Eyes on the prize: Forde says Taipans can win it all

The Cairns Taipans have undergone arguably their biggest off-season of change ever, putting them firmly in the spotlight as genuine contenders.

With that comes added pressure, and it’s something returning coach Adam Forde is openly embracing.

“This is our best chance to win a title. Anything less will be disappointing, and I’m not scared to say that. That’s a challenge we’re embracing,” Forde said on NBL Now.

The Taipans adopted a calculated, patient approach to recruiting over the past five months - a stretch that tested fans’ nerves while the club quietly worked behind the scenes to piece everything together.

“We’ve got a different shift in culture. We’re not part of this survivalist mindset or underdog tag anymore. The mindset now is we have the resources, the facilities, and the personnel to win a championship. Everybody’s putting their reputation and career on the line to make this work, and it’s an exciting thing to be part of,” Forde continued.

When the NBL25 season wrapped up, Forde initially announced he’d be leaving to explore new opportunities. However, his ongoing involvement in recruitment and the coaching search, combined with the club’s bold new direction, ultimately convinced him to stay.

“There’s still essentially the ethos of who we are, which is we’re still a community club. We still represent the people of Cairns. We’ve still got exceptional rookies who’ve had amazing collegiate careers and come here because of the track record we have in providing young players a platform to really fast-track and showcase their playing ability.”

Heading the Taipans’ star-studded roster is Olympian and Larry Sengstock Medallist Jack McVeigh, who’s reportedly set to command $1 million this season.

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. But with that comes responsibility. We’re not running from it. We’re comfortable saying we’ve put a team together capable of winning a championship. I’m not just talking about the players; this includes the front office, Mark, Troy, the whole club. Everyone’s put their name and reputation on the line, building the most well-resourced Taipans team ever.”

Among the Taipans’ key additions are Admiral Schofield, Ashton Hagans, and rising Australian talent Reyne Smith.

Add in the ever-improving Alex Higgins-Titsha, reliable contributors Marcus Lee and Kyrin Galloway, plus one of the league’s most dominant bigs, Sam Waardenburg, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting season ahead in Cairns.