QBL Season Previews - Cairns Marlins
2015 Season 2015 W/L: 10-7 (2014 W/L: 13-3) Missed Playoffs Coaching Staff Head Coach: Jaime Pearlman Roster Transactions In: Cameron Tragardh, Alex Loughton, Anthony Fisher Out: Nathan Sobey, Corey Maynard, Shaun Bruce, Matthew Andronicos, Matthew Smith Projected Starters: Damon Heuir, Anthony Fisher, James Mitchell, Alex Loughton, Cameron Tragardh Key Bench: Curt Ahwang, Aaron Bin Tahal, Chris Daniel
Key Gains
Cameron Tragardh: One the best players in QBL history won multiple championships and only player that has multiple MVP awards. Tragardh is in his 30’s and despite drop of minutes and production in the NBL, he can be one of the top players in the league. A more than adequate replacement for Matt Andronicos
Alex Loughton: Pearlman desperately needed help with big and got one calibre player with NBL and international experience. Like Tragardh, Loughton is in his 30’s and has seen a reduced role in the NBL, however should be one of the leading forwards in this league
Key Losses Nathan Sobey: Exceptional tough guard that can produce offensively and defensively. One of Cairns top players despite missing time in 2015.
Position by Position Analysis
Guard: Have lost a lot with the departure of Sobey and Maynard/Bruce. Damon Heuir should take over as lead guard and Anthony Fisher is a promising development player for the Taipans that should capitalise on more playing time for the Marlins. They have experience in the bench with Curt Ahwang, and young in Aaron and Jayden Bin Tahal Forward: James Mitchell and Alex Loughton is likely to be the starting forwards. Loughton has a wealth of experience and should take the load off undersized forwards Mitchell and Chris Daniel. Aron Farmer is a combo forward that had a solid outing for Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Games in 2015
Center: Cameron Tragardh is likely to start here, although expect that to be flexible with Alex Loughton seeing time at the centre spot. Keslan Jennings should make an appreance or two.
Can Cairns Marlins retain its squad for the entirety of the season ? That’s tough to answer. That entire depends on Cairns Taipans, since a large part of the team is contracted to them. Loughton and Tragardh are still vital parts of the Taipans and with age they will need to manage them. It also depends on where Marlins are on the ladder at the end of July. The thing for me is that Cairns is the most prolific club in QBL history, yet they haven’t tasted a QBL championship or a grand final appearance since 2009. If they have the chance to win the QBL (which on paper they have) they should be given the opportunity to do so. But I also understand that they are primary contracted as Taipans players. What gets Cairns into the playoffs?
Jaime Pearlman continues being one of the top coaches in the league. Tragardh and Loughton play at their level and became one of the top bigmen combinations. Heuir continues his development and Fisher takes advantage of his playing time. Solid contributions from the bench. What gets Cairns out of the playoffs? A slow start to the season for the Marlins, that leads Taipans to pull the plug. Tragardh or Loughton missing games throughout the season. Heuir struggles to go the next level. Fisher doesn’t take his opportunity or any of the backup guard are unable to do so.
