If the Hawks and 36ers can get stud imports, it will be a very even league! If either team don't get stud imports/good import combinations, they'll be a step behind the rest IMO.

There's talent on both sides that can do a lot of damage (Adel, Johnson etc) with some youth that can do damage as well. That veteran leadership, x factor import(s) is what they will really need to make a push for top 4

I'd have that roster looking like this now

STARTERS

Import
Harvey
Adel
Froling
Bairstow


BENCH

Naar
White
Grida
Deng


Looking at that, with another local and probable next star to come they'd both have to be bigs.

Very solid starting line up.

Decent team coming together and the GOAT coach at the helm.

Exciting times for Hawks fans.

Care to name ALL the sponsors?

For those that do not renew, using the name change is an easy excuse, instead of COVID though isn't.

How many of those business have Illawarra in their name? Forgive me if i'm wrong, I didn't realise the burger bar was called "Illawarra Boy Elroy"?

It's been said many times by the new owners that removing the name was an NBL decision, not their own. Put some heat on the NBL, not the club.

But saying the Hawks have no ties to the region is simply ignorant.

They will play most if not all games in the Illawarra.

The Hawks give people of the Illawarra a team in a National league to support, something for kids to aspire to.

There's flow of effect for bars and eateries around the stadium to reap economic benefits on game days.

All the players and coaches and staff live in the Illawarra, and will spend money in the Illawarra.

The team will visit schools and community groups in the Illawarra.

They'll likely resume afternoon sessions with Junior teams at the Snakepit, post COVID.

That's probably enough to show they still have ties to the Illawarra.

Couple of comments. Awesome signing. I don't think we have seen the best of Bairstow, he has been plagued with injuries for much of his NBL career.

Froling is not a starter YET. BG will be great for his career development but it will be a bridge too far at this stage. End of the season come playoffs then it is conceivable that could change.

BG hinted on ABC Radio that there is another big Australian as in size to come. Could be the re-signing of AJ might not be. Could be DA? I think they could still do with a Next Star big or possibly a 3.

This is a great day!

I really think Goorj will get the best out of the big man. He's going to wreak havoc setting screens and rolling to the cup.

Yep, good signing, nice to see him back in the league. Will be interesting to see how he's used, and how many minutes he plays.
Hawks continuing to assemble a good squad, could be very competitive.

#814021

How exactly does it help a local (constrained to the region) business, like the burger place by Hawks having Illawarra in their name?

Besides, people in the region know who the Hawks are, they've always been the Hawks. But the variable has been Illawarra, Wollongong and Illawarra again.

Maybe his surname, BAIRstow might have something to him getting the Bear nickname, and it's nothing to Tony Ronaldson?

MCR won't be back as the major sponsor.

MCR is the guy wrapped up with LaMelo's bid and they weren't selected as owners, so can understand why he'd grumble and bail.

Can't believe it only just occurred to me that the dropping of "Illawarra" is likely to enable them to relocate the team down the track. I imagine it's already planned with the new owners.

They'll become the second Sydney team, in the west.

Sourbroker. Correct they won't be back. But the reason they won't be back has zero to do with the company not making money due to covid.