Weird, he's been such a good player for them. He would be a great fit for Sydney or Melbourne if they have room.

If they've released him to get Rhys Martin back I kind of understand, as they desperately need Rhys if they want to make playoffs.

How does Rhys fit with Ervin and Carson?

He is crucial with Ervin and Carson, he will make those guys fit into the system.

The Hawks don't need another big, they need another guard. So far theyve had five guys filling 80 mins in the frontcourt and effectively 2.5 guys filling 80 mins in the backcourt.

With Martin on board Demos can go back to spot minutes which he can fill well with his energy, with the other three playing 25-30 mins each.

If you have Rhys you only need one of Ervin or Carson.

Melbourne would be better off with Gruber at back up Centre than they are with Macmillan.

They do need to bolster their backcourt. In this season's NBL Demos just doesn't give them enough offense to play that third wheel and average 15-20 mins a game. This must have hit home as a result of Carson and Ervin being sick/injured over the weekend and realising they need more.

Jump on Board Sixers !!!

"If you have Rhys you only need one of Ervin or Carson."

You need more than two good guards in the NBL, and both Ervin and Carson are shoot-first players, so they will fit well with the unselfish Martin, who will also teach them the system on-court.

If you have Rhys you only need one of Ervin or Carson.

Sixers would be far better off getting Gruber than Richie Edwards. We really need a back up C/PF who can guard the paint and rebound. Considering the club is on a budget this is the guy we need to go after.

If the Hawks released Gruber before the Sixers signed Edwards then I reckon the Sixers would've gone Gruber

I would also go with Carson off the bench for instant offence and foul/injury insurance. With Nevill and Davidson I see Gruber as the odd man out.

could the sixers also add him? even if its short term until Motum comes (if he signs at all)

I think the Hawks erred in taking Nevill as anything more than insurance for Davidson's injury. They're a team who have seen success through chemistry and following a strict plan and this Nevill and Gruber business really messes with that.

Ex-Hawk Dan Jackson was another glue guy for them and he's not impressed. I'd say he was involved long enough to have a good idea of what's going on and where the problems are?

What is going on with the @wollongonghawks ? Family and community club no more huh?

You know how not to increase crowd numbers? Cut a crowd favourite! @JamesSpenceley

Gruber all class and an unbelievably good teammate, not to mention a great energy guy. What a joke.

What happens when a non basketball person makes basketball decisions?? Oh wait...

I'd say he still has friends on the team and would have a pretty good read on things. I wouldn't write off his comments quickly at all.

The mistake for the Hawks was signing both Ballinger and Nevill. They should've only gone with one that way the situation doesn't come to this.

Anon, here's Glen Saville:

I'm absolutely gutted @DGruber42 is no longer @wollongonghawks . He is everything the club needs ATM. Gutsy hard working and selfless.

@danjackson9 I'm thinking of buying a Doctors surgery. I might even perform a few open heart surgeries while I'm at at.

Why would the Sixers want Gruber?

We have Anthony, Montreal and Petrie to play the power forward position. All of them I rate higher then Gruber. Also he is too small to play center. He is still good enough to play in the NBL but just not at the Sixers.

Gruber is one of the nicest guys you could meet and he gives 100 per cent every time on the floor. A class act and i wish him all the best and his young family.

i heard that if the hawks drop this next game gordie is getting sacked also that the new guard coming in is not rhys martin

Dugg you are off ya head mate. As if Geordie would get sacked

Don't know if anyone has seen it but James Spenceley just confirmed Rhys Martin is the one coming back to replace Gruber.

dugg, well done troll. Owner just confirmed Martin.

I disagree. An import off the bench is a waste for a team like Wollongong.

Isn't Carson on marquee money too....wasted as a 6th man imo.

Carson cant shoot a jump shot, Id say the money is wasted on him. Good not great. Hopefully someone picks Gruber up, stand up guy that gives everything he has.

You only need 2 good guards in this league as most teams do - see below. The teams that do have 3 decent level guards are generally stacked in other positions - the Hawks aren't. It's not like any of their guards have good size about them either. They could better utilise Carsons spot and money elsewhere in my opinion now that Martin is back.

36ers;
-Wilson
-Gibson

Taipans;
-Wilbekin
-Gliddon

United;
-Dennis
-Tomlinson
-Corletto

Breakers;
-Jackson
-Webster
-Carter

Wildcats;
-Martin
-Beal

Kings;
-Perry
-Madgen

Crocs;
-Markovic
-Norton

Hawks;
-Ervin
-Carson
-Martin

The mistake for Wollongong was signing both Ballinger and Nevill if they did that they wouldn't have had to release Gruber. They should have signed one of them along with Rhys Martin and got an Import 2/3 instead of both Ervin and Carson with Martin.

Ganymede, problem was that Martin wanted out so he could go to Europe. That was in the paper a few times.

The team could've got someone like Carter though and grabbed a 2/3 import.

And I agree that Ballinger-Nevill is the double-up, compounded by them being new to the team and new to the plays.


Tornado, the Hawks ran Deleon off the bench behind Martin and Hurdle previously. NBA teams often bring wildcard scorers off the bench in guard ranks - Crawford at the Clippers, Manu at the Spurs, Smith at the Knicks, Harden at the Thunder, Terry at the Mavs, Gordon back at the Bulls.


If anyone at the Hawks has put Gordie under the pump after messing with the team structure, they are insane.

Isaac...Deleon wasn't on marquee money and Hurdle was at least over 6 foot and played more as a 2 guard than pg. At the moment, the Hawks have 3 point guards and none are above 6’0.

I see your point in regards to your NBA reference but feel that works better because they play 48 minute games.

I think this whole Hawks team is out of balance and I feel for Gordie.

Two of them are scoring guards. The 36ers went to the GF last year with Ervin, Gibson and Carter. Teams obviously try to upgrade at the expense of height sometimes.

I don't know if Carson is really marquee money.

Carson is straight out of college and needs time to mature.Hes shown what he is capable of but needs to make a 4 quarter contribution.That will come with time and maybe a year or two in Europe.

I'm not sure you would consider Gibbo or Carter scoring guards...?