The Climb to the Top: 12 Months On From Our Second NBL Championship

Joel Armstrong | Hawks Media

Basketball, at its core, is a game of numbers. Points, rebounds, shooting percentages. But if you were inside the WIN Entertainment Centre exactly one year ago today, you knew the only number that mattered was twenty-four.

Twenty-four years of waiting. Twenty-four years of "almost," "next season," and "what if."

Today marks the first anniversary of the night the Illawarra Hawks didn't just win a basketball game; they reclaimed their soul. Defeating Melbourne United in a five-game Grand Final series wasn't just a sporting achievement. It was an exorcism of two decades of heartbreak, delivered by a group of men who refused to believe the script that said small-market teams aren't supposed to finish first.

The Architect and the Engine: A Regular Season Masterclass

The foundation wasn't laid in March; it was poured in the dog days of the regular season. Under Justin Tatum—a man who coaches with the stoic intensity of someone who knows exactly what’s at stake—the Hawks didn't just win; they dictated.

A 20-9 record. Top of the ladder. They played a brand of unselfish, "extra-pass" basketball that felt like a throwback to a different era, yet moved at a modern, breakneck speed. They set a league record with 37 assists in a single game. They didn't just score; they put on clinics, racking up four of the highest-scoring games in franchise history.

Wollongong noticed. The "Sandpit" became a fortress again, with crowds over 5,000 becoming the standard rather than the exception. You could feel the ground shake before tip-off.

The Semi-Finals: A Statement in the Sandpit

Before you get to the mountaintop, you have to clear the brush. Against South East Melbourne Phoenix in Game 3 of the Semi-Finals, the Hawks didn’t just win; they issued a warning.

A 126-96 demolition. A 70-point first half that felt like an avalanche. Trey Kell III was a man possessed, dropping 26 before the oranges were even sliced at halftime. Todd Blanchfield, the veteran who has seen every corner of this league, turned back the clock with eight triples. It wasn't a game; it was a coronation.

The Grand Final: Blood, Free Throws, and a Letter from Irma

Then came Melbourne United. The Goliath to Illawarra’s David.

After a Game 1 loss at home, the Hawks went into the belly of the beast at John Cain Arena. They carried with them a letter from Irma Martin - a fan whose devotion spans generations - that Coach Tatum emotionally read to the team pre-game, it reminded them who they were playing for.

With the season on a knife-edge and 9,000 Victorians screaming for blood, Will "Davo" Hickey stood at the free-throw line. If he blinks, the season is over. He didn't blink. Then Tyler Harvey—the man who has more ice in his veins than a Wollongong winter—hit the kind of shot they build statues for. Series levelled.

BIG SHOT TAKER, BIG SHOT MAKER!

The Breaking Point

United struck back in Game 3 at the WEC, winning 83-77 and pushing the Hawks to the brink of elimination.

Game 4 in Melbourne is where the legend was truly forged. Sam Froling’s Achilles gave way eight minutes in. It was the kind of injury that sucks the air out of a building and collection fanbase. As Froling was helped off—the image we remember today—the Hawks should have folded.

Instead, they grew. Wani Swaka Lo Buluk became a defensive wall. Hickey played like a man possessed. They won it for Sam, dragging the series back to the Gong for one final dance.

Game 5: Immortality at The Sandpit

Twelve months ago today, the dream was realised.

With the WIN Entertainment Centre full 30 minutes before tip-off, chants of "ILLA-WARRA" echoed through the stadium. Despite falling into an early 20-10 hole, the Hawks stayed composed. A returning Trey Kell provided a massive jolt off the bench, while Lachlan Olbrich seamlessly stepped into the starting lineup for Froling, contributing 12 points and 4 rebounds.

Tyler Harvey controlled the tempo, but it was Will Hickey who stole the show, flirting with a triple-double (21 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists). When the final buzzer sounded on the 114-104 victory, the 24-year wait was over. In the ultimate show of respect, Melbourne's Matthew Dellavedova—who was awarded the Finals MVP—handed his medal directly to Hickey, telling him, "He deserved it. This was his series".

A Legacy Cemented

A week later, the city of Wollongong turned out in force for a championship parade that rivalled the scenes of 2001.

The 2024/25 Illawarra Hawks didn't just win a title; they redefined the club's modern identity. Built on unselfish basketball, resilience in the face of crushing injuries, and an unbreakable bond with their community, they earned their place in the rafters.

Twelve months on, the pride hasn't faded. Wollongong, your team brought it home.