Wundenberg showing warrior qualities all the way to 550

Featured image: Michael Farnell @sportsimageryau

He outlasted Aaron Ralph and three-time NBL1 West championship winning Geraldton Buccaneers legend Mat Wundenberg is about to reach 550 games and rather than limping to the mark, is doing so playing more than he has in the 40-minute era.

Wundenberg first took the court for the Buccaneers in the 2004 SBL season and he now has teammates in the 2026 NBL1 West season like Denbi Horstman, Jarrad Mongoo, Levi Owen, Kelvin Yokwe, Max De San Miguel, Riley Fong and Toby Gerreyn not even born yet.

That's not designed to make him feel old, but rather to highlight what a remarkable warrior, leader and team man the 43-year-old continues to be for the Buccaneers.

It took him 10 years to play in a first Grand Final, 15 years to win a championship and now he has three rings to his credit including being the captain of the 2019 triumph.

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Now with 550 games on the horizon which will happen this Sunday on the road to East Perth provided his body allows him to play this weekend's double, he is playing as crucial a role as he ever has with the Buccs.

Coming off last year's championship triumph, Wundenberg along with new captain and fellow triple championship winner Liam Hunt have had to hold down the front court while awaiting the arrival of Joshua Keyes and Cooper Creek.

While Wundenberg's body might not agree and it's going to be touch and go if he's able to play both road games this weekend against Willetton and East Perth, he has enjoyed already having nearly played as many minutes in five games as he did in all of 2025.

"The body's definitely not liking it and to put it into perspective, other than being injured last year with a couple of quads, I didn’t miss a training so I was fit and ready to play," Wundenberg said.

"Then this year with the games, I'm doing about one in every three trainings at the moment and the body's not liking it.

"But in terms of the passion and competitive side of being out there, I love being out there and have had some great battles just this year which I've missed having the past few years when I've been playing limited minutes.

"That comes with having such a stud centre that we have with Liam Hunt and backing him up is an honour and I'm always there for him if he needs a rest or is in foul trouble or anything. I'm just enjoying it and it's being fun even if my body's telling me something different."

Reaching 550-game milestone

Whether Wundenberg does end up reaching the milestone this weekend or it has to wait until back at home against the South West Slammers next Saturday, it is a moment he's rightfully proud of.

The only other man to do it is Seb Salinas who continues to also be playing a key role on an Eastern Suns team that is currently 6-1 and the two men's careers have run parallel.

Salinas is now on 555 games with Wundenberg about to join him getting to 550.

For the Buccs big man, it's just a chance to appreciate the journey and the dedication he's shown to get there, and everything the club has given back to him in return.

"I think it's just evidence of how much I really do love the sport and I love playing basketball, and I love playing for the Buccaneers," Wundenberg said.

"It's just part of my life and part of my routine, and if it's not during the season it's the off-season, and I'm preparing for it. My days are definitely numbered at the moment and the end's in sight but I just still enjoy being around our teammates and our club, and it's just been such a big part of my life.

"I just keep getting drawn back into it and enjoy the challenges that come with it, and obviously have enjoyed some success which helps too. You ride the highs and lows, but of late we seem to be riding a few more highs to that keeps you coming back and those moments are why you want to keep playing."

Getting to share court with Liam

With the Buccaneers waiting for their troops to arrive for 2026, not only has Wundenberg had to play nearly 28 minutes a game including 34 last Saturday night against Jock Perry, old teammate Ryan Blanchett and the Mandurah Magic, but it's led to an unexpected highlight.

Once Liam Hunt arrived back in 2018 to carry on the legacy of his father Dan with the Buccs, they have virtually split the five position and spent precious little time together on the floor.

That's changed over the opening five games of 2026 and Wundenberg has loved every bit of it too with Hunt stepping further up with career-best numbers of 25.0 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 steals.

"It's just a credit to his mindset and the way he goes about it with the focus that he has to anything he can for the team," Wundenberg said.

"He's obviously now been rewarded for that with the captaincy and his focus is dialled in even more. He has the same mindset that I do where we have been coming into games this year undermanned and he takes that on, and it provides that extra motivation to step up and enjoy the challenge.

"It has been fun to actually share the court together because we've never really been on the same team at training either and we've always been battling against each other.

"So it has been enjoyable to be out there with him and he's obviously a great facilitator from the post as well and he's been hitting some outside shots so it's been really enjoyable to have this opportunity to play together.

"We've got some reinforcements that aren’t far away now so we'll go back to business as usual, but it's been a lot of fun the past few weeks."

First season without Ralph

Wundenberg did have a glimpse into what it would be like playing without Aaron Ralph back in 2022 when he was recovering from a ruptured ACL, even though his best mate was part of the coaching staff for that Grand Final making season.

Now Ralph has officially entered retirement following his 481-game career where he shared all three championships with Wundenberg including the last two as captain, is the league's all-time three-point leader and perhaps the best trash talker too.

So this season has taken some adjusting to for Wundenberg without Ralph, but he also is realistic to know it's not going to last too long.

"It's definitely different that's for sure and I really felt that on our first road trip," Wundenberg said.

"We had quite a few players missing and I did find myself sitting at the back of the bus looking around at some of these guys well truly half my age.

"Every Sunday morning on those road trips we always used to go and have a coffee together and have a debrief, and usually pass on some advice to the umpires to each other from the previous night so I definitely miss all that sort of banter.

"I'm sure we'll be able to spend a lot more time together again shortly because the end isn’t far away for me either but it's definitely different without having him there even though he has popped in a few times.

"He's always going to be a Buccaneer for life and we still see each other outside of basketball obviously, but it has taken some adjusting to get used to not having him around the club. He's enjoying his post-basketball life now, though, and I'm sure I'll be doing the same pretty soon too."

Finally breaking through for success

For most of Wundenberg's career the Buccaneers have been championship contenders, or at least finals bound teams, but it did take a long time to break through for success.

After making his debut in 2004, he wasn’t part of a Grand Final until 2014 where they lost to the Adam Forde-coached East Perth Eagles that featured Tom Jervis, Drew Williamson, Sunday Dech, Kyle Armour, Mathiang Muo and Wundenberg's 2019 championship teammate Brendan Dinardo.

But even with the Buccs continuing to contend in the years after that, it was only when Dayle Joseph took over as coach that they took that leap to championship glory in the last ever SBL season in 2019 with Wundenberg captain.

They have now made three Grand Finals in the past four NBL1 seasons for championships in 2023 and 2025, and it's all just part of the journey now as Wundenberg reflects.

"That first one in 2019 was such a relief when we won because for so many years leading into that we were always nipping at the heels and we were there abouts, but just couldn't quite get over that hump," Wundenberg said.

"There's a few factors for that and looking back on, we probably didn’t dial in as well as what we have over the last six or seven years. That probably goes for the whole league as well with how far the professionalism and culture and training has improved right across the board.

"I'm sure Seb (Salinas) can understand the same thing looking back to when we started more than 20 years ago to now, it's a professional league in so many ways just with a semi-professional title.

"If you're not locked in and dialled in Monday to Sunday with scout, film and all that, you're not going to be successful and that's the big difference between now and then.

"It was a relief to win 2019 and when you look back to the one we lost in 2014, we just got beaten by a red-hot East Perth.

"I remember coming into that Grand Final and they were playing zone against everyone, and we were banking on them doing the same and had the game plan for it, but they changed it up and credit to them and they had a great different game plan. But luckily enough we've had some more successful nights since then."

Sharing a milestone with special people

The longer Wundenberg plays, the more appreciative he is for all the people he has shared the journey with along the way.

Whether it's long-time teammates, his coaches or other staff members and volunteers, there's something special about the Buccs and Wundenberg is proud to have shared so much with so many over 22 years.

"It also puts into perspective the people that have been there with you during the journey like our physio Brendon Jones," Wundenberg said.

"He was there already well and truly before I started and he's still our physio, and he lives and breathes it, and is part of us. Then there's the coaches and everyone else, Ralphy, Liam and the guys that have been there for such a long time along the journey.

"Past coaches Ray Evans and Mark Heron were a big influence and I loved playing for them, and now obviously Pinga (Dayle Joseph) has been a big reason why we've had the success we have.

"Even someone like our old team manager, Bert (Joseph Bertolini), he still rings us up and tells us how bad we are and what he would have done if he was coach but we keep in touch with him even though he's moved to Bunbury.

"Aaron Ducas has been there the whole time as well so as everyone sees from the outside looking in, it is a big family club and that's exactly what it is.

"We're all mates, we're all friends and we all socialise together and as we've gotten older, our kids play together and all that sort of stuff."

Also now having a young family

The best part for Wundenberg the longer he keeps playing is that his daughter with long-time partner Lauren is getting to an age where she can enjoy seeing her dad out there on a court.

Not only that, but the six-year-old has now turned into shoe decorator and as much as Wundenberg will always appreciate his teammates, coaches and everyone associated with the Buccs, they'll always take second spot to Lauren and Banksy.

"We've got a little girl who's just turned six and if you ever see me play, my shoes are always decorated by her," Wundenberg said.

"Over the last two years I buy a pretty bland pair of shoes and give her the textas and she goes her hardest, and we're up to about pair four now of custom designed shoes courtesy of her.

"She loves to see me wearing them and I'll keep all those pairs so we'll always be able to cherish that little memory together.

"She's always the first one to run out on the court once the whistle goes and is straight out there, and she's in a routine now along with her mum.

"They know that when we're at home on a Saturday dad gets to go and have his nap between two and three, and she gets ready for the game with Lauren.

"Then when we're away they have a movie night and watch the game on TV together so it's something we'll all be able to remember once I stop playing.

"Lauren has been along for the whole journey with me and taking care of Banksy to allow me to continue my passion of playing with the Buccs so I'll forever be thankful to her for everything she's done."