Great singing for them nice fit behind Jackson and hope he does well in NZ

Also Nice to see Shane is still growing at his age as last time I run into him (6 weeks ago) he wasn't 6"2 but maybe they measure things differently in NZ

Maybe fits with his work now or just better timing/security

HaHa what Is this a Joke where are there local guards got to give there own talent a go this is bullshit.

HaHa what Is this a Joke where are there local guards got to give there own talent a go this is bullshit.

You can say that again mate!

Shit signing. Journeyman. Surely there is a nz player who could fill a back up guard spot! Reminds me of when they used to play Ben Thompson, and other half talents from Aussie when guys like Steve fitchett weren't given a go. Yet they were good enough for the tall blacks.

Back in Lememis early days he used to pull every stiff known to man into the 7 to 10 positions in the team. Names like Adam tanner, Ryan kertens and Adam darragh.

Smells like that to me.

McDonald will do nothing to help us repeat. What has happened to the famed breaker academy? Can they not produce something better than a washed up "neverhasbeen".

Yes it is, if you have a player available in nz, and a lesser player available from Aussie, why go for the worse Aussie player?

Mark dickel - lead NCAA in assists for UNLV and played in high level euro teams

Dickek should have been drafted but nasty head injury at I think draft combine? Stopped chances

I agree with you Macdub, although Mark Dickel was pretty good over here in his Titans days playing as an import.

The McDonald signing is baffling. He's one of those players who is a star in a lesser league but from what I remember seeing of him in the NBL thought he was fortunate to ever get a look in at this level.

I would've thought there would be 2-3 players of comparable talent running around in the NZ league.

John McDonald was a great point guard. A few years ago now. Warwick meehl was okay

Lli, tait, bloxham, ruakawa, Kenny, leeti...

All would be better than a school teacher from somewhere in Victoria

Paul

Great option

Ruscoe is a very talented player.

They trying to win it this year so Shane plays 5-10 mins a game behind Jackson, he is mature causes no issues and will keep Off flowing. Think it's a great pick up and they still have Devlop spots

If the local NZ kids are good enough then there are 7 other clubs that can also bring them in.

There wasn't the same backlash when NZ signed Corletto and Carter who are of similar ability, just were probably more well known.

Cairns could have brought a local Cairns kid into the program instead of Shaun Bruce. Shaun was plucked out of the SEABL without a impressive resume behind him, and he has really helped their program.

I'm not a huge fan of watching Shane McDonald at SEABL level. He is an assist hunter that runs a lot of stuff for himself and only passes when it is likely that an assist will be the result. Although I'm sure he'll fill a role for NZ and do what they need him to do.

Similar ability to corletto and carter?

I would not have thought so.

I've seen him play and think he is mud. Seems to do ok in seabl but everything goes through him.

Would jarrod Kenny. A former dev player for the breakers, a tall black, could he not have come in and played 5 to 10

AGREE 100% give Kenny a go or Shane lli

Mystro

Life is full of trade offs. Sure he can't shoot but can defend and drive better and is imo a better player...

With a few young guys already in the rotation it makes sense as a signing.

Been around league a few times before is a bit older and by all reports keeps himself in great knick plus is mature so helps balance with a couple of younger heads.

Those younger guys mentioned could have a future but they'll get chances if good enough, also think just cause they NZ based they have to take guys from NZ that's wat the devlop spots are for roster spots are the winning/here and now part of franchise. Sane as Aust teams have picked up Kiwis before don't think it matters were u ftom

Jarrod Kenny ain't that young

Lindsay tait?

I know his limitations as well. I've also seen McDonald play several times as well so know we are getting a slow pg with no penetration or defending skills. Assuming he stays on the court long enough without these being exposed, yes he might hit the odd three. Life is about trade offs

I think the argument that the coaches have seen them and picked them therefore it is right, is no argument. Shut down the forum if that is the case.

Are you vickermsn dad? How else do you know what the coach wants to do? You could speculate what the coach wants, but you tell us as though you are an assistant. You have no idea what the coach wants to achieve, you speculate like everyone else.

If you are correct, then it makes no sense for his game plan based on last year. Last year they flagged corletto, not because he could shoot and space the floor, but bc he was slow and not a great defender.

Btw McDonald ain't blowin by anyone. Say no more.

"I've also seen McDonald play several times as well so know we are getting a slow pg with no penetration or defending skills"
I hope anonoymous you aren't talking about Macca. If you say you have seen him play yi6u clearly have never seen him play.

Right

http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=190395571&client=0-189-12314-125710-369909

I presume his shooting ability has improved in the last 4 years?

When he played in Perth he couldn't shoot over a Coke can.

Mystro

I can read to. If u can't come up with something more insightful than rejurgitating the generally poor Nz media and what the coach says then don't bother. Like I said, the coach is not always right. That is why we have the forum

also don't bother if you can't come up with something a little more original than " xyz " mum. It's unoriginal. Given all the other names mentioned on the post tait, lli, etc etc..

I remember him as a very poor guard at the slingers. Then he came to Auckland with a Melbourne team. Even worse.

Anon pretty sure he was a short term signing with melbourne for like 2 weeks off 1 training session.

From Wikipedia

With the Tigers having sacked import guard Ayinde Ubaka, the club signed McDonald to a short-term deal on 18 January 2012.[9][10] He managed just one game for the Tigers in a road loss to the New Zealand Breakers the following day; he managed four points and one assist in five minutes of game time.[5]

Think someone's mum or brother isn't happybthere little cuzzie got over looked like totally choice bro

We are lovers bro

So clearly anonymous you know nothing of shanes current game. Just tar him with a 1 game game expert opinion from umpteen years ago.

Saw him play 3 games for slingers, once for Melbourne. He's mud

Paul

Appreciate the insightful reply. So much more educated than blindly quoting the media and the coach therefore it must be correct. Or because I suggest other players I must be their mum, which is very funny and original. Or just claiming I never saw the player, when clearly I have. Instead you add to the debate with something intelligent.

Nz breakers fans have been fairly tolerant of some poor "they come from Aussie, or have been successful in Aussie therefore they must be better". Good examples include John rillie and Marcus Timmons. But over the years we became less tolerant. This coincided with The breakers discovering their kiwiness, they recognised what made them special. Which in turn coincided with a pretty good run. I think this is a return to the old thinking.

As Paul has correctly stated

Time will tell

Go dee Macca play. Simple. You probably have never seen a seabl game anonymous let macca play now in 2015. The above post sums it up.
^5

You are right I have never seen a seabl game. Seen hindreds of nznbl.

you could say tait is considered the best pg I n the nznbl. Has been for years.

I have heard it say nznbl is above seabl

I guess you know where I am going with this. Good points though

I do. Tait is the best in nzbl and Macca is the best in seabl. Yet based on performances yrsrs ago Macca us mud. Great logic.

I do. Tait is the best in nzbl and Macca is the best in seabl. Yet based on performances yrsrs ago Macca us mud. Great logic.

English not a strong point clearly. I'd love to respond but I'm not sure what you are trying to communicated