We don’t drop two in a row.

We don’t drop two in a row. It’s been an oft-repeated mantra for Hawks coach Justin Tatum, and one his team has lived by throughout his tenure.  

More than the Hawks lofty position on the NBL ladder this season, that consistency just may be the most impressive transformation he’s brought about within the franchise. 

While it’s largely disappeared in the rear vision mirror, Tatum took the reins at a time the club had gone 5-32 without consecutive wins since April 2022. In the 43 games since, the Hawks have fallen in back-to-back games just twice. 

They’ve suffered consecutive losses in Wollongong just once, part of a three-game run of outs in January last year. They’ll be looking to avoid that fate at the Sandpit against Cairns on Friday night after dropping their traditional New Year’s Eve showdown, 111-105, to South East Melbourne. 

They’ll start heavy favourites against a struggling Taipans outfit on a 15-game run of outs, but recent history shows the smart money would be on the Hawks to bounce back regardless of the opposition. Skipper Sam Froling says it’s no accident.  

“Part of it’s the talent we have on the floor and the confidence we have in each other, and then part of it also comes down to JT,” Froling said. 

“A lot of his [philosophy] is ‘we don't lose two in a row’, so if we drop one, we come in, we work hard, we watch what we need to fix.  

“It’s nothing too negative, but we're hard on it. We come out in the next game, fix those areas, and it tends to win us those [bounce back] games.” 

It’s a hard-won resilience for much of the playing group that endured the tough run prior to Tatum’s ascension, with Froling saying the lean times have played a part in driving the Hawks relentless pursuit of their current position at the top of the NBL ladder. 

 “You learn so much from those years, and it also gives you the drive to not go back there because it sucks, it’s not fun” Froling said.  

“I think going through that was essential for us to be where we are now because we know what it's like [to struggle] and we absolutely don't want to go back to that. 

“That’s the good thing about the continuity of the group. It's not just me that’s been here, it’s (Dan) Grida and Tyler (Harvey), Wani (Swaka Lo Buluk), Davo (Will Hickey). 

“They’ve all been through it and it’s helpful at this end [of it] because we hold each other accountable to make sure we don’t go back there.”  

Hard times aside, Froling’s also enjoyed two playoff runs under Brian Goorjian in Wollongong, as well as last season’s compelling Lazarus-like finals push under Tatum. It’s the culture built through the latter that leaves the co-skipper confident a second-ever chip is within reach for the foundation club despite hiccups like Tuesday’s loss to the Phoenix.   

“Part of it’s the continuity from last year and the other part is just enjoying the process,” Froling said. 

“Winning the games is fun, but for us it’s every day of practice that's fun. It's been like that this year from the start. Everyone's got their role, and everyone wants to do that to the best of their ability.  

“Some teams you see have guys that want to expand their role, or do too much, or move on to the next thing. It's really special to be amongst a group where everyone's just worried about winning. In professional sport it doesn't happen often.”  

Friday’s clash with the struggling Taipans is the second of a four-game run in Wollongong for the Hawks. It’s welcome scheduling respite, but Froling says his team will need to guard against complacency on its home deck.