Armstrong, McCall approaching returns

Adam Forde has revealed the Cairns Taipans could receive a massive boost this weekend with the likely returns of Tahjere McCall and Taran Armstrong to the lineup, plus the potential involvement of guard Patrick Miller.

McCall has been absent from the Taipans since the Taipans returned from their NBLxNBA series due to the birth of his child, while Armstrong has been nursing a foot injury for the bulk of the season so far.

Miller took a nasty fall in Cairns’ Round 5 win over Sydney, but has been cleared of any serious injury.

“He’ll meet us in New Zealand,” Forde said of McCall. “I’m not sure what type of condition he’ll be in now he’s a new dad ... he might just sleep for 20 hours straight to make up for the sleep debt, but we’re all excited to have him back.

“(Armstrong) has progressed along nicely. I don’t want to jinx it because every time I say something, something happens. He’s been fantastic and the biggest challenge is to make sure we taper him back a little bit because he wants to go 100 per cent.

“He’s checking boxes and we’re very hopeful.

“Pat (Miller) wants to train and play now and we’re trying to hold him back. He’s the ultimate competitor and warrior and that’s what we brought him in for.

“It was a back complaint mainly, a bit of bruising that extended down from his lower back to his glute and it lit up I the sense of that’s where the bruising was.

“It’s now managing that swelling and bruising and seeing how he pulls up in the next 48 hours.”

Cairns’ injury crisis meant star wing Bul Kuol put in the first ironman performance of the season against in the win over Cairns. In the full 40 minutes, he registered 24 points and five rebounds.

A familiar face has been in camp for the Taipans this week ahead of their Round 5 double-header. Former player and All-NBL1 North First Team member Tad Dufelmeier has been padding out the numbers in training.

Dufelmeier played 26 games for the Taipans over the NBL20 and NBL21 seasons, before spending a solitary campaign with the Adelaide 36ers.

“We’re beaten up at the moment with our road schedule, we’ve done a lot of kilometres. It’s nothing major, it’s just a lot of guys we’re trying to manage who played some high minutes,” Forde said.

“To have such a high-quality player like Tad who’s available to come and work out so we can go five-on-five, otherwise we’re pushing guys unnecessarily when we want to make them 100 per cent for a road double.

“Tad’s been great, he answered the call, he was able to come in and fill in and we appreciate his time.”

The Taipans will open their Round 5 double-header against New Zealand on Friday before travelling to South East Melbourne on Sunday.