Via Callum Dick – The Daily Mercury
The Mackay Meteors and Meteorettes will begin their respective Central Queensland Cup campaigns in hostile territory this weekend.
Longtime rivals Rockhampton will host the two Mackay teams on Saturday night in the opening round of the inaugural CQ Cup competition.
Comprising teams from Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone and Bundaberg, the CQ Cup has filled the competitive basketball void left by the cancelled NBL1 North season.
Even without some of the household names of seasons gone by, the Meteors and Meteorettes will still field formidable rosters comprising “100 per cent local” talent and the goal, as always, will be to win it all.
“Going into this our expectation of both the men’s and women’s teams is to come away at the end of November as CQ Cup champions,” Mackay Basketball NBL1 North general manager Joel Khalu said.
“Part of the culture here is whatever competition we play in we want to be the most successful club and the expectation is there to go and make that happen.”
The opening round away trip to Rockhampton will serve as the perfect litmus test for Mackay’s CQ Cup chances. Khalu said both playing groups were champing at the bit to return to competitive action, made even more enticing at the prospect of playing against their bitter rivals.
“For some of these players it’s been well over 12 months since their last senior competitive basketball game at a high level. To finally be back on court, and playing Rockhampton, it’s a nice one to have first game back,” Khalu said.
“That rivalry between the two clubs at whatever level, there’s always that bit of extra pride in it.”
Khalu said fans could be particularly proud in the knowledge that the Meteors and Meteorettes’ CQ Cup rosters would boast entirely homegrown talent.
For some players on the fringe of NBL1 North selection, a strong showing in the makeshift four-team competition could go a long way to securing a place in the starting line-up for 2021.
“For some the CQ Cup will be their ceiling. Now they get a chance to go out there and represent their city at this level for the first time as players and that’s pretty cool,” Khalu said.
“This is a great opportunity for a lot of the fringe NBL1 players to stand up and showcase their skills, to be thought about when it comes to recruiting for next year.”
Even before a ball has been bounced, Khalu said he would be a strong advocate for the CQ Cup becoming an annual fixture on the basketball calendar, similar to the now-defunct Tropical Youth League.
He said a hypothetical U23 competition would do wonders for local player development and keeping young talent in the sport for longer.
“The majority (of players) if they’re not good enough to make the jump straight away they can fall away from the sport. This is a great avenue for them to stay involved, stay motivated and get to that next level,” Khalu said.
“It’s very important for us to have local players in our NBL1 teams going forward and this would be a great opportunity (to help make that a reality).
“If this competition stays I would push for us to have U23 teams representing Mackay moving forward.”
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND CUP ROUND 1 – October 10 at Adani Arena, Rockhampton
(6pm) – Mackay Meteorettes v Rockhampton Cyclones
(8pm) – Mackay Meteors v Rockhampton Rockets
Global Product Search Mackay Meteorettes: Phoebe Holmes, Naomi Cage, Sara Storeshaw, Jaye Willis, Tatarnya Poli, Jordan Peterson, Paris Santacaterina, Kelsey McDermott, Kylee Marsh, Denesha Bobongie, Bronte Allen, Heidi Freeburn. Coach: Scott McKenzie. Asst: Ross Jensen. Manager: Susannah McKenzie. Physio: Isaac Fitzsimon
McDonald’s Mackay Meteors: Kait Wesche, Kye Medhurst, Marcus Fossey, Sean Baker, Hayden Wicks, Riley Inkson, Mitchell Gamblin, Scott Francis, Brad Rasmussen, Lukass Blicavs, Lachlan Inkson. Coach: Joel Khalu. Asst: Troy Brown, Ian Dooley. Manager: Craig Bradford. Physio: Isaac Fitzsimon