Hawks To "Entertain" in NBL24

By Dan Woods for NBL.com.au

If there’s one thing the Illawarra Hawks are hoping for in NBL24, it’s consistency within their roster.

The Hawks were beset by long-term and season-ending injuries in NBL23 – largely to their imports.

Justin Robinson and George King started the season alongside fellow import Tyler Harvey, but injury restricted them to just one and nine games respectively.

Peyton Siva and Michael Frazier came in to replace the injured pair, but they themselves didn't last the season.

A shoulder injury saw Siva play just 11 times, while Frazier managed just eight appearances.

“We were a bit unlucky last year, so we’re really looking forward to being able to keep the same group on the floor, being able to coach the same guys week in, week out,” Hawks head coach Jacob Jackomas said.

“We’ve made some changes that we hope it will increase the brand we worked on last year.

“We have a responsibility to entertain. People come to our games, and we have to put our best foot forward.”

While most teams in the NBL are still scouring the free agency market for possible new talent, Illawarra is in the enviable position of having their roster almost fully set for the upcoming season.

They’ve managed to retain the core of their local contingent in Sam Froling, Will Hickey, Dan Grida, and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, while also hanging on to import pair Harvey and Robinson.

Factor in the additions of former Melbourne forward Mason Peatling, Next Star AJ Johnson, and young centre Lachie Olbrich, and the side already has the bulk of what should be its main rotation next season.

One piece that’s missing though is that final import player.

“We’re going to target the best possible player we can that will fit within our group – a personality that fits with our guys,” Jackomas said.

“It’s really exciting right now because we have a lot of time to go and get someone and do our research.

“That could be the final piece that makes our roster elite.

“I’m really excited to have another year with the guys, and a lot of them are here working really hard to make sure they’re ready to go next year.”

 Jackomas says he’s excited to see how the club can influence the career of Next Star AJ Johnson.

“He’ll bring excitement to Illawarra, he’ll bring eyes to our team – which we deserve,” Jackomas said of the club’s newest Next Star.

“We get to be a part of his first step in becoming a professional which is really exciting.

“If he goes onto bigger and better things, the Illawarra will always have something in the bottom of his heart.”

The Hawks will kick off their NBL24 campaign against reigning champions and local rivals Sydney on Saturday, September 30.