low 5 turnovers for the entire game.
• Six in Double Figures: The Hawks showcased incredible depth with six players reaching double digits, led by a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double from JaVale McGee.

Key Performers

• Tyler Harvey: 18 points (4/9 3PT), 5 rebounds, 3 assists.
• JaVale McGee: 16 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block.
• Sam Froling: 16 points (7/10 FG), 6 rebounds, 4 assists.
• Quentin Peterson (QJ): 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists off the bench.
• Daniel Grida: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals.
• Wani Swaka Lo Buluk: 10 points (2/3 3PT), 1 rebound.

From the Opposition

The Taipans were led by Sam Waardenburg (17 pts) and Jack McVeigh (16 pts), but they had no answer for the Hawks' defensive intensity. After a hot 31-point second quarter, the Snakes were held to just 29 points for the entire second half.

Extended Highlights

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Press Conference

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What’s Next?

The win sees the Hawks move into 8th position on the NBL ladder, currently tied for wins with the New Zealand Breakers. The momentum is building at the perfect time!

The Hawks head on the road to take on the South East Melbourne Phoenix this Thursday, Jan 8 at 7:30 pm.

We return home to the Sandpit to face the Breakers on Sunday, Jan 11 at 2:30 pm. Make sure to get your tickets from Ticketmaster to support the boys!

Be sure to check our social media channels for more game highlights and photos, including that pivotal challenge and the massive dunks from Wani and Grida!

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26 RD 16 (Boxscore)
ILLAWARRA HAWKS 96 (Harvey 18, McGee 16, Froling 16, Peterson 14, Grida 11, Swaka Lo Buluk 10)
‍CAIRNS TAIPANS 78 (Waardenburg 17, McVeigh 16, King 11)