Geraldton Buccaneers are ramping up their quest to go back-to-back as pre-season comes to an end

After a long pre-season, the Geraldton Buccaneers hunt to become back-to-back NBL1 West champions begins next week, with their first game fast approaching. With all the changes over the off season, the new look Buccs are confident in their team and game plan with the 2024 season just around the corner. One of the biggest stories that came from last year was the rise to stardom of local Johny Narkle, going from a sixth man to grand final MVP, gaining national fame and being invited to workout with the Melbourne United. “The exposure has been good…I got a chance to go to Melbourne, hopefully brand-new season, I bring that same form to the start of this next season,” Narkle said. With the growth that Narkle saw late in the season, the expectation this year is to see him play a more predominant role. “I’ve spoken to Dayle (Joseph) and a few of the other boys about my role this season, and they feel like I am going to take a bigger role,” he said. “I reckon the first couple of games is going to be pretty hard, just getting used to it, but the boys have a lot of trust in me.” While many would have spent the offseason enjoying the championship, long-time Bucc Liam Hunt dove straight back into the sport, playing a season over in Germany with the Baskets Vilsbiburg. “It was awesome, a whole different experience how they run basketball over there...it’s a bit different, how they play and a lot more movement off the ball,” Hunt said. “I’ve actually worked on just my game as a whole and playing outside my game…start being a bit more consistent outside and a bit more fitter, a bit more confident in my game. “Coming back’s been easy for me, I’m familiar with the offence and what Dayle wants to do, I know how the boys play and how we want to play and I know how we want to win.” As the Buccs look to repeat their championship efforts, they saw three grand final starters depart over the off-season in Malik Meunier, Shaun Stewart and Zac Gattorna. Despite the losses, the team is confident with the core they have retained and the new players that have been brought in, with US import Josh Keyes and interstate recruit Nik DeSantis. Another US import, Josh Braun, has not joined the side yet. “Losing Malik and Shaun, a bunch of other boys, it’s pretty hard to fill their shoes, but we have new boys, Josh Keyes and Nik (DeSantis),” Narkle said. “Our teams looking pretty good, we had a full game scrimmage yesterday…I feel like we are just as good as last year.” With all the new blood coming into the team, having franchise cornerstone Mat Wundenberg return will help steady the squad. With the 41-year-old returning for his 20th season, he said that hanging it up wasn’t on his mind this offseason. “I guess I still had the itch to play, obviously enjoyed all the highs of last season and just still had that itch to play, playing with your mates and that camaraderie you have,” he said. “Just purely taking it as it goes, I told the boys if I don’t turn up to preseason then you know I’m finished, I won’t announce it or do a farewell tour or anything.” When injury derailed his season early last year, the veteran spent the time off getting his body right. “Probably just got myself a bit fitter, I just struggled with injuries all last season, had a great preseason, then first two weeks in the season I started to get some tendonitis in my Achilles,” Wundenberg said. “Just spent the offseason strengthen up my legs and trying to rehab that Achilles, a lot of that went into it.” While many would be hesitant to change a game plan that won a championship, the Geraldton squad feel confident in their new look under coach Dayle Joseph. “I think we were pretty well established last year with what we wanted to do and how we wanted to play, but that also brought some weaknesses, we were more easy to read,” Hunt said. “We’ve got a lot of people that can put the ball in the hole, it’s just about us learning to play together and learning how to run together and learning how to win together. “Hopefully can rely on our defence early in the year and cram down on teams on the defensive end...I think its going to be a really good year.” The club also announced the re-signings of Bob Griechen, Elliot Bennett, Will Galvin, Toby Gerreyn, Fletcher Klazstorny, Liam Bennett and Ryan Blanchett on their social media this week. The Buccaneers season tips off next week when they host the Willetton Tigers at Activewest Stadium on Saturday, April 6.