{"id":364426,"date":"2025-12-22T11:37:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T11:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/364426\/"},"modified":"2025-12-22T11:37:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T11:37:08","slug":"our-fans-deserve-a-team-that-fights-norton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/364426\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Our fans deserve a team that fights’: Norton"},"content":{"rendered":"

The city of Brisbane has produced plenty of champions in recent years.<\/p>\n

From the Lions\u2019 back-to-back AFL crowns to the Broncos\u2019 2025 NRL Premiership, the city has become accustomed to winning.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, that success hasn\u2019t been tapped into by the Bullets yet, who are currently 5-14 on the ladder following seven straight losses.<\/p>\n

That poor showing to date saw the three-time champions part ways with coach Stu Lash, with assistant Darryl McDonald appointed as interim head coach.<\/p>\n

That change makes McDonald the eighth coach to man the sidelines since Andrej Lemanis\u2019 exit in 2021.<\/p>\n

Speaking after their most recent defeat to South East Melbourne at John Cain Arena, captain Mitch Norton admits his team are determined to turn it around for the city.<\/p>\n

\u201c[The frustration] has been real. Our fans deserve to see a team that\u2019s out there fighting for them, especially on the home floor, which we haven\u2019t really protected at all,\u201d Norton said to CODE Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in a city that has won a lot in different codes, and we want a slice of that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know how good Brisbane is when their teams are winning and, for me, it\u2019s only a matter of time that we get that feeling, because we know the fans are going to come thick and fast when we start producing the goods.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

That shift to McDonald is the latest of move in a season of change for the Bullets, which has included Javon Freeman-Liberty departing the club and returning, Brisbane parting ways with former MVP Jaylen Adams and a host of injuries, including Casey Prather, Lamar Patterson and Dakota Mathias.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe weird thing is, we\u2019re accustomed to change,\u201d Norton said in Saturday\u2019s post-game press conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest thing is, when you\u2019re going through a really tough period \u2018why do you play basketball?\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it the love of the game? Is it for your family? Whatever it is you need to come back to that and play for your brother next to you.<\/p>\n

\u201cDay in, day out, what do we stand by? Are we about each other? Are we selfish at times?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Bullets, who are 1-7 at home in NBL26, will look to return to the winner\u2019s circle on Monday night when they host New Zealand from 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.<\/p>\n

Read the full story here >> Bullets captain Mitch Norton opens up on coaching debacle, fan frustration<\/a><\/p>\n

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