FURTHER demonstrating his importance since returning to the lineup following a delayed start to the 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL) season, William Hickey notched a triple-double as the Illawarra Hawks defeated the Cairns Taipans.

The Hawks entered the match having turned their season around following the injection of Hickey into the starting lineup over the past week, headlined by a dominant win over ladder-leaders Melbourne United last Wednesday. It was going to be a tall order for the Taipans, who have struggled throughout the season to date with a lack of continuity in their rotations due to injuries, and would need to bring their best if they were to knock off the reigning champions.

Although it was not an emphatic showing from the visitors at Cairns Convention Centre, the Hawks still managed to win every quarter and did enough to keep the home side at arm’s length. In the end, despite a 32-point showing from Mojave King, the Taipans could not keep up with Illawarra, as the Hawks cruised home to a 17-point win on the road to continue their resurgence.

It was a rare triple-double from Hickey that made him the most influential player of the match, with the point guard doing a bit of everything to lead the Hawks to victory and continue to show how improved the team is with him on the court.

Cairns Taipans (90) def. by Illawarra Hawks (107)

Will Hickey – 19 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists, three blocks

Although there were plenty of contributors for the Hawks in their big win over the Taipans, there was certainly no one more impressive than Hickey, who racked up the first triple-double of NBL26 in a simply superb display.

He began the match with a nice dish out to Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, who splashed home the long-range bomb from behind the arc, before Hickey got involved on the scoring front himself with a nice reverse layup under the basket. The guard had a short stint on the bench, but made an immediate impact when brought back into the first quarter action, drawing contact and splitting a pair of free throws.

Hickey found star teammate JaVale McGee on two occasions in the final couple of minutes of the term, once on a midrange jumper and once on a three-pointer, which the big man has added to his game in recent outings. The Australian Boomer wrapped up the quarter with a nice jumpshot of his own to play a big role in the Hawks leading early.

Hickey continued to showcase his playmaking nous and strong connection with McGee to open the second quarter with his fourth assist of the match, before getting involved defensively by blocking Marcus Lee‘s layup attempt. Back to back offensive boards from the guard generated multiple scoring opportunities for the Hawks, although his teammates could not convert, while a pair of three-pointers to close out the half showed how dangerous Hickey can be from range.

The third quarter saw Hickey find scoring production inside the paint, evading the defence with excellent footwork and finishing at the cup, while his playmaking was unmatched when it came to finding teammates in the right spots. Hickey was popping up everywhere after half time before heading to the bench in the final minutes of the third frame for a well-earned rest.

Hickey recorded his triple-double in the fourth quarter with a defensive board, but was not stopping there, continuing to work the glass and find teammates with his passing. The guard showcased his ability to play above his height and position when he nailed the timing on his tip-in after an offensive board, wrapping up a dominant performance as he headed to the bench for the remainder of the contest.

In the end, Hickey finished with 19 points, 12 boards (six of these came on the offensive end), 12 assists and three blocks in a magnificent two-way showing that was one of the best performances of his career. After being given the role of starting point guard over the offseason, he has truly taken the next step in his career and is one of the best backcourt players in the NBL.