North Wrap | Men's Anzac Round

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Shaun Bruce and Jarred Bairstow had huge triple-doubles in NBL1 North wins while Tamuri Wigness was brilliant in a double for Southern Districts Spartans with Richard Peachey, Kody Stattmann and James Whitt also delivering winning performances.

>> NORTH SPOTLIGHT | ROLLERS PREVAIL IN GAME OF WILD SWINGS

>> NORTH SPOTLIGHT | LOGAN BIG THREE HAND CAPS FIRST LOSS

>> WOODFALL ALREADY GRASPING CAPS WINNING CULTURE

>> NORTH SPOTLIGHT | STATTMANN STARS AS CAIRNS WIN BIG AGAIN

FRIDAY

Cairns Marlins (109) defeated South West Metro Pirates (69)

Kody Stattmann is banging down the door for another NBL contract with a standout 33-point performance as the Cairns Marlins continued their dominant start to the season beating South West Metro Pirates 109-69.

The Marlins opened the season last Saturday also at home at Trinity Ford Stadium beating the Townsville Heat by 32 points with Stattmann delivering 27 as he backs up the momentum from his NBL26 at the Cairns Taipans and looks to earn another contract somewhere in the league.

He starred once more on Anzac Day eve with 15 points in the first quarter and 27 in the opening half before scarcely needed after that with the Marlins cruising to the 40-point to make it two straight to open the season by a combined 72 points.

It was a second straight dominant showing from Cairns to open the season with Stattmann the star once more too with another 33 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Luca Yates added 15 points, 13 rebounds and two assists for the Marlins, Amarco Doyle 14 points and two boards, Ky Stattmann 11 points, four rebounds and four assists, and Travis Drinnan 10 points with 6/8 foul shooting.

Jai Blackman-Corowa was the only South West Metro player to end up reaching double-figures with 10 points to go with three rebounds and two steals.

Tyrell Mason added nine points and three rebounds, Anei Muorter eight points and three boards, Joseph Johnson eight points on 3/5 shooting, and Brandon Edwards eight points, five rebound and two steals.

Brisbane Capitals (97) defeated North Gold Coast Seahawks (89)

Jarred Bairstow had a monster triple-double and Kai Woodfall drained another five threes as the Brisbane Capitals enjoyed a winning start at home this season beating the North Gold Coast Seahawks 97-89.

The Caps pulled off a stunning come from behind overtime win to open the season last week against the Southern Districts Spartans ahead of a first home game for 2026 on Friday at Auchenflower Stadium.

They were hosting a Seahawks who have returned to the league this season and suffered a first up 30-point loss to the Sunshine Coast Phoenix.

Brisbane started well to be up nine by quarter-time before pushing that lead out to 12 in the second term and going into half-time on top 57-47.

North Gold Coast fired back in the third term and even briefly hit the front just before three quarter-time, but the Capitals again responded with 24 points to 17 in the last term on the way to the eight-point win.

The Caps are now 2-0 to open the season with a host of new faces including Bairstow who delivered 18 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists with two blocks.

Woodfall landed another 5/11 from three-point territory for 24 points, three rebounds and three assists with Brendan Teys contributing 16 points and four assists, and Ben Volkman 14 points, four boards, four assists and three blocked shots.

The Seahawks suffered a second loss to mark their NBL1 North return with Sean Murphy top-scoring with 18 points, five steals, four rebounds and two assists.

Zac Dunmore added 16 points, three steals and two rebounds, Zahn Agosta 12 points, three boards and two assists, Isaiah Oste-Pinder 10 points, five rebounds and three assists, and Cole Ross eight points, five boards, two assists and two steals.

Rockhampton Rockets (73) lost to Southern Districts Spartans (91)

Tamuri Wigness was brilliant again to lead the defending champion Southern Districts Spartans to the 91-73 road win over the Rockhampton Rockets.

The Spartans started their championship defence at home last week losing in overtime to the Brisbane Capitals in a Grand Final rematch ahead of their Round 2 road trip starting against the Rockets at Bravus Arena.

The Rockets were attempting to bounce back from a first up loss to Mackay in Round 1 and did start well at home with 20 points to 16 in the first quarter before Southern Districts took over in the second term.

That saw the Spartans head into half-time leading 43-31 and then that grew to a 21-point lead in the third quarter and they completed the 18-point victory for a first win as the reigning champions.

Wigness finished with 34 points, seven assists, four steals and three rebounds in another spectacular performance with 15/29 shooting from the floor.

Cameron Thew added 14 points, nine rebounds and four steals, Andre Ugrinic 11 points, 12 boards, four steals and two assists, and Max Kerle 11 points, three rebounds and two steals.

The Rockets are now 0-2 to start the season with Isaac Ayoubi finishing with 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, Keahn Tuakura 16 points, six boards and two steals, Treauhn Williams 13 points and seven rebounds, and Jack Tweedy 12 points and four boards.

ANZAC DAY

Townsville Heat (93) defeated South West Metro Pirates (76)

Richard Peachey delivered 27 points and nine rebounds as the Townsville Heat got their first win on the board for 2026 with the 93-76 home victory against the South West Metro Pirates.

The Pirates arrived at Carmichael Ford Stadium having lost in Cairns the previous night with the Heat trying to also respond after losing in Cairns to open the season.

After scores were level at quarter-time, Townsville had 23-17 in the second period to go into half-time up by six and then stretching that lead to 14 in the third frame and 19 in the fourth.

The Heat secured the 17-point victory from there with Peachey delivering 27 points and nine rebounds on 12/21 field goal shooting and despite going 0/5 from deep and 3/9 at the free-throw line.

Steven Richardson Jr added 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, Max Norton 12 points, three boards and two assists, Ethan Betts 12 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and Chris Kann nine points, three boards and two assists.

Oliver Amajoyi top-scored for South West Metro with 19 points, five rebounds and two steals with Brnadon Edwards contributing 15 points and six boards, Deng Mayot 11 points and five rebounds, and Louis De la Vourdelle Jones eight points, five boards and three assists.

Logan Thunder (93) defeated Brisbane Capitals (83)

Triple NBL champion Shaun Bruce had a huge triple-double as Zac Triplett and Cal Dalton both played starring roles as Logan Thunder handed the Brisbane Capitals a first loss with the 93-83 Anzac Day win.

Both teams have made strong starts to the 2026 season with Logan hammering the Gold Coast Rollers by 27 points last week while Brisbane beat the Southern Districts Spartans in a thrilling overtime Grand Final rematch, and backed it up at home on Friday beating the North Gold Coast Seahawks.

That set up the Anzac Day clash at Bendigo Bank Cornubia Park Sports Centre and the Thunder were on top most of the way including by 19 early in the third quarter.

The Caps fired back with an 18-2 run to get back within three, but Logan pulled away again on the way to the eventual 10-point victory.

Logan are now 2-0 to start the season and Shaun Bruce has come back to the Thunder in 2026 and preparing for a new NBL home for the upcoming season a man on a mission.

He produced a monster triple-double made up of 22 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds while playing all but 1:10 of the game.

Zac Triplett is his back court partner and delivered 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists while fresh off being an injury replacement player at the Bullets again in NBL26, Cal Dalton provided 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Hunter Marks added 10 points, six rebounds and two assists for Logan, and Tom Howard eight points and six boards.

Jarred Bairstow threatened a triple-double and finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists while Kai Woodfall continued his hot start to life with the Caps hitting another 3/7 from behind the arc for 15 points and four assists with 6/6 free-throw shooting.

Brendan Teys also delivered 13 points and six rebounds, Ben Volkman nine points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks, and Geordan Papacostas 11 points, six boards and three assists.

Mackay Meteors (96) lost to Southern Districts Spartans (104)

Tamuri Wigness was brilliant again with 36 points and 15 trips to the foul line to lead the defending champion Southern Districts Spartans to the 104-96 win over the Mackay Meteors.

The Spartans started their road double with a win in Rockhampton on Friday ahead of taking on the Meteors on Anzac Day at Mackay Basketball Staidum.

The Meteors were coming off a season-opening win over Rockhampton too and the home team was leading by a point at quarter-time before the Spartans had assumed a two-point lead by half-time.

It was then back to one by three quarter-time before both teams combined for 67 points in the last quarter with Southern Districts scoring 37 of those for the eight-point win to improve to 2-1 in their championship defence.

Wigness delivered another 36 points, four rebounds and three assists for the Spartans with 10/25 shooting from the floor, 2/8 from downtown and 14/15 at the free-throw line.

Cameron Thew added 21 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks, three assists and two steals, Max Kerle 12 points, five boards and two assists, Ben Hastings 10 points and five rebounds, and Marshall Wilson nine points, 14 boards and three assists.

Mackay are now 1-1 to start their season with Justin Ochaya delivering 25 points, three rebounds and three assists with 4/6 three-point shooting.

Kobey Sager added 21 points and eight rebounds, Elijah Gray 17 points and five boards, Jerron Jamerson 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Cameron Goldfinch 13 points, five rebounds and two assists.

SUNDAY

Gold Coast Rollers (97) defeated Ipswich Force (92)

It was a game of wild swings with the Gold Coast Rollers leading by 20 before being down five with three minutes to go and then taking charge of Ipswich Force once more for the dramatic 97-92 home win.

The stars all delivered too with James Whitt and Jensen Bradtke putting in big showings for Gold Coast as did Sam McDaniel and Lachlan Anderson for Ipswich, and it turned out to be quite the dramatic contest.

With Gold Coast leading by as much as 20 points in the first half and then 17 still in the third quarter, the home team appeared in control until Anderson caught fire in spectacular fashion.

He shot Ipswich to a five-point lead that they were still holding with three minutes remaining with them having all the momentum but Gold Coast responded to outscore them 13-3 the rest of the way to win by five.

Whitt had a stunning performance to lead Gold Coast to his first win with 36 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals on shooting 15/22 from the field.

Bradtke added 25 points, 11 rebounds and five assists for Gold Coast with Brodie McGregor adding 16 points, four boards and two assists.

Boston Mazlin also had 13 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

Ipswich are now 1-1 to start the season unable to quite back up their first up win over the South West Metro Pirates despite the best efforts of Lachlan Anderson with 37 points including 17 in the fourth quarter.

He shot 8/19 from three-point range and 9/11 at the foul line to go with six rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots.

Sam McDaniel also had 19 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Force, Alec Godinet 12 points, Will Mahoney 11 points and three rebounds, and Merrick Small eight points and 13 boards.