Rucker Backs Forde's Talent Factory

Former NBL MVP Derek Rucker is backing the Cairns Taipans to rebuild their now decimated roster, and has stated the club’s “identity” of signing exceptional young talent will see them compete again in NBL24.

Star imports DJ Hogg and Shannon Scott will be lining up against the Taipans in the upcoming season, after signing with Sydney and Brisbane respectively, while back-to-back Most Improved Player Keanu Pinder will turn out for the Wildcats.

Pocket rocket point guard Ben Ayre has headed to South East Melbourne, while veteran big Majok Deng remains uncontracted.

“In some ways they’ve almost become a little bit of a farm team – especially for Brisbane – over the years,” Rucker said on The Marketplace. “I don’t think there’s too much dismay to be had by the Cairns Taipans’ fans because they’ve done a good job of replenishing their inventory over the years.

“Adam Forde – and the coaches before him – did a really good job of going over to America, finding imports, [and] coming up with local Aussies out of college.

“The way they play, they’re always going to be tough to beat, as long as they’ve got decent talent.

“Every two or three years these Taipans pop up as a threat, and Forde now – I think he has a really good feel for the league and what he wants from his team.

“They’re going to be a threat again … I’m not worried about the Taipans, and neither should their fans be.”

The consistent exodus of high level talent from the Taipans to the rest of the NBL has often seen them branded as a ‘feeder club’ – much to their dismay.

Torrey Craig, Mitch McCarron and Cam Gliddon are all among an extensive list of high-profile players to have left the side for other NBL clubs in recent seasons.

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The moves south of both Hogg and Scott have done little to shake that tag, however ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc maintains the import pair’s moves were determined by far more than the almighty dollar. 

“There’s this perception out there that these players are leaving because of money,” Uluc said.

“Shannon Scott wanted to go back to the Taipans, but he would have had to play second fiddle, effectively, to Taran Armstrong. He didn’t want to do that and the Brisbane Bullets had a starting point guard spot for him, so he went there – that was more of a rotation thing, that wasn’t a money thing.

“I’m also told the DJ Hogg signing in Sydney also wasn’t a money issue … it was the fact they’d just signed Taran Armstrong, they have a really young group, there was a good chance they were going to start Sam Mennenga as well, so if you’re DJ Hogg what’s the best chance of getting to the NBA?

“Is it going back to the Cairns Taipans and playing with this really young group or is it going to a Sydney Kings team that will more than likely compete for a title, has demonstrated they can put guys in the NBA?

“The perception that Cairns is recruiting guys and other teams are stealing them is off, they’re not stealing them, it’s just better opportunities – money aside – are opening up for these guys and Cairns have decided to go in a different direction.”

Cairns’ first game of the new NBL season will tip off against New Zealand on Saturday, September 30.