Calls For Change Premature as Cats Back Manek

Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie has confirmed the club is not looking to move on from struggling import Brady Manek.

Manek is averaging just 8.4 points per game, played season-low minutes against South East Melbourne on Friday night and was moved to the bench in Monday night’s game against Melbourne United.

Despite the 24-year-old’s poor form, Rillie has guaranteed his spot on the roster.

“That is who we brought in for the team. He is going to complement the team. The pieces all fit together so Brady Manek is a Perth Wildcat,” Rillie said via The West Australian.

“I know there’s a lot of outside noise but inside, internally, there’s no noise about that (replacing him) at all. We need Brady Manek performing at a high level. I’m just trying to help him.

“We’ve talked about it. He’s a young, new to the professional ranks. I need to do my job and help him get himself into a groove so he can perform at the level he wants to perform at and the level we want him to perform at.”

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Riding a four-game losing streak for the first time since December 2018 and falling to seventh on the ladder (3-4), the Wildcats are in a world of hurt heading into Thursday night’s clash with the Tasmania JackJumpers.

2010 NBL MVP Corey Williams told NBL Overtime “change has got to be made” in Perth.

“There’s no fight, there’s no desire, you can take losses man, you know I mean, I’ve lost more than I’ve won. But I’m gonna fight, you don’t see that desire,” Williams added.

NBL analyst Liam Santamaria also questioned the mindset of the Wildcats.

“Where was the fire and the intensity, and the feistiness and the passion,” Santamaria said.

“Nobody got amped when there was a run against them.

“It’s a quiet team that’s playing a bit quiet right now, and so that’s an issue.”

Perth’s best player and three-time MVP, Bryce Cotton, is averaging 21.7 points, while playing over 35 minutes per game,

“It can’t just be the Bryce Cotton show, everybody else gotta show up,” Williams said.

“Brady Manek is getting wide open looks, how long do you wait, clean look, can’t hit. How long do you wait. Todd Blanchfield, now you see him, now you don’t. I’m not seeing enough from Corey Webster.

“These are savvy vets that have played in the league one chips. You know what I mean, like where are you? Where are you?”

The Wildcats play the JackJumpers in Perth on Thursday night at 9:30pm AEDT.