Isaac
Years ago

Breakers sign Jones and Winitana

The NZ Breakers have signed Tall Blacks Phill Jones and Paora Winitana to their roster, on two and one year deals respectively.

Jones has recently plied his trade in Europe, and Winitana is coming off a strong season in the NZ NBL with the runner-up Hawks.

Jones last played with the Breakers in 2004, averaging 14 PPG.

The signings pretty much confirm that Ryan Kersten and Brent Charleton have been pushed outside of a ten man roster, and leave NZ with just two imports to sign.

Import/Henare/Kersten
Penney/Jones/Charleton
Forman/Winitana
Ronaldson/Vukona
Import/Behrendorff

They were beaten to Abney's signature by a monstrous offer from Cairns and are rumoured to be interested in EJ Rowland.

Need a strong rebounder with that PF/C import I think.

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Breakers
Years ago

They are looking tough... NBL should be interesting..

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EC
Years ago

With Winitana in the roster, hope they don't have too many Sunday games for religious reasons.

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Isaac
Years ago

(Oops, EC beat me to it. Anyway, my post was...)

Forgot to mention it for the five people left who haven't heard, but Winitana's situation is a bit interesting - he doesn't play at all on Sundays because of his religious belief.

The Breakers have four Sunday games during the 2007/08 season.

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Sturty6ers
Years ago

What religion is he?

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Anonymous
Years ago

Would say he is 7DA or Mormon, as an All Black rugby player who was, even missed playing Test matches for his country. That is true devotion.

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Jimmy_The_Snitch
Years ago

I going to definitely go to the Breakers Vs Sixer game this year, just to see Kurt Penny Vs Brett Maher

Kurt Penny is a gun and could almost be the early favourite for the league MVP award.

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Moses Guthrie
Years ago

Paora Winitana is ordained with the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints.

Of note, he was named the NZNBL's 2006 MVP and missed his team's semi-final because of his beliefs.

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