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EVERYONE in the 'Gong knows it and finally it appears Hawks coach Justin Tatum has cottoned on as well - Dan Grida is the perfect blueprint, the epitome of the type of player Illawarra needs to revisit any of its recent NBL success, as shown yet again in yesterday's upset road win over United in Melbourne.

After a comfortable first quarter where United skipped out to a 27-21 lead, Milton Doyle (16 points, 7 assists) and Makur Maker (23 points at 71 per cent, 6 rebounds) led a focused Illawarra second quarter which really caught fire when Grida, the Energizer Bunny in disguise, fanned it into flames.

Whether it was a steal, a dunk, a block, a scrappy skin-your-knees play, Grida epitomised the tone these wayward Hawks want to live by and Melbourne did not know what hit it.

Cole Anthony picked up his third foul with a mid-term technical as Illawarra laid out a 35-16 beating that had John Cain Arena in shock through the halftime break.

The tide only started to turn late in the third, despite both teams scoring 22 apiece but Melbourne was gaining traction and momentum.

Anthony (24 points, 3-of-5 threes, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) seized control and with solid support from Joe Ingles (15 points at 100 per cent, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) and Luke Travers (12 points, 7 rebounds), Melbourne fought steadily back into it.

Josh Oduro (16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) finally gave United the lead at 89-87 before a better Illawarra forward foray ended positively when Doyle passed the ball out high to Maker above the 3-point arc. He swished what would become the game-winning triple.

There still was time for Travers to twice miss open threes to steal the win and Anthony was unlucky to slip on a late United play, Melbourne - as it had against Adelaide - missing its chances to salvage a win from these hot Hawks.

What a match New Zealand and Tasmania fought out in Hobart before Taran Armstrong, with a career-high 32 points, secured a 98-92 win.

He had strong and tangible support from Olympian centre Will Magnay (11 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal and a block), Dakota Mathias (17 points, 5-of-9 threes) and David Johnson (20 points) as the JackJumpers were finally able to break free of the Breakers.

Sam Mennenga typically led the NZ assault, compiling another 36-point haul on a devastating 15-of-19 shooting, plus 11 rebounds.

His partner in prime-time again was Carlin Davison who delivered 17 points, including 2-of-2 triples and a further 11 assists in another awesome personal performance.

New face Nelson Weidemann fouled out in 16:24 but still connected on 2-of-3 threes as this game went to the wire, Breakers coach Gordon Herbert with probably a legitimate reason to feel some angst about the officiating crew.

Round 4 Results, Sunday

Tasmania JackJumpers 98 (Armstrong 32, Johnson 20, Mathias 17, Magnay 11; Magnay 8 rebs; Magnay 6 assts) d New Zealand Breakers 92 (Mennenga 36, King 18, Davison 17; Mennenga 11 rebs; Davison 11 assts) at MyState Bank Arena.

Illawarra Hawks 91 (Maker 23, Doyle 16, Martin 14, Froling 12; Maker, Froling 6 rebs; Doyle 7 assts) d Melbourne United 89 (Cole 24, Oduro 16, Ingles 15, Waardenburg 13, Travers 12; Oduro, Ingles, Travers 7 rebs; Anthony, Ingles 5 assts) at John Cain Arena.