Taipans forge community ties as Cairns basketball club battles for NBL postseason return

At a time when professional sport is increasingly defined by corporate deals and television ratings, the Cairns Taipans are swimming against the current. The Far North Queensland club, which plays its home games at the Cairns Convention Centre, sits seventh on the NBL ladder heading into December's gruelling double-header stretch. But for coach Adam Forde and the band of players that includes import trio Admiral Schofield, Marcus Lee and Andrew Andrews, this season is about more than just climbing the standings.

It's about proving a regional club can thrive when the community pulls in the same direction.

Orange Army fuels a home-court edge

The Taipans' fan base, known as the Orange Army for the team's signature colour, has long been one of the NBL's most vocal. At the Convention Centre, that energy can swing a game. Forde, who has made no secret of his desire to return the Taipans to postseason action, has pointed to that support as a crucial ingredient in the club's identity. The group's loyalty is especially visible during December's back-to-back home games, where the Taipans will lean on crowd noise to try and lift an offensive rating that has needed improvement.

Even in a season that has been an uphill battle, the connection between the players and the stands remains tactile. After games, Schofield and forward Sam Waardenburg are often spotted signing autographs and posing for photos. Waardenburg, a local favourite, has become a bridge between the club and its young fans. McVeigh, another fan favourite, regularly visits schools in the region when the schedule allows.

Basketball as a social anchor in the tropics

The Taipans' role in the community extends beyond the 48-minute game. In a city where the climate and lifestyle revolve around the outdoors, the club has positioned itself as a year-round presence. Youth programs, school clinics and open practice sessions have turned the Convention Centre into a community hub. While the team's on-court results have been mixed, the seventh-place standing underscores the gap between effort and execution, the off-court investment is paying dividends.

Forde has often spoken about building a culture that players want to be part of, even if the NBL's salary cap and geographic isolation make recruiting a challenge. The import trio of Schofield, Lee and Andrews have each brought professional experience from overseas, and their willingness to buy into the club's ethos has helped stabilise a locker room that could have fractured during a losing streak.

For the players, the Orange Army is a reminder that their work matters beyond the stat sheet. The upcoming double-headers will test the team's depth and conditioning. But whatever the final score, the Taipans are already winning off the court, one handshake, one autograph, one fan at a time.

Next on the schedule: a run of games that will determine whether the Taipans can climb back into playoff contention. Fans can catch the action at the Cairns Convention Centre, where the Orange Army will be waiting.