"F everybody": No more underdogs

Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde believes his team is still being underestimated in NBL26.

The arrival of proven import guard Andrew Andrews only complements the additions of marquee man Jack McVeigh, NBA veteran Admiral Schofield and young gun Reyne Smith.

Forde has long embraced the underdog tag during his first four seasons with the Taipans, but NBL26 feels different.

Despite opening NBL26 with a 37-point loss to the South East Melbourne Phoenix, the Snakes responded in Round 2 by upsetting Brisbane at home on Friday and then grinding out a tough road win in Sydney on Sunday.

Forde isn’t fazed by outsiders still suggesting his group is punching above its weight. He expects success.

"When you've got two guys who've played in the NBA and someone's making a million bucks and Drew (Andrews) is coming in and has played in every professional European league, and done really well.

"Then you've got (Sam) Waardenburg who's scheduled to come back in, you're not tricking anyone thinking that these guys aren’t extremely good athletes and professionals.

"They're top of their game and I won't trick them by thinking we're underdogs, but we'll use it in the sense of 'F everybody' and it's us versus the world.

"But to sit here and think that we're the Cairns of before, no no no, we've spent what the big city clubs are. Now the expectation is that you've got to perform and the boys did this weekend."

When the Snakes had to change imports on the eve of the season after the recruitment of Ashton Hagans fell through, they turned to well-travelled 32-year-old veteran Andrews.

Cramping on both Friday in Cairns and Sunday in Sydney was understandable, yet he still delivered 24 points and 11 assists across 56 minutes in less than 48 hours, having only arrived from Portland on Wednesday.

Forde said he couldn't have been more impressed with the Taipans' newest signing.

"I don't follow a lot of social media but you get a bit of a buzz from things that are said and there was one that was referring to Andrews being a downgrade," Forde said.

"I was like, the dude's played 10 years in leagues that you couldn't believe and we're hyping up Panathinaikos, and he's suited up for those guys.

"He's won everywhere he's gone and even last season, he was with a team who have now folded but got to post-season basketball with what he did on and off the court to lead that team.

"Smart basketball people know how good he is and he's not going to fly under the radar, and when he gets his legs he's only going to be better."