McCall headlines Taipans injury list

The Cairns Taipans are walking wounded heading into the opening round of NBL24, with as many as five players fighting to prove their fitness ahead of Saturday’s season-opener.

Star wing Bul Kuol is continuing his recovery from a wrist injury suffered in pre-season with no certainty on his availability for Round 1, while import Tahjere McCall is expected to miss a number of weeks with a hip injury.

Development player Kian Dennis is likely to be sidelined for a number of weeks himself with a dislocated shoulder, while young guard Taran Armstrong (ribs) and import big Josh Roberts (ankle) are battling the clock to take to the court on Sunday.

“He’s progressing nicely but the reality is we won’t have him back for at least the first couple of rounds,” Forde said of McCall.

“It’s the same hip injury, a recurring thing we have to navigate.

“We don’t want to make the call too early on anything.”

Armstrong sat out of part of Cairns’ Tuesday training session nursing a rib issue suffered at the Blitz, while Roberts didn’t hit the court at all as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

The Taipans open their NBL24 season against last year’s runners-up – New Zealand – on Saturday evening.