Basketball On The Internet.

IT is an argument worthy of the debate likely to come from Geelong Supercat supporters that the defunct Townsville Crocodiles - initially the Suns - remain the best NBL club never to have won a championship before its untimely demise. The ultimate vision of inaugural coach Mark Bragg may stay unfulfilled but what a journey.

The club produced league MVPs, enjoyed the tenures of some of the nation's top coaches and had a list of high watermarks from Day One, some of which you can savour here. 

But trust this. The club's 40th Reunion on Saturday, October 17 at the Barrier Reef Room of the Ville Resort and Casino is one not to miss if you were ever associated with the Crocs/Suns. Hit this link for further details before you dive into this club's rich 24-season NBL history.

The "Firsts"

Lucas Agrams scored the first ever points for Townsville in the NBL from the free-throw line and Graham Kubank scored the first field goal after that, typically a 3-pointer. Lithuanian import Rimas Kurtinaitis scored the first basket at home.

League MVPs

The Crocodiles produced three NBL Most Valuable Players as different in character and ability as it might be possible. The first was the silky-smooth, multi-faceted import Robert Rose in 2001. The 196cm athlete averaged 21.8 points, 6.0 assists and 7.7 rebounds as he steered Townsville into its milestone NBL Grand Final Series. That's Robert pictured below after - if memory serves me correctly - Crocs' forward Shane Froling in a preseason fixture against Adelaide, tried to convince him he was wearing the wrong threads. Gives a whole new meaning to "shredded"... 

In 2010, the late great Corey "Homicide" Williams was instrumental in the Crocs reaching the semi finals, claiming the NBL MVP award along the way. Corey averaged 18.6 points at 51 per cent, 5.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists and was an inspirational, dynamic guard. His shooting percentage was excellent considering his jumpshot and long range could best be described as erratic. But with his speed and ball skills, he consistently could get to the hoop. Listed at 191cm, he was closer to six foot than 6-3, though in truth he was larger than life.

Townsville's 200cm import "big" Brian Conklin was the toast of the NBL in 2015 when he delivered 18.9 points per game at 51 per cent, and 6.4 rebounds to claim the MVP trophy. Involved in two ugly incidents during the following season, his tenure at the club was cut short and unfortunately, his time as a Crocodile did not end amicably. At his best, he was a solid servant of the Townsville program during a time when it was experiencing some off-court difficulties.

Cl​ub Captains

Graham Kubank was the club's inaugural captain in 1993 and again in 1994.
Derek Rucker 1995-1998
Robert Rose 1999-2005
John Rillie 2006-2009
Russell Hinder 2010-2014 (*Michael Cedar co-captain in 2012)
Brian Conklin 2015
Mitch Norton 2016

Club Coaches

Mark Bragg 1993-1998 The driving force behind the program
Ian Stacker 1999-2006 Took the team to the Final
Trevor Gleeson 2007-2011 On his way to a record career
Paul Woolpert 2012, 2013 The American influence
Shawn Dennis 2014-2016 Won the Loggins-Bruton Blitz Cup

Club MVPs (Kevin Sugars Medal)

1993 Ricky Jones
1994 Darryl Johnson
1995 Derek Rucker
1996 Clarence Tyson
1997 Derek Rucker
1998 Derek Rucker
1999 Robert Rose
2000 Sam Mackinnon & Robert Rose
2001 Robert Rose
2002 Robert Rose
2003 Pat Reidy & Wayne Turner
2004 Pat Reidy
2005 John Rillie
2006 Larry Abney
2007 Larry Abney & John Rillie
2008 John Rillie
2009 Corey Williams
2010 Corey Williams
2011 Luke Schenscher         2012 Peter Crawford         2013 Gary Ervin
2014 Brian Conklin              2015 Brian Conklin            2016 Jordair Jett

The Final

While the Crocs regularly produced ultra-competitive teams, they only once reached the NBL Championship Series, facing the Illawarra (at the time, Wollongong) Hawks in the 2001 Best-of-Three Grand Final. Townsville matched its finest single regular season result of the 2000 season, again going 22-6 to finish second on the ladder. The Crocodiles dismissed Sydney Kings 2-1 in the quarter finals, dropping Game 1 109-127 before winning Game 2 121-113 and moving into the semi finals with a 122-114 Game 3 win. There they dropped Game 1 to the regular season champion Victoria Titans 97-106. Townsville bounced back to win Game 2 98-82 and moved to the Grand Final behind a 101-97 thriller. The NBL's first all-regional title playoff started with the Hawks winning 104-101, the Crocs taking Game 2 114-97. The decider was a nail-biter, Wollongong prevailing 97-94. As he often did in the biggest of games, Robert Rose led the Crocs with 30 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. He had able support from Mike Kelly, Pat Reidy, Andrew Goodwin, Brad Davidson, Peter Crawford, David Pennisi and replacement import David Hinton. (Severe bone bruising ended Sam Mackinnon’s season at 16 games, his team losing his 17.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks. It resulted in the decision to replace original import Dujuan Wiley (7.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) with Hinton. Coach Ian Stacker, along with Townsville fans, long will wonder what might have been had Slammin' Sammy been fit to play. 

The Shot

During that memorable and epic 2001 season, Robert Rose delivered "the Shot" - a basket so tough, so masterful and yet so sublime that the MVP would be one of the very few who could do it. No, it wasn't one of his soaring-over-a-pack tip-dunks but in Round 23, having just grabbed the lead from the Kings at the Sydney Superdome, Crocs fans hearts fell as Shane Heel hit a long three to tie it 123-123 with five seconds left. In much the same manner Tasmania's Jack McVeigh struck his bomb to beat Melbourne United in a Grand Final, Rose snatched the inbounds pass and in full whirling dervish mode, singlemindedly drove down the court, pulled up outside the 3-point line and sank the game-winning bomb for a 126-123 victory, the shot serenaded by the siren. Rose was the blueprint, finest example and epitome of the professional player, virtually unbeatable while he had air in his lungs.

The Silverware

Townsville did not complete its 24-season NBL life without claiming its own slice of history. Leroy Loggins and Calvin Bruton were two of the pioneering import forces in the NBL. Both would win championships, naturalise, play for Australia and forever be considered league legends. The Loggins-Bruton Cup is now the trophy awarded to the team winning the annual Preseason Blitz Tournament. In 2014, with all of the NBL teams gathered in Brisbane, Townsville first upset the newly-minted Melbourne United (controversially renamed from Melbourne Tigers) after trailing by 19 at halftime. It then slapped New Zealand 91-64. The Breakers had iced Adelaide 36ers 96-84 while United pummelled Sydney Kings 96-58. The Loggins-Bruton Cup was coming to Townsville as preseason and Blitz champions. Shawn Dennis' exciting Crocs also provided the Blitz with its Ray Borner Medallist as the Blitz's MVP. New 211cm import centre Mickell Gladness was stumped when he realised he won the preseason's highest individual honour.

The "Almost" Team

In the previous 2013-14 NBL season, Townsville became the first (and still the only) club to finish in last place, yet retain the unique distinction of having beaten every team above it! The Crocodiles beat everyone, winning 10 of their 28 matches. They additionally lost eight games by seven points or less, going down by 3, 7, 6, 1, 5, 7, 2 and 4 points. Lady Luck seriously deserted them. Had they won just half of those games to go 14-14, they would have been playing in the finals. It was those Hawks who instead snuck into fourth and the finals with a 13-15 win-loss record! Aaaargh!!

The Prodigy

Crocodile and Suns fans already know it but any reader of this revisit to Townsville's storied history would surely already be impressed with the number of superstars and super players who donned the gold, green or blue jersey during the club's 24-season run. But for all the Ray Owes and Rimas Kurtinaitis' who had fans cheering, few stood out like The Prodigy. The son of an SA superstar and early NBL pivot, Arthur, and his wife Janelle, a former Queensland state player from Townsville, when Brad Newley hit the hardwood in Townsville colours, friend and foe alike were mesmerised. Having grown up supporting the Adelaide 36ers, it was where most expected him to land after attending the AIS in Canberra. However, Crocs coach Ian Stacker had other plans for the 196cm slasher. Playing for AIS in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL), averaging 17.1 points, 3.9 rebounds in 2003, then 24.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 2004, Newley not only earned All-East Conference First Team selection but also won the East Men's Australian Under-23 Youth Player of the Year award. With roots in Townsville as well as Adelaide, Newley chose The Swamp as his first NBL home and in his first season, played 35 games and averaged 16.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Those numbers and his dynamic style won the 19-year-old not only the NBL's Rookie of the Year award but also its Best Sixth Man as he was coming in off the bench. Selected for Australia against the World (comprised of the best imports) in the once annual All Star Game - staged coincidentally in Townsville - Newley threw down four dunks and swished five 3-pointers. He not only was en route to a match and career high 35 points, he also dished seven assists and rightly was handed the All Star Game's Most Valuable Player trophy. Europe, the Olympics, then back to the NBL, a memorable career followed but little can top the impact he made in that 2004-05 season. "He's the best guy to come into the league since I've been in it," World All Stars coach Brian Goorjian said after the match.  

The Controversy

Like any club, Townsville had its share of controversies across its NBL journey.

But our favourite here was when the popular T-shirt cannon the Crocodiles utilised to fire them into the crowd for years actually was confiscated by the police after it was suddenly classified as "a weapon".

The Croc truly was a magnificent mascot who set the bar for mascots across the league with his antics and humour.

He was #1 and the template for the Lion King in Sydney and Joe Blake in Cairns, two of the more notable club mascots.

For a long time, the mascot was not only a feature of Townsville's home games but a major highlight of a night at the basketball. Little did he realise how beloved he was across the NBL world. 

The Fans

The best fans in the NBL? The argument in favour stands up today, on the back of 69 consecutive sell-outs at The Swamp. Loud, passionate, forever faithful and committed to their team, the Croc Nation saw its fair share of great players over the journey and some very fine basketball teams. On-court the Suns of inaugural coach and club architect Mark Bragg always played with heart, intensity and desire, immediately winning over the legion of Townsville fans. They learnt early how to roar and motivate their on-court heroes. Since the NBL's first tip-off in 1979, few fanbases have stayed as loyal, vocal and committed. Best fans ever? The benchmark, at the very least. 

Now get along to the Barrier Reef Room for the Townsville Suns/Crocs Reunion on October 17 at the Ville Resort and Casino. It's one not to miss because you know it - the Crocodiles rock.

In Case you Missed them...

Sun to Shine on Crocs Again - Part 1

Sun to Shine on Crocs Again - Part 2