Geraldton Buccaneers’ Johny Narkle signs with the Illawarra Hawks as a development player for season 2026

Geraldton Buccaneers star Johny Narkle has finally been given an opportunity in the NBL, signing as a development player with the Illawarra Hawks for the 2026 season. Narkle has been a shining light for the Buccs in 2025 in what is his best season to date, with the 24-year-old playing a huge role in priming the Buccs for finals. Narkle and Buccs teammate Verle Williams were recently recognised at the NBL1 West Awards with Narkle taking out Youth Payer of the Year and a spot in the NBL1 West men’s first team. Williams picked up Sixth Man of the Year award after what has been a standout year for the Buccs’ guard, providing energy up and down the floor when called upon. Narkle said Williams’ presence on the court was invaluable. “He (Williams) is 100 per cent a game changer,” Narkle said. “The energy he brings to the court when he comes on is awesome and really lifts us up as a team. “He gets the crowd involved, he gets his teammates involved he is just a spark for us. “I feel like once he is up and about we are all up and about, which helps us heaps.” Narkle has been a spark for the side in his own right, with his best game this season coming in round 12 when he chalked up a mammoth 53 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in a 47-point dismantling of the Goldfields Giants on the road. After being given the opportunity to start for the Buccs last season, Narkle’s career took a turning point with the realisation that he could in fact make a life from basketball. His 2024 season was cut short due to a hand injury, however working hard in the offseason with teammates and coaching staff, the star guard has returned bigger, better and stronger than ever. Narkle said the opportunity to be included in the starting five last season was a turning point for him. “The turning point was when I got into the starting five, seeing that the coach had trust in my game,” he said. “Unfortunately, I had to sit out a large part of the season with my hand injury but I feel like I bounced back and have found my feet in the team with the help of those around me. “That’s been the biggest thing, the support of the club and everyone involved has been huge.” The support shown to the Buccs’s star has reverberated into the inner walls of the NBL where Narkle caught the attention of recruiters from multiple clubs after consistently being a standout in the blue and yellow. Narkle’s dream came true with his recent signing to the Illawarra Hawks as a development player for 2026. Narkle will join the Hawks who are coming off a 2025 championship under star coach Justin Tatum, the dad of Boston Celtics star Jason Tatum. Narkle said he was “excited” to get to Illawarra and “get stuck into it” and learn from a championship side. “I’m keen to get over there and obviously learn from the players and coaches, as in Jason Tatum, a great coach,” he said. Buccs coach Dayle Joseph said he was proud of Narkle. “He has put an immense amount of work into his game,” he said. “I remember sitting down with him and saying, ‘you know, like to get you where we need you, we have to do some extra work.’ “And he has done that and that’s credit to him, he keeps showing up and now has been given the opportunity that he deserves.”