How to watch & talking points: Cairns v Perth (Round 4, NBL26)

Friday, October 10, 2025

All you need to know ahead of Round 4's showdown between Cairns and Perth.

Cairns Taipans v Perth Wildcats
Friday, October 10, 7.30pm AEDT
Cairns Convention Centre

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Talking points

TBC

Taipans to respond

The last time that the Taipans played on their home court a week ago, they were demolished at the hands of the Adelaide 36ers. They leaked points everywhere and struggled to score at key times themselves. That was over a week ago, which should have allowed Adam Forde to address those issues and have his team ready to respond in a big way.

More Rillie?

It's been a major talking point since the Wildcats last win, but could this be the first game that Jaron Rillie gets extended opportunity? The development player has been fantastic in the last two games, sitting with an absurd +46 in the +/- since he was thrown into the game against the Breakers. This could be the start of Rillie carving out a stable role in this rotation going forward.

What they're saying

Taipans star Jack McVeigh on his added responsibility in Cairns:

“Having the ball in my hands at the start of possessions is something that has never happened throughout my whole career,” McVeigh said to CODE Sports.

“I’m learning how to make the right play and when to be aggressive, knowing when teams are sending help, it’s just an awesome learning experience.

“I feel myself getting better every single game, and every single day in training, getting reps on reps on reps.”

Plus-minus star and Perth development player Jaron Rillie on making the most of his opportunities:

“We’ve harped on it all pre-season and will continue to harp on it all season: everyone’s going to get an opportunity at some point,” Jaron Rillie said to the West Australian.

“What you do with that opportunity, take advantage of it or not, it’s how you deal with the day-to-day process, and what you’re willing to put in every day. We have a lot of guys that put in the day-to-day work and are going to be ready for those opportunities.”

Depth charts

Cairns

‍Projected depth chart:

PG: Andrews (IP) / Adnam
SG: Smith / Stattmann / L.McVeigh (DP)
SF: Schofield (IP) / Higgins-Titsha / Mag
PF: J.McVeigh / Galloway
C: Lee (IP) / Richardson (DP

Perth

Projected depth chart:

PG: Jones (IP) / Russo-Nance / Pepper
SG: Henshall / Dech / Rillie (DP)
SF: Windler (IP) / Mayen / Huefner (DP)
PF: Doolittle (IP) / Kouakou-Heugue (NS) / Wagstaff / Gerovich (DP)
C: Lual-Acuil Jr. / Okwera