Flames sign three-time NBL champ Jervis

The Rockingham Flames have signalled their NBL1 West premiership intentions by signing three-time NBL championship-winning centre Tom Jervis for the 2021 season.

Jervis won three NBL titles across two stints with the Perth Wildcats, in 2014, 2016 and again in 2019 after returning to Perth following a two-year run with the Brisbane Bullets. He was the 2014 NBL rookie of the year and also a key member of the East Perth Eagles’ first ever SBL championship in 2014.

Having stepped away from professional basketball after signing to play for the Cairns Taipans last August, in order to spend more time with his wife and young daughter, Jervis said the next step in their family life was to relocate back to Perth from the east coast.

Part of that process, he said, was finding the right club at which to lace up the kicks again and, unsurprisingly, former Wildcats teammate Greg Hire had a big part to play in the 211cm big choosing the Flames as his destination.

“With the coronavirus and the borders being closed, we haven’t been back to Perth and it’ll be coming up on two years by the time we are back,” Jervis said.

“Our lease is up in March so we decided we were going to make our way home to be with family; all our family is in Perth so it’s time to come home and have our daughter spend some time with them.

“I wanted to continue doing basketball if I did come back, so before I’d told anyone I was coming back I texted Greg one day saying ‘who are we gonna play SBL for?’ and he was straight on the phone to me. He said he would continue to play for Rocko if I was going to come back as well.

“I’d had conversations about Rockingham with him previously and he kept saying how professional everything was and how they took care of him and his family, how well they treat the players, and that all resonated with me. If I’m coming back to basketball I want to make sure I’m having fun and the change of scenery appealed too.”

Jervis will not only be re-uniting with Hire, alongside whom he won his three NBL rings, but also another former teammate in Jackson Hussey. He will also be teaming up for the first time with former adversary Ryan Godfrey, something he is looking forward to, and is excited to join the group of players the club has already assembled.

“Growing up knowing Ryan Godfrey and playing against him so many times I know how good he is and I’ve followed his journey as a basketball player,” Jervis said.

“Unfortunately he hasn’t had opportunities fall his way (to go to the next level) but he’s a high calibre player and a good bloke. So I know what type of character these guys are on and off the court.

“Playing for Rockingham is something I’m excited to do and I’m looking forward to a change. If you keep repeating the same thing it gets boring, so this move definitely changes things up.

“The squad, even without speaking about me, that they’ve put together so far is certainly strong on paper. It’s going to be up there with any team in the comp, and that’s without any import signings. It’s going to be a really good season.

“I’ve won a championship with East Perth, who hadn’t won the SBL before, but I was able to achieve that with them and I’m hoping I’ll be able to do the same here and help Rockingham achieve that championship.

“The group is all quality players and I know they’ve got another level to go to and they’re a tightknit group, so as long as you’ve got those two things – you know they’re going to work hard and stay tight – you give yourself the best opportunity to win.”

Despite savouring the opportunity to be a stay-at-home dad for daughter Clementine since retiring from the NBL, Jervis said he has missed playing the game he loves and believes he still has something to offer a genuine championship contender, and a team he has secretly admired from a distance.

“When you come off a championship season you always want to try and back it up at the next club you’re at and do it again, and that was the opportunity I had going to Cairns. But I’ve relished being at home with my daughter being a stay-at-home dad for a year and a half; that’s been bloody amazing getting to connect with her,” he said.

“We had nearly 11 months apart. I got to see my family maybe three weeks all up in the final season I was playing with the Cats because they were still living in Melbourne, and that was rough.

“In the past playing against Rockingham it was always fun because they were always a tough side. They’ve always been a tightknit bunch of guys and you could always see that coming up against them.

“I’ve kept tabs on them since Greg’s been playing there and everyone plays really hard and everyone seems like a really tightknit group, everyone cares about each other.

“Obviously they came so close to playing in that championship game but have been unfortunate with injuries before finals. It seems like a series of unfortunate events has kept them from taking home a championship these past couple of years and that’s something I want to try and help change.

“Hopefully I can come in and fill that little gap to take the team to the next level or keep a finals run going to make that first championship game.

“I’m looking forward to getting over and having the first practice with the guys and playing that first game with a full strength squad with everyone, hopefully being able to play in front of fans. It’ll be pretty special. The last time I played a full season in the SBL I was lucky enough to win it so hopefully history can repeat itself.”

Coach Ryan Petrik said he cannot wait to coach Jervis and believed he would be a big factor in the club’s chase to bring a maiden men’s championship banner to Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

“Signing Tom gives us another high-quality big man who screens well, is an elite rebounder and gives us a huge presence at the rim on both sides of the ball,” he said.

“Just as important, he’s got a team-first mentality and is desperate to join up with our guys and compete for another championship. We’re excited to add Tom to the quality core we already have, which will help in our pursuit of the club’s first men’s championship.”