Taipans sign up time
THE Cairns Taipans are starting to form the nucleus of a strong NBL team after securing rebound king and former championship winner Dusty Rychart.
The 30-year-old former US college star became an Australian citizen this month and will add a tough edge to the community-owned team.
Pictures: Cairns Taipans 2008-09
Rychart’s signing comes as compensation for the loss of Boomer Mark Worthington, who agreed to terms with the Snakes before reneging when the Melbourne Tigers agreed to play next season.
Rychart played with Wollongong last season and won a title with Brisbane in 2007.
The Taipans have held off making official announcements until they receive their playing licence from the NBL, but
Rychart has already confirmed he plans to play in Cairns for two seasons.
Joining him in the side will be Ian Crosswhite, who impressed in his role at centre last season. Crosswhite has agreed to a one-year deal but hopes to make a long-term move to Cairns.
Taipans coach Aaron Fearne has said Crosswhite has yet to reach his potential and the 26-year-old agreed.
"I think I’ll have a bigger role than I’ve ever had in a team in the NBL so I’m looking forward to that and obviously a lot of the hard work that will go into that," Crosswhite said.
"It’s about time I stepped up and showed my full potential. I’ve shown it, I just need to show it consistently."
Joining the pair will be Kerry Williams, while several other Taipans from last year’s roster are also believed to be ready to suit up.
The Taipans initially hoped to field an all-Australian line-up but are now looking to sign an import.
"Whoever it is they will definitely be pretty dynamic and have the responsibility of being a creator," Fearne said.
Former star guard Stephen Black is also a chance of playing next season.
Black quit the club last December following surgery on a chronic back injury. He has recently had some light training sessions with Fearne.
Limiting the Taipans’ ability to sign stars is a self-imposed salary cap of about $800,000.
Taipans general manager Mark Beecroft said he had been upfront about the club’s limited spending power.
"When you get into shopping wars with players obviously teams that spend up to the salary cap of $1 million have an
advantage so we might miss out on some players.
"But I think it’s important that through this process we’ve been upfront with agents and players that we can spend to what we can afford to spend and not more.
"Our philosophy now is 100 per cent effort."
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