Captain Wheels Back Into Aust All-star Five

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday October 1, 2003

By TIM KEEBLE

THE Wollongong Roller Hawks have added to Sunday's championship success with team captain Brendan Dowler being named in the Australian all-star five.

Dowler, who made the all-star five two years ago, also captured the National Wheelchair Basketball League most valuable player award in the low point category.

Players are given specific points rankings depending on his or her level of disability.

Dowler, a member of the Australian team, had to wait eight years to taste grand final glory.

Last night the Roller Hawks got together for a celebration dinner with their families at Albion Park RSL.

Canadian import Joey Johnson flies home today before heading to Germany to take up a playing contract.

Johnson was named most valuable player of the finals series and finished narrowly behind Brisbane's Patrick Anderson for MVP honours in the regular season.

Wollongong defied the odds by claiming the title in the club's third season.

For some players, the party hasn't stopped since Sunday.

``It's been great. The last few days have been a bit of a blur," Roller Hawks leading scorer and Australian team member Tristan Knowles said.

``Even though we had a good season, we sat down as a team before the grand final and everyone agreed that we still hadn't had one game when we'd all played well together. We felt that we hadn't played to our full potential.

``To come out in the grand final and play as well as we did ... it was a huge relief. It couldn't have been any better. It was the best we played all season as a team. Not one person played badly."

Knowles expects the Roller Hawks to put up a strong title defence next season despite being without Johnson, who will be concentrating on preparations for the Paralympics.

Knowles and Dowler will head to Japan with the Australian team in November and should be automatic selections in the side for the Paralympics.

The team was: Dowler, Knowles, Joey Johnson, Tim Maloney, Andrew Tarrant, Eino Okkonen, Darren Hayes, Darren Skuse, Mark Hutchings, Eric Klein, Malcolm Turnbull and Brett Stibner.