Carter confident in ability of new additions

There can always be questions about how new pieces can fit into a team, especially when the team has enjoyed consistent success with minimal turnover previously.

For Rhys Carter and the rest of the United coaching staff, this was the case when we welcomed eight fresh faces to the roster ahead of the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 season.

Thankfully, said Carter, these additions have all settled in well, filling him with confidence about what the team is capable of once the ball gets thrown up in Round 1 on 18 September.

Speaking on The Extra Pass podcast, Carter touched on his impressions of the lineup heading into our first few games of the new season.

“There’s still a lot to work through and build chemistry but we couldn’t ask for much more out of the new guys,” he said.

“Obviously Milt (Doyle) knows the league pretty well so it’s easier for him and obviously knows how we do things even though he hasn’t been a part of it, so it’s been a pretty smooth transition for him.

“Tyson (Walker) and Jesse (Edwards) coming in really just fit in very quickly. They’ve picked up how we do things while adding their flavour as well, and that’s what we want. 

“We want guys to come in and do what they do as a part of what we do, not just come in and conform exactly to how things are around here.

“I think Finn Delany has been awesome, but we knew that, so it’s not really a surprise. His last season in the NBL, he had like three injuries… he had this rough season.

“The guy is a pro and he’s a tough player, so it’s not at all a surprise to me but he’s come back in that form that he’d found in those previous few seasons.

“This time of the year, everyone thinks that they’re the Championship favourites in the preseason, every team is sitting there on their podcast saying how good their team is, but I do feel pretty good about where we’re sitting and how we’re going.”

We are set to play one final preseason game, a matchup with the Brisbane Bullets on the Sunshine Coast, on Friday 12 September from 6:30pm, before kicking off our Hungry Jack’s NBL26 campaign on the road the following week.

Our first home game will come on Sunday 21 September at 2:30pm inside John Cain Arena. Tickets are on sale now!