For the 2023 NBL Coach of The Year, Adam Forde, belief in the players has always been the foundation of the Cairns Taipans’ identity. But after a bruising month of losses, key injuries and narrow escapes, even that belief has been tested. Their gritty, fight to the end win over Tasmania didn’t just snap a losing streak, it offered short-term relief after weeks of frustration.

“We’ve been asking for grit and consistency, and the boys showed it,” Forde said post-game. “When adversity hits, guys going down, foul trouble, a tight rotation, you just have to dig down deep.”

Cairns’ 3 – 8 record doesn’t tell the full story. Rayne’s injury has stretched the roster thin, while returning stars Jack McVeigh and Marcus Lee are still finding rhythm coming off injuries. Despite that, Forde’s system remains clear. Play hard, stay connected and trust the process. The Taipans lead the league in opponent three-point percentage (28.2%) and rank second in attempts from deep (31.6 per game), but their challenge lies in converting hustle into consistent execution that can drive their offense into the tight defensive lineups they will continue to face.

“We know how we can be great,” Marcus Lee said. “The goal is to stack days, keep taking jumps each week. That’s what we’re going to try to do.”

That mentality of ‘stacking days’ has become Forde’s mantra since the previous season where the Taipans left with a lacklustre 8 – 21 record. The Taipans’ resilience showed in their willingness to outlast a physically dominant JackJumpers side despite shooting struggles and a minimal foul count.

“You can win or lose, but you’ve got to play hard,” Forde said. “It’s gritty, it’s tough, it’s physical, guys are sore, but that’s what it takes to win.”

The relief was palpable, yet the cracks remain. Cairns sit near the bottom in field-goal percentage (39.8 per cent) and defensive rating (119.0). High turnover rates are a given with Forde’s ‘up-tempo’ style of play but this necessary evil has weighed down on effective ball movement in turn relying on individual talent to do much of the heavy lifting. A flimsy offence with shoddy defence makes for a shiny glass cannon, except the cannon may just be for decoration.

That is unless the stars can step up their performances.

The McVeigh Conundrum

Much of that inconsistency traces back to Jack McVeigh, the star returnee whose leadership and scoring were expected to secure the side and bring back some much needed offensive firepower. Brought back from injury a week early, McVeigh embodies the Taipans’ fighting spirit. However, he has struggled to impose himself offensively and has been prone to lapses that stall Cairns’ ball movement.

Forde defended the early return, “Al being out brought Jack back probably a week earlier than expected”, yet even he admitted the need for sharper follow-through. The coach’s system relies on stars setting the tone, when McVeigh floats through possessions or settles for contested jumpers, the whole team begins to lose its edge. With McVeigh’s usage high but efficiency down, the Taipans’ offensive rhythm too often dies in isolation. Thus is the curse of relying too much on key players.

Forde put it bluntly, “No one needs to play outside themselves — just play your role.” The comment was meant collectively, but it still lands pointedly when one of the club’s highest-paid players hasn’t consistently done so. For Cairns to climb, their leader has to do more than symbolise grit, he has to manufacture it.

Can effort alone anchor a turnaround? Forde’s emotional leadership stands in contrast to more transactional coaches like Melbourne United’s Dean Vickerman, whose precision-first style has delivered sustained dominance transforming Melbourne into a defensive powerhouse. Forde’s approach is rooted in culture not control, that philosophy is both his superpower and his ultimate test.

Yet, the locker room hasn’t fractured. Forde’s post-game reflections reveal a coach who still believes in his players and more importantly whose players still believe in him.

“We haven’t won for a month,” he said. “Everyone hates losing. But they’ve now got an understanding of what it takes to win… you’ve got to put your big-boy pants on and go again” Forde said.

Cairns’ underdog DNA forged through years of triumph and heartbreak remains intact. While the standings don’t flatter them, the attitude does. The Taipans’ season may be a long way from revival but it’s no collapse either. Under Adam Forde, the fight isn’t finished until the season’s whistle blows.