The Cairns Marlins are an Australian basketball team based in Cairns, Queensland. The Marlins compete in the men's NBL1 North and play their home games at Early Settler Stadium. The team is affiliated with Cairns Basketball Inc. (CBI), the major administrative basketball organisation in the region. CBI's women's team is the Cairns Dolphins.

Cairns Marlins
Cairns Marlins logo
LeagueNBL1 North
Founded1987
HistoryCairns Marlins
1987–present
ArenaTrinity Ford Stadium
Capacity730
LocationCairns, Queensland
Team colorsDeep sky blue, orange, white
     
PresidentMark Beecroft
General managerGraham Burns
OwnershipCairns Basketball Inc.
Affiliation(s)Cairns Taipans
Cairns Dolphins
Championships9 (1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2016)
WebsiteCairns Basketball

Team history

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Entry into the QBL

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After operating a successful basketball program in Cairns, Queensland, Cairns Basketball joined the Queensland State Basketball League in its second season in 1987.[1] They fielded two teams, the Cairns Marlins in the men's competition and the Cairns Dolphins in the women's competition.

Expansion to the NBL

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Between 1993 and 1998 the Marlins won four championships, prompting calls for Cairns to join the Australian National Basketball League. The Cairns Taipans joined the NBL for the 1999–2000 season, with Marlin's head coach Rod Popp coaching the team.[1]

Since the Taipans' entry into the NBL the two teams have remained very close, often sharing development and training players over the NBL off-season and the QBL season.

Championship dynasty

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The Marlins are the most successful team in the QBL, holding nine championships since the team joined the league. They also make regular appearances in the playoffs, making 19 appearances over 26 seasons since 1993.[2]

Transfer to NBL1

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After a successful first season in 2019, in 2020 the NBL1 expanded into Queensland and replaced the QBL. After this change, the Marlins transferred to the NBL1 North.[3]

Season by season

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Season League Regular Season Post-Season Head Coach Captain Club MVP
Position Played Wins Losses Win %
Cairns Marlins
1987 QSBL
1988 QSBL
1989 QSBL
1990 QSBL David Ingram
1991 QSBL Peter Pendle
1992 QSBL 4 22 [4] Brian Vincent
1993 QSBL 16 8 [5] Champions in Final against Burdekin Wildcats Rod Popp Alan Christie
1994 CBA 1st 27 4 [6] Lost in Final to Ballarat Miners Ben Johnson
1995 CBA 15 9 [7]
1996 CBA 16 8 [8] Billy Ross
1997 CBA 24 2 [9] Lost in Final to Suncoast Clippers
1998 ABA 34 2 [10] Champions in Final against Townsville Heat Lucas Agrums
1999 ABA Lost in Final to Southern Districts
2000 ABA 6th 18 7 11 .388 Mark Beecroft
2001 ABA Champions in Final against Brisbane Capitals
2002 ABA 2nd 20 14 6 .700 Lost in Final to Brisbane Capitals
2003 ABA 1st 20 15 5 .750 Lost in Final to South West Metro Pirates
2004 ABA Champions in Final against Townsville Heat, 103–94
2005 ABA 1st 18 15 3 .833 Lost in Final to Southern Districts Spartans, 90–85
2006 QABL Aaron Fearne
2007 QABL Champions in Final against Gold Coast Goannas, 135–94
2008 QABL
2009 QBL Champions in Final against Rockhampton Rockets, 113–81
2010 QBL 4th 18 12 6 .667 Did not qualify
2011 QBL 7th 18 10 8 .556
2012 QBL 4th 16 11 5 .688 Lost in Elimination Finals to Mackay Meteors, 106–75
2013 QBL 2nd 16 14 2 .875 Lost in Elimination-finals to Townsville Heat, 86–99 Jamie Pearlman
2014 QBL 3rd 16 13 3 .813 Lost in Elimination-finals to Mackay Meteors, 83–63
2015 QBL 7th 17 10 7 .588 Did not qualify James Mitchell
2016 QBL 5th 17 11 6 .647 Champions in Final against Brisbane Capitals, 2–0 Damon Heuir
2017 QBL 4th 17 11 6 .647 Lost in Semi-finals to Townsville Heat, 79–77
2018 QBL 6th 18 10 8 .556 Lost in Final to Townsville Heat, 2–0 Jamie O'Loughlin Anthony Fisher
2019 QBL 4th 18 13 5 .722 Lost in Elimination-finals to Rockhampton Rockets, 79-90 Anthony Fisher
2020 NBL1 North Season cancelled
2021 NBL1 North 5th 13 7 6 .538 Lost in Grand Final to Mackay Meteors, 2–0 Kerry Williams Anthony Fisher

Current squad

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Cairns Marlins roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt.
G 3   George, Deba 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
G 4   Ahwang, Curt
G 5   Đerić, Mirko 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 82 kg (181 lb)
G 7   Fisher, Anthony (C) 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 78 kg (172 lb)
G 10   Stattmann, Ky 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
F 12   Ware, Marshall 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
F 13   Deng, Majok 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 84 kg (185 lb)
F 14   Farmer, Aron 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
C 15   Jawai, Nathan 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) 140 kg (309 lb)
G 20   Hutchinson, Tysei 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 82 kg (181 lb)
F 21   Gamble, Nick 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 83 kg (183 lb)
C 23   Ellis, Sam
G 31   Beecroft, Jaylon 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • TBA

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (I) Import player
  •   Injured

Updated: 19 June 2021

References

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  1. ^ a b "History – Cairns Basketball Association". SportsTG. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  2. ^ "QBL State Champions & Award Winners | QBL – Basketball QLD". Basketball QLD: QBL. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  3. ^ "NBL1 Expands To North And South Conferences". NBL1.com.au. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  4. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/19991116190252/http://www.taipans.com/coach.asp [bare URL]
  5. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/19991116190252/http://www.taipans.com/coach.asp [bare URL]
  6. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/19991116190252/http://www.taipans.com/coach.asp [bare URL]
  7. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/19991116190252/http://www.taipans.com/coach.asp [bare URL]
  8. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/19991116190252/http://www.taipans.com/coach.asp [bare URL]
  9. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/19991116190252/http://www.taipans.com/coach.asp [bare URL]
  10. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/19991116190252/http://www.taipans.com/coach.asp [bare URL]
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