“Big boy time”: Forde’s factory set for big upgrade

Adam Forde’s return to the Cairns Taipans is shaping as one of the biggest moves of the off-season, according to former NBL MVP Derek Rucker.

Amid ongoing discussions around private ownership and marquee signings, securing one of the NBL’s best at developing young talent shapes as a key piece for the Taipans.

“Adam Forde returning to Cairns is up there with the Bryce (Cotton) signing, with the Kendric (Davis) and (Matthew) Dellavedova move to Sydney,” Rucker said on The Marketplace.

“Forde returning to the Taipans gives them a way to continue what he had established, but also it provides Forde, now that he has the resources … Cairns is no longer the little engine that could.”

The 2023 NBL Coach of the Year announced he’d step away from the club in February, but could be better equipped than ever before to compete with the best - all going to plan.

“Now they’re going to be well-financed and can compete with the big boys. He gets to coach and see what he can do with a fully paid-for roster,” Rucker continued.

“That’s not to slight what they’ve done in the past, because they’ve done admirable work in Cairns for a number of years. But now, it’s big boy time.”

The Taipans finished tenth and eighth across the past two seasons, riddled with injury in NBL25, after Forde led them to the Playoffs in his first year as coach.

Their roster is still very much a work in progress, with Sam Waardenburg the only starter locked in, but things are looking up.

“Being that Adam’s come back and Forde’s all in - it’s fantastic for the area,” Brad Rosen added.

Forde is a four-time championship winner as an assistant coach and has also spent time as head coach in Sydney before making the move north.