I think Alex Loughton has had a fantastic year

Did anyone attend other than Mitch, Cam, Alex and Nate?

Is it wrong to think that Scoochie Smith couldn't get back to America quick enough, he seemed like a good kid but he didn't adapt well to the NBL and made Weeks look like a quality point guard by comparison... look forward to seeing/hearing how both men's careers develop

"Because it was a contract year for him. Funny that."

It was a contract year for everyone except Jawai and Kuany. Your point is invalid.

no its not. Its been statistically proven that players in the last year of a contract will have bump in their numbers.

80% of the league is in a contract year!

Loughton was heading into this season with the thought this could be his last. I doubt hos thought process was "jeez, I better have a huuugee season so I can get another contract".

Am I missing something or was there zero communications about this on the night on their social pages? No pics, congrats with images on their Insta, Twitter, etc?

"Gordon any chance you could paste the Post's article about the evening as it is subscriber only?"

Sorry, not a subscriber.

Wednesday seems a strange night to have an end-of-season celebration. Was it a team-only thing or something? I thought the Taipans used to have a big gala night.

Players generally step up in a contract year, that's not a new thing, but if you paid any attention to Alex this season in post-game interviews when his improved form was brought up and the fact that his body wasn't carrying any niggling injuries was a huge factor...

Seriously, Gordon.

You need to compare Loughton's performance this season against his own in years past. You don't compare it to others.

Hope you can understand this

I do wonder if he went into this season thinking "this might be my last roll of the dice, nothing to lose I'll try and go out with a bang". He's stayed injury free and issues with other players have given him lots of court time so that went in his favour too.

He's also looked a LOT better the past few years when he's kept playing through the off-season in the QBL or similar.

Not sure it'd be about going out with a bang. Surely some of it is a mixture of confidence shown by the coach, and then performing in those minutes to justify more of the same? In past years, they presumably got the veteran role plus toughness/D from Worthington and so Loughton was a little less crucial.

"Am I missing something or was there zero communications about this on the night on their social pages? No pics, congrats with images on their Insta, Twitter, etc?"

Cairns' budget does not allow even for a free instagram account nor a 2 megapixel camera to take snaps.

"Wednesday seems a strange night to have an end-of-season celebration."

It was the only evening the public park BBQ was available.

In press conferences this year both Fearne and Loughton talked about how he was playing loose because it might be his last year. Well done to him, best he's played in years, possibly ever.

Loughton Unshackled due to contract expiring??

Ouch... "very Townsville-like feel" is harsh, but Trigger is right... It doesn't take much to start sliding down that slippery slope of lack of fan engagement, especially when they can't afford to be losing any...

Seems like a pretty big gaff from a team that usually is pretty on the ball, doesn't it? Someone let go? Last minute leave?