Home Is Where the Heartland Is

Sometimes you need to go away to truly find yourself. 

It could be a journey of reflection. It could be a journey of discovery. It may be a journey of growth. But that journey can help to mould you into a better version of yourself.

For Rhys Vague, his was a journey of growth. The four-time NBL Champion left the Perth Wildcats after the NBL20 season in search of a new opportunity. He entered Free Agency with the hopes of finding a bigger role, after playing largely as a reserve across six seasons in Perth.

“That decision was, I had the feeling of being stagnant in Perth,” Vague told NBL Media on Tuesday from Japan. 

“I wasn’t really cracking the rotation a whole lot, because I was playing behind great players like Nick Kay and Jesse Wagstaff, so it was just one of those things where I felt my career was at a bit of a standstill and the only way to get out of that was to go somewhere and play.”

What he wasn’t planning on was finding that opportunity abroad. Vague’s agent, Geoff McGuire, also represented former New Zealand Breakers Coach and Melbourne United Assistant, Paul Henare who was coaching at that time in Japan’s B.League for the Kagawa Five Arrows.

“The stars sort of aligned because a spot opened up for me,” Vague said. 

“And I just rolled with it - to be honest, Japan wasn’t on my radar at all when I was entering Free Agency in that COVID year and it just aligned that way. It was super fortunate.”

Vague ended up spending the next three years in Japan, all with Kagawa. And it was exactly what he needed. Being an import put him in situations where he was not only playing regularly, but needed to produce.

His game evolved as he took on more responsibility on both ends of the floor. Vague went from averaging 10.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and hitting 31 per cent from deep in 25 minutes in his first season there, to playing close to 30 minutes a night and averaging 12.9 points, 7.3 boards and hitting 34 per cent from three in his latest campaign. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">4 x NBL champion Rhys Vague has signed with Japanese club Kawaga Five Arrows. ?<br><br>We&#39;d like to thank Rhys for his six years of service as a Perth Wildcat and wish him the very best in the next chapter of his playing career. <br><br>Full details: <a href="https://t.co/ioGkUH8f7e">https://t.co/ioGkUH8f7e</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZEuzuVtM7i">pic.twitter.com/ZEuzuVtM7i</a></p>&mdash; Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats/status/1281067258765180929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That responsibility has also come in the form of being more vocal on the floor, being a leader at times and that’s something else that Vague has developed during his time in Japan.

“Over here I think the biggest part of my game that have developed is the ability to go out and actually be relied upon to score and to defend the best players on the other team,” Vague explained. 

“I think that’s just maybe a little bit more confidence in my ability to go out and get a bucket, over just being a spot up catch-and-shoot or pick-and-pop player. 

“Also, I think my leadership has taken a step up. Because, being relied upon more, there’s more on your plate, you’re looked upon more in those moments that require it, so I think that has taken a step up in my game as well.”

Vague representing the Boomers in the FIBA Asia Cup in 2022. 

Vague also grew off the floor. Henare was only there in that first season (2020/21) and the pair hung out a bit, but as he explained, “a player and a head coach are not going to go out and do everything together.”

So, forced to be self-sufficient, Vague described it as a ‘thrown into the deep-end’ moment. It made him try to learn the language and adapt to the culture, which he credits for helping him in those next two years.

But Vague also credits one of his teammates for providing him support from a social perspective. His former Perth Wildcats teammate, Angus Brandt, joined the Five Arrows for the 2021-22 season and the two played together these past two years. 

With the Japanese borders closed to foreign tourists during the COVID years (only opening in late 2022), Vague had no visitors from Australia, until his brother went over earlier this year. 

“Having Angus here was honestly the best thing that could have happened, because he’s one of my best mates, so just having him around helped with my level of comfort over here and the day-to-day grind,” Vague said. 

“Obviously I’m over here by myself, I don’t have a partner, my family’s not here, it was literally just me. Without him, it would have been far more challenging. Having him, his wife Meg and his little boy Archie was a godsend.”

Vague will forever be grateful for the experience he’s had in Japan and knows it was what he needed at that stage of his career.

However, it was a stint with the Australian squad in Melbourne as part of FIBA World Cup Qualifying in February that got him thinking about what might be next.

Vague and I spoke briefly after the Boomers' second game against Kazakhstan and he already had an inkling then that it may be time to return to the NBL. So why was this the right time?

“It’s just that feeling,” he explained. 

“Before doing the Boomers things, I wasn’t really thinking about it. But, you don’t really know what it’s like until you’re actually there and around it after being away from it for so long. 

“It was just that feeling of support, how passionate we are about our basketball over there and how much it’s growing. I wanted to be a part of that. I don’t want to be on the outer of that anymore. 

“So, just to be a part of that now is really exciting. And, I feel like I’m at the level now with my game where I’m confident enough that I think I can impact a lot more with an NBL team than I could before. 

“I think I needed to go overseas and really develop and get that game experience before coming back, because otherwise I feel like I would have gotten lost in the rotation again. So, I think it was just necessary for me to do those three years and come back when I felt truly ready for it.”

The South East Melbourne Phoenix announced on Monday that they signed Vague to a two-year deal. He’s another vital piece in the roster overhaul that CEO Tommy Greer has made with new Head Coach Mike Kelly.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">??????? ?? ??? ????????? ???? ??<br><br>206cm forward Rhys Vague is returning to the NBL and has signed with the club for 2 years! ?? <a href="https://twitter.com/RhysVague96?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RhysVague96</a><br><br>? Full Story ??</p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1650379046570823681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Phoenix have already signed Matt Kenyon and Gorjok Gak, so adding Vague will further bolster their defence and also help with their three-point shooting – two areas that needed drastic improvement after NBL23.

Kelly was a big part of Vague’s decision to sign in the Heartland, after playing under him in that February qualifying window with the Boomers.

“I really love the way Mike goes about his business,” Vague described. 

“He’s a super-nice guy, I think everyone who knows Mike knows that, but he takes his basketball really seriously and he gets the best out of all his players from what I’ve seen. 

“Mike really cares about his players and you can feel that, and he goes above and beyond to show that which is cool. But also, he’s got a seriousness about him when it comes to the business side of basketball and actually just getting down to it, which is what I really respect cos I’m kinda the same. 

“Off the court and in practice, I’ll get around the boys and be kind of jovial, but once it comes to the actual game, I’m stone-cold serious and it’s the same with Mike. Like, it’s time to go to work, it’s time to play. That’s what we’re doing. And that’s what I really like about him.”

Vague had a lot of success early in his career, being part of four championship teams in just six years with the Wildcats. He considers himself very fortunate to have been around the players he was in Perth. And he credits those veterans like Damian Martin, Jesse Wagstaff, Greg Hire and Bryce Cotton with teaching him the non-negotiables that it takes to be a successful team.

Vague holds the 2019 Championship Trophy. 

Coming into South East Melbourne, Vague isn’t sure how much of that he’ll need to impart on his new teammates. Reuben Te Rangi is the only current member of the Phoenix who has won an NBL Championship, but Vague doesn’t plan on asserting himself in that way.

“From what I’ve seen they’re moving in the right direction and there’s nothing too crazy that stands out that guys need to do better,” Vague observed of his new team. 

“I don’t want to come in and mess anything up. I just want to slot in and be a part of that. If there’s something I see where I’m like ‘well that didn’t fly in Perth’, I’ll say it, but I can’t foresee anything like that to be honest. 

“We’re ready to take that one next step and really be a contender. All the pieces are there if things come into place. So, just those little things that maybe if I see, I’ll mention.”

He’s more concerned with how his game on the floor can help his new teammates. That development in his game, especially on the defensive end, where the Phoenix struggled last season, is where he’s most excited to help.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">????????? ????? ? ??<br><br>We’re looking forward to seeing these skills from <a href="https://twitter.com/RhysVague96?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RhysVague96</a> at the Phoenix for the next 2 years! ? <a href="https://t.co/bzjb6cKA6B">pic.twitter.com/bzjb6cKA6B</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1650394140935421954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Being able to strengthen their perimeter shooting (they ranked last in threes made and equal last in three-point percentage in NBL23) and provide some depth to their frontcourt are other ways Vague thinks he can help this team take that next step to contending for a title.

“The way I play, isn’t gonna shock anyone crazily,” Vague admitted. 

“Pick-and-pop bigs that can switch on on-balls and play multiple positions. I can definitely bring some of that. And also, just being able to take some of the burden off Creek, being able to shift him to maybe more of the three sometimes and play line-ups with some bigger groups – even with Te Rangi playing the two, we can switch two through four. 

“I think that’s huge in today’s basketball. Rather than having to get into rotations off hard shows or drops, just staying out of those actions will help a lot. 

“[So] I think more on the defensive end. Like, offensive end I’m going to do what I do, pick-and-pop, take the open shots, make the extra pass, crash the o-boards, but I think defensively is where my impact will be most important.”

Vague also sees his game being a really good fit alongside the likes of Creek and Alan Williams in the frontcourt. Last season under Simon Mitchell, there was a heavy focus on post touches, Creek isolations or using Williams in high pick-and-roll sets.

That may change slightly under Kelly, but Vague knows that if those type of sets continue to feature heavily in the Phoenix playbook, it will create defensive challenges for their opponents with him on the floor alongside those two.

“Teams are going to have to choose what they’re going to give up,” Vague said. 

“With Creek and Williams, they’re going to attract a crowd, so when that crowd comes, I’m going to make sure I’m in the right spot, get in their eyeline to be there ready to shoot, or cut in behind them for an easy lay-up. 

“But also, if teams decide they don’t want to give up the pick and pop or the space shots to guys like myself, then there’s going to be no tag. It’s going to Creek and Williams going downhill and good luck. So, I think teams are going to have to pick what they’re going to give up and either way, we’re going to get a good look.”

There’s a lot to look forward to with Vague returning to the NBL. He’s definitely going to have a much bigger impact than he did before he left and the evolution of his game should be on full display (as it was with the Boomers in February), as soon as NBL24 tips off.

But Vague is probably as excited as anyone to be coming home. He’s looking forward to being back in Australia and establishing his roots in the Heartland for several reasons, both on court and off.

“On the court is being able to speak English which is going to be really cool,” he joked. 

“But seriously, playing with guys that have been in the Australian system, the system I grew up in, so we all know how to play basketball the same way. Like, guys being where you expect them to be is exciting for me - and to be honest, the communication side too.

“Off the court, having a bit more of a social life is exciting. It’s something that I didn’t really have over here a whole lot outside of Angus. But, also getting a good coffee. Being able to drive five minutes down the road and getting a good coffee is exciting. 

“And my family being able to watch more games and potentially coming out to Melbourne a bit, is also a huge factor.”

Vague will be back in Australia this week and will join the Phoenix in Melbourne ahead of their NBL24 pre-season.