AARON Fearne has experienced a lot of firsts recently after moving to Toronto to mentor Bamaga behemoth Nathan Jawai through his first year in the NBA.

But Saturday's first was a surreal experience for the former Taipans player and assistant coach who sat in the crowd as a spectator for the first time at a Cairns NBL match.

See Cairns Taipans on-court action.

While Aaron Grabau is the sole foundation player left at the Taipans as they celebrate their 10th season, Fearne has also been involved with the club since day one.

Initially a development player, Fearne soon earnt promotion to the Snakes' top squad and after two seasons on court, joined Guy Molloy as a junior assistant coach, winning promotion to first assistant after John Dorge's departure at the end of the 2005 season.

See Taipans entertainment gallery. 

Fearne returned from Canada on Saturday afternoon and just hours later joined wife Amy and children Tyler, 6, and Jasmine, 4, in a courtside box at the convention centre to watch the Snakes' match against Perth.

"That's definitely the first time I've ever sat there in a Cairns Taipans crowd as a spectator," said Fearne, who will leave for Toronto again, this time with his family in tow, next month.

"It was a weird feeling because I've obviously coached a lot of those guys and been with that coaching staff for a long period of time."

Fearne's presence in Canada has been a boon for Jawai, who has not yet hit the court in the NBA because of an irregularity picked up in pre-season cardiac testing by his club, the Toronto Raptors.

"It's obviously been great to have company both ways - for me and for him," said Fearne, who also accompanied Jawai to the US earlier this year in preparation for the NBA draft. "He's definitely more comfortable with someone he knows really well and from his hometown with this hiccup.

"It's been great for him to talk to someone about it.

"He's really looking forward to getting back on the court when he can."

The Fearnes head to Toronto on December 7 before travelling to Winona, Minnesota - Amy Fearne's hometown - for Christmas.

While his wife and kids will be based in Winona, Fearne will remain in Toronto with Jawai, commuting to the US to be with his family when the Raptors are on the road.

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