Wolfpack proving perfect new home for Young

Featured image: Tyson Lumbaca | @ty.visuales

Not only has Taylor Young fully embraced his new NBL1 West home at Joondalup Wolves in 2026, but he's also feeling his old self again, playing the perfect role on a team of stars and couldn’t be more excited for Sunday's home preliminary final.

Going back 18 months and Young came into the 2025 NBL1 West season still captain at the East Perth Eagles and at that point he couldn’t see himself playing anywhere else in Australia where he's called home since first arriving in Queensland back in 2017.

However, a serious hamstring injury early last season led to a parting of ways that wasn’t entire pleasant between Young and the Eagles, and he was able to get back on the floor to help the Sutherland Sharks reach an NBL1 East preliminary final.

Coming back to Perth was always his desire, though, and that's where he wants to call home and then the Wolfpack were keen to snap him and lock him in as their point guard on a team that could use his leadership and ability to run the offence.

They retained Caleb Davis and CJ Turnage, also added the electric Sharif Black who finished second to Isaac White in MVP voting, and with some other handy role players around them, the Wolves put together a strong season under new coach Lucas Allen.

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The Wolves ended the regular season in third position at 16-6 before facing a big test on Saturday night in the qualifying final on the road to the Rockingham Flames.

Rockingham then were up 15 early in the fourth quarter but all of a sudden Joondalup went on a 14-0 run and ended up outscoring the Flames 22-3 to turn that deficit into the four-point lead, and eventual two-point victory.

Young was instrumental firstly in the first half to stop the game blowing out further and they then kickstarted that run in the last quarter with a couple of huge threes before finishing the night with 28 points and three assists with 5/6 shooting from the outside.

Now looking ahead to Sunday afternoon and whether the Wolves are taking on the Geraldton Buccaneers or Willetton Tigers in the preliminary final, Arena Joondalup is going to be packed and right behind their team in green.

Young loves his new teammates at the Wolfpack this year, but loves the fans and community at Joondalup perhaps even more so can't wait to get to play in front of them again on Sunday with a Grand Final spot at stake.

"Beyond excited, outside of playing with these guys, the fans here are so supportive," Young said.

"I get messages expressing gratitude and appreciation from them whether I’m playing well or like crap. Don’t get that most places.

"Saturday was a great example of that, I feel as if they took over the arena and helped push us over the top. So I can’t thank the Wolves fans enough for welcoming me and supporting me and the team throughout the season."

Looking back to remarkable Rockingham win

Things were certainly stacked against the Wolves on Saturday night in Rockingham especially with the Flames opening up a 16-point lead during the third quarter and then still being up 15 early in the fourth.

However, the Wolfpack always had a belief that even when down double figures, they were still doing plenty right and with how life they were making things for two-time MVP White, they just had to stay patient that their shots would start to fall.

That ended up happening for Joondalup with scoring 22 of the next 25 points of the game and they completed the 99-97 win to stun the Flames on their home floor and now let them sit back to await their preliminary final opponents with Geraldton and Willetton battling this Friday night.

"I felt the confidence from everyone on the bench and the road fans, were cheering the whole time. And we’ve shown the ability to come back before so. Just had to play defence," Young said.

"With this group, we are so close. From the main guys to the guys on the bench like Jarrod (Hodge) Ben Geel.

"So all though in the third when Rocko pushed the lead out I didn’t feel as if it was over, I believe in this group so much.

"Lucas and the coaching staff all play their roles Damian Barr is good at motivating me when I get in my own head, Ray calms me down when I’m getting overly frustrated (refs, myself etc) Shak points out what I’m doing well."

Building confidence to get back to best

After that injury last year and then Young working his way back with Sutherland of the NBL1 East and then having a pre-season ahead of the season with the Wolves, he always had confidence he could get back to his best.

It just took some time to get the full confidence back in his body and then the touch has come back the longer this season has gone along with finding his feet at a new club with a whole bunch of new teammates.

Now Young is right back to his best at the right time of the year and he gives all the credit to his teammates and coaching staff at the Wolves for the faith they have placed in him.

"I think it’s always been there, I was just trying to fit in and be the point guard and facilitator this team needs," Young said.

"Always been the type to do whatever the team needs to get the win, but guys like CJ and sharif, CD and Jordy have told me to be more aggressive in which will open it up for sharif CJ and CD to get more open looks.

"The main one was Lucas, after the Rocko game we had a chat. Which was really productive and helped me look myself in the mirror and fix some things mentally as well as my approach to games.

"Everyone has expressed confidence in me to be a big part of the team. Now it’s coming to fruition at the right time. Just have to continue to put in the work behind the scenes."

Star-studded team with no egos

Considering the reputations and what Young, Davis, Turnage and Black are all capable of, you could understand there might have been teething problems with them coming together in 2026 just in terms of them wanting to be able to shine.

However, at no stage has that been a problem and they have instead been able to shine as a unit and Young gives credit to not only those three, but captain Jordan Wellsteed along with Gabe Chadinha, Damon Ballantyne an Been Geel for their important contributions.

"Yeah I really do (like how they've come together), with this team there aren’t any egos," Young said.

"Everyone so supportive of each other, really skilled and contribute in a bunch of different ways. Practices are super competitive and detailed, coaches do a good job, it’s not just the same drills every week.

"And we all hold each other accountable. And it shows during games. Damon and Gabe coming off the bench, Ben Geel with their instant spark. We have a deep team and a lot of these guys would start or play bigger roles on other teams.

"There’s been games I’ve sat because Gabe was playing so well. And I’m happy for the guys. We all appreciate each other's success. Not a lot of teams have that."

Making most of playing finals basketball

Young hasn’t played a whole lot of finals basketball in his time in Australia that started back in Queensland with the Rockhampton Rockets, Gladstone Port City Power, Townsville Heat and South West Metro Pirates, or then in 2023 at East Perth.

He was part of the Eagles returning to finals action in 2024 and then helped Sutherland to the preliminary final in the NBL1 East in 2025, and now is to a preliminary finals with the Wolves this NBL1 West season.

He's loving playing at the business end of the season again.

"Yeah haven’t played in finals much over here in Australia," Young said.

"Been mostly winning in college and on a few teams I played in Europe. Last season was good for me let me see how you have to work, taking no plays off and leaving it all on the floor so there’s no regrets.

"So I thank Sutherland and everyone over there for allowing me to be a part of that."

What a difference 18 months makes

Young still has good memories and has good friends still back at East Perth where he was captain of until things turned sour when he got injured early in the 2025 season.

But he did get a chuckle out of Saturday night when he was playing such a big part of Joondalup winning into a home preliminary final and then the Eagles being eliminated at the same time by the Willetton Tigers.

"Yeah even when I left for Sutherland and we made the prelim, I was happy when they lost (last year) not gonna lie," Young said.

"Now it’s no bad blood, I’m still on good terms with Carl and Desi, but whenever I’m across from them in game, I want to take it to em and prove they made the wrong decision.

"So no bad blood but yes I’m glad I’m on a better team and doing well contributing while they are done for the season."