Basketball New Zealand

Christchurch Cougars

Richard Knowler, The Press
The new Canterbury Cougars basketball franchise has made a powerful statement ahead of next season by signing Tall Blacks Paul Henare and Paora Winitana and Australian Tim Behrendorff.

The trio yesterday confirmed to Andrew and Amy Gardiner, who will run the franchise in the national basketball league, that they will join the Christchurch-based side which has replaced the Canterbury Rams.

The three players are playing in the Australian National Basketball League competition, with guard Henare and centre Behrendorff on the New Zealand Breakers’ roster. Winitana, a guard, represents the Adelaide 36ers.

“This shows we are serious about going out to win the championship next season,” Amy Gardiner said last night.

“We are not just going out to be competitive; we know we have to make a statement from the beginning.”

The Cougars will aim to build their squad around the three players, mostly by recruiting locals.

By grabbing Henare, Winitana and Behrendorff the Gardiners will hope to give the franchise credibility and bolster the confidence of prospective players and former Rams supporters.

Henare carries a big reputation as a point guard, while Behrendorff is regarded as a “seven footer” who can dominate the paint.

The Cougars will be hoping the pair can carry the strong form seen by the Breakers in the first half of their season into the NBL.

Henare, especially, has the ability to make things happen and is the only player to be on the Breakers’ elite roster in its opening five seasons. Before this season the co-captain had played 157 of the club’s games, 130 of them in succession, and was the all-time leader in games played, assists and steals.

Like Winitana he joins the Cougars from the financially-strapped Hawkes Bay.

Andrew Gardiner has been busy using his contacts from around the country, having represented Canterbury, Saints and North Harbour. He will concentrate on coaching the side, while his wife is involved in administration.

Although the Cougars do not yet have a naming sponsor, it is understood they are being underwritten by Christchurch interests.

Discussions with the players have taken place over the last month and the Gardiners wasted little time in making their move once the Rams confirmed they would not return next year. The clock is ticking to get more players, with the Cougars’ opening game expected to be against Waikato in mid-March.

Despite the Cougars being new to the competition, Gardiner said it should not be difficult to attract other players because the team does not have any baggage. “It’s easier from where we are coming from. We have no bad history, we have no debt,” she said.

Eight other players have signed letters of intent which will expire at the end of the week.

* Meanwhile the Cougars will hold a training run and trial on Thursday and Saturday at Cashmere High and QEII Stadium. Thursday night’s training run will be at 7pm at Cashmere High, while the trial will take place in two parts between 9-11am and 1-3pm at QEII Stadium.