Cairns Taipans guard Shaun Bruce has defended head coach Adam Forde amid early-season scrutiny, following the team’s record-setting comeback win over Melbourne United in Melbourne on Thursday night. The victory marked a turning point for the Taipans, who had suffered three consecutive losses by a combined margin of 58 points leading into the game.
Forde, now in his sixth season coaching Cairns, has faced criticism for failing to lead the Taipans to a winning season since 2023 and for not reaching double-digit victories in the last two campaigns. However, Bruce described the criticism as "unfair," emphasizing the coach’s dedication and demanding standards. He stressed that accountability lies equally with the players, stating that both the coaching staff and the team must work together to improve results.
The Taipans overcame a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to ultimately secure a 12-point win, outscoring Melbourne 35-14 in the final period. Bruce, sidelined due to a groin injury, called the performance a demonstration of the team’s potential and consistency they now need to maintain.
For Melbourne United, the loss extended a challenging start to the season, leaving them at a 1-3 record for the first time since 2019 and only the third such poor start since the club’s 2014 rebranding. First-year head coach Jacob Chance dismissed concerns about his team’s progress, attributing the struggles to the normal “growing pains” of a new roster.
Chance highlighted issues with intensity and physicality, saying the biggest disappointment was a lack of sustained effort and urgency. The team’s offensive strategy has relied heavily on their star guard Cole Anthony, who scored 40 points in the loss but registered just four assists over the four games. Melbourne’s overall assist totals also reflected limited ball movement, with 11 assists in the contest—among the fewest recorded by any team this season.
The focus, Chance noted, is on balancing Anthony’s scoring prowess with greater team involvement, aiming to leverage his offensive threat without overdependence. “He’s a world-class scorer … we’ve got to keep using his gravity without being dependent on him,” Chance said.
As the Taipans seek to build on their breakthrough performance, Bruce acknowledged the familiar challenges of early-season adjustment. “You’re figuring things out, you’re trying to maximise everyone you’ve got in your locker room and that takes time,” he said. The victory, he added, was evidence of progress, representing the type of basketball Cairns hopes to produce consistently moving forward.