{"id":748058,"date":"2026-06-20T03:42:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T03:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/748058\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T03:42:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T03:42:11","slug":"bruce-chases-almighty-cairns-comeback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/748058\/","title":{"rendered":"Bruce chases almighty Cairns comeback"},"content":{"rendered":"

This off-season has been one of change for the Cairns Taipans, as the club looks to return to post-season hoops.<\/p>\n

As it stands, the only two players returning from last season are Australian Boomers Jack McVeigh and Reyne Smith, as well as Head Coach Adam Forde.<\/p>\n

Apart from that, the Taipans appear set to have a revamped roster, as they attempt to reach the Finals for the first time since NBL23.<\/p>\n

One of those new pieces is exciting NBL Next Star Luke Paul, who is the program\u2019s youngest-ever player.<\/p>\n

Another is three-time NBL champion Shaun Bruce, who returns to the club where his NBL journey started back in 2012-13.<\/p>\n

This move comes after the 35-year-old\u2019s incredible stint in Sydney, where he became the second-most capped King (219 games).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe conversations with me leaving weren’t with Goorj [Brian Goorjian] in the end, rather being delivered by Luc Longley (Kings co-owner and special advisor), who I\u2019d been with my entire time in Sydney,\u201d Bruce said on NBL Now.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe explained they were going in a different direction, and there wasn’t much more than that, which allowed both parties to move on, because Free Agency comes around quick.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou go from winning, and then all of a sudden you’re kind of having conversations with all the other teams around the League.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Upon reflection] I was lucky to be in a place and club for so long. To have so many great people be a part of the journey there, was really special.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut when Free Agency started, I spoke to some different teams, and in the end, obviously, I’d played for Fordey (Adam Forde) before. We got in touch with one another and just seemed like the right fit.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

While the Taipans finished the campaign with a 9-24 record last season, Bruce is embracing the challenge of helping turn the Far North Queensland franchise around.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, I\u2019ve been there before, and have been part of successful Cairns teams,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a challenge, after only winning nine games last season, but we always see a Taipans team make a serious push every three or four years and I\u2019d love to be part of one of those again.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing from a successful program in the Kings and joining a team that’s kind of struggled with consistency over the last few years, it’s something that I will look to bring and hopefully can have an impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to be a team you can be proud of. We want to be that gritty, underdog Cairns team that competes every night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bruce\u2019s Taipans open their NBL27 campaign in Sydney against his former team on Sunday, September 20.<\/p>\n

> READ MORE: HOW THE NBL PREPARED KARIM LOPEZ FOR THE NBA<\/a><\/p>\n

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