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SUNDAY's NBL game in Adelaide was emotional for a number of reasons, but who outside the Wildcats had any inkling The Buccaneer was heading off on the High Seas?

Brad Robbins hung up his boots, his bandana and his broad-sword in the wake of Sunday's overtime Cattalini Cup win over Perth's arch rivals, those scurvy knaves known as the 36ers.

Despite being just 27, The Buccaneer has been the victim of a string of debilitating injuries that finally ground him to a halt.

"Deciding to retire was a long process, a process of elimination - it wasn't a thing where I woke up one morning and decided. It was something thought out and planned and in the end I've made the decision and I'm happy that I have made it," Robbo said.

"I'm very, very sad to leave the club and to leave my teammates, and that's something that I will miss very much. But I'll look forward to the new path that I take in my life."

Whether that is piracy on the seven seas or a return to uni remains to be seen. I'm thinking the latter is probably more likely.

"He sent me a message late on Friday saying I need to meet with you," Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge said. "He told me: 'Last night was it. I can't do it anymore. I just know.'

"He's just had so much done with his body that it has been a struggle for him, day-in, day-out."

HAVING just beaten Wollongong in front of a fourth straight 11,000-plus crowd, Perth's troops were hardly expecting the revelation Robbins made in Adelaide on Saturday over the team dinner.

"He told the players this is how it is, tomorrow is my last game," Bevo said.

"The players were extremely emotional and upset.

"He is one of the greatest leaders I've ever been involved with. If you were going to war, the first person you'd want with you is Brad Robbins. He sticks up for what he believes in."

Beveridge said the Wildcats had no business getting out of jail in Adelaide.

"We should not have won that game," he said. "Afterwards in the changerooms it was as if someone had died, players were crying and very emotional."

Later at seaside Glenelg, it became more of a team celebration of Robbins' exploits, which include winning the 2009-10 NBL championship.

THAT sure was a week-and-a-half, wasn't it?

The 36ers cut an import they've never even used, the Wildcats played an import they'd never even seen, a coach bags an opposition hero, officials call 62 fouls in a game and an Olympic coach has her team humbled by 46 points.

No, not your average NBL/WNBL week.

So CJ Massingale is gone before he has even had a chance and Michael Dunigan comes up trumps as Perth pulls away from Wollongong in front of - yes - a fourth consecutive 11,000-plus crowd at Perth Arena.

"Mate," Perth and Adelaide legend Martin Cattalini started, "I was there for that first Perth-Adelaide game and the atmosphere was unbelievable.

"It would be unbelievable in there with that many people if it was for a game of marbles."

CATTALINI, The Cat who won four NBL crowns, two with Perth and, in between, two with Adelaide - not to mention two Olympics and a league MVP runner-up stint while at Cairns - was at Adelaide Arena on Sunday to present the Cattalini Cup.

The 36ers and Wildcats annually pick one of their iiNet Championship fixtures to stage the game, which also carries with it the Paul Rogers Medal for match MVP.

(Yes, Rogey also played with both clubs.)

Cat was effusive about the new Perth Arena. But four 11,000-plus crowds takes you back to Brisbane's golden years at Boondall.

The question now for the Wildcats is who will replace Robbins, and with a break after Friday's game with Wollongong until the December 30 clash with Sydney, Perth is in no great rush.

Bevo said names such as Rhys Carter, CJ Massingale, Luke Cooper and Daniel Dillon would come under consideration - Massingale though rated as a 10-point player under the system, which would mean a re-rating requirement which, frankly, I cannot see the NBL doing in-season.

You know how it gets about precedents.

CORIN Henry snared his second Player of the Week accolade with his 29 points, five boards, three dishes in the comfortable win over New Zealand, who slumped back into their former Wind-Breaker ways.

King Henry had 14 points in the last quarter, including three big triples in his 5-of-9.

Cedric Jackson should be searching the schedule for the re-match. He lost this one badly.

PAT Reidy has been elevated to General Manager of the Crocs, succeeding Ian Smythe in the job of rebuilding the north Queensland franchise.

An Olympian, dual club MVP and a member of Townsville's historic 20-year anniversary team, Reidy is unsure whether to give up his previous role giving Rip Van Allen daily wake-up calls.

 

REVIEWS

Flames v Capitals (W)

SO you see what I meant about "it's hard to have any faith in Sydney"?

I mean, seriously. Did anyone on Planet Earth expect them to beat Canberra by 46 points?

April Sykes going off for 29 points on 11-of-13 shooting?

That is super economical and super deadly.

Right now, if I am Canberra, with the Olympic coach and a 50-96 humiliation, I am starting to think not having LJ isn't the problem. Scoring 14-10-10-16. Really?

Wildcats v Hawks (M)

ONE of the best games of the year, despite its raggedy first half, the Wildcats finally made it an unlucky 13 straight losses in Perth for Wollongong with an 80-68 win much closer than that final line suggests.

Wollongong had 7 points in the first quarter?

"Seven?" someone in Cairns just blurted. "Wow. That's not very good.''

Right. It wasn't. But what you like about Hawks coach Gordie McLeod is he doesn't seem to get flustered and so, neither does his team.

There was big shot after big shot going down the straight, with Lance Hurdle giving Wollongong the lead, before Perth finished over the top.

Michael Dunigan made an impressive debut with 19 points at 73 per cent, and extremely loud shoes which even made Lucas Walker want to put on his shades.

Fire v Thunder (W)

TOWNSVILLE brought its record up to 6-6 as predicted but it was a catfight before it held out Logan 85-72.

It was a must-win for both teams if they were to be in any way involved at the season's business end and precious little in it until the second half when Townsville began to edge away.

Olivia Thompson and Micaela Cocks bobbed up to lead an even spread of Fire-fighters, Natalie Taylor leading Logan with 18 points but on a telling 7-of-21 shooting.

Kings v Breakers (M)

GOT it wrong with this one but not sure I was in a minority as Sydney again was better-than-advertised, smacking New Zealand 85-72.

The champs were held to 11 first-quarter points against Sydney's D, to be 13 down already at the first break.

En route to 29 points, Corin Henry was magnificent, making Cedric Jackson look like a novice.

The Breakers lost Will Hudson to concussion after just over seven minutes of action but it was only CJ Bruton who looked sharp offensively.

Credit the Kings for making New Zealand look disorganised and disinterested but good luck next season convincing corporate Sydney to move out and support the club at Homebush-league.

Boomers v Waves (W)

BULLEEN pulled away for a comfortable 73-52 win over West Coast which suffered a further blow with Deanna Smith, returning from injury, getting hurt again.

Tess Madgen had 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting, seven boards and five assists as the Boomers started to regain a little of their swagger.

The Waves had no-one in double-digits, their 21 second-half points a harbinger of things to come.

Always wanted to use the word "harbinger''. Thank you to West Coast, as an organisation, for making this happen.

Crocodiles v Tigers (M)

MELBOURNE had this thing won but Tommy Greer went from hero to zero in no time flat after giving the Tigers the lead 84-82.

Called for a foul on Peter Crawford's three-point bomb, he had to watch idly as PC converted all three shots to snatch the lead.

Gary Ervin then stole the ball from Johnny Flynn and an 85-84 win was preserved.

Tigers coach Chris Anstey subsequently publicly labelled Crawford a "flopper'' which he was less than chuffed about.

"You watch film for weeks and weeks and you know that when (Crawford) shoots contested shots he falls over and hopes the referees give him a foul. That's weak, that's a game winner," Anstey said.

Ouch.

"I feel it's just fair that I should be given the same respect as I give to all the rest of the guys that I guard," Crawford said.

That said, Townsville is now on a "streak''. Yes, at 2-0, it's official.

Lightning v Waves (W)

HELD to 5 points in the first quarter - "really?'' someone in Cairns just tweeted - West Coast had no chance of troubling Adelaide at home.

Although, in fairness, the Waves almost doubled that tally with nine second-period points for a 14-40 halftime deficit.

Thought I heard Kennedy Kereama saying a few loud words during the interval but I could be wrong. I was at the other end of the stadium.

Batgirl was brilliant, a bunch of players logged double-digits and the 85-48 win also showcased some nice Steph Talbot minutes. If only the kid could shoot.

36ers v Wildcats (M)

PERTH made the Cattalini Cup a 1-1 affair when it came from seven down with 70 seconds left to win by six.

OK. There was the small matter of overtime in between but at 76-69 Adelaide really did look home.

Adam Gibson had led from the front, DJ picked up after an indolent start and Mitch Creek was inspirational whenever he was on.

The officiating (for both clubs) was just mind-boggling with 62 fouls called and 79 free throws shot - many of them all over the place.

The Sixers missed 16, which proved telling as Kevin Lisch - well held by Gibbo until the star Sixer fouled out - went crazy in the last quarter and overtime.

Greg Hire hit one monster three and Lisch the other to force overtime at 77-77.

When Lisch hit another early in the extension, the Cup was heading to Perth, Lisch wearing the Paul Rogers Medal.

Spirit v Rangers (W)

PHEW. Backed Bendigo and got the win, 79-72, in a match many are suggesting was the 2012-13 Grand Final preview.

Kristi Harrower (20 points, seven assists) led from the front in a tenacious duel with Kathleen MacLeod (18 points, six assists) - Opals past and Opals future going head-to-head.

Gab Richards (19 and 9) also was a big keyway presence.

I conceded weeks ago Bendigo is for real so don't go shaking your head at me.

BEEF of the WEEK

OK. I regularly bang on about the officiating here and I still think the game needs to be cleaned up. You don't want to feel you are going to the wrestling, hoping a basketball game breaks out.

So as ugly as it was to see 79 free throws shot and 62 fouls called in the Perth-Adelaide game on Sunday, if that's what it takes to cut back the holding, mugging and illegal off-the-ball shite which masquerades as defence these days, then "bravo" is all I can say.

We are going to see a lot of free throws taken until the teams adjust but if that's what it takes, I am happy to wait in the minority until the game is back to the spectacle it should be.

But I am expecting a long wait because in all likelihood, the officials have already been told Sunday's style of umpiring is NOT what the NBL wants to see.

The Big Winners/Losers

SYDNEY was the NBL's biggest winner this round, not just beating New Zealand but reducing the reigning champs to also-rans, Corin Henry leading the way.

Melbourne was the biggest loser, not only letting one slip in Townsville (remember the Tigers beat the Crocs by 25 just a few weeks back) but then lacking some graciousness in the wash-up. Talk is cheap.

BENDIGO did it again, showing they are not just the week's biggest WNBL winner but maybe the off-season's as well, putting away reigning champion Dandenong in yet another excellent performance.

It's back-to-back biggest loser awards to Canberra, now two games out of the top four and suffering a massive 46-point loss to a Sydney outfit which was trying to stay out of last place!

PS

ADELAIDE 36ers icon Brett Maher, who before the NBL season tipped-off said the 2012-13 line-up was the best Adelaide team since the 1998-99 champion, has amended that again to 1981 Forestville.