Greg Hire. Photo: Getty Images.
Camera IconGreg Hire. Photo: Getty Images. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Wildcat Greg Hire to join Rockingham Flames at conclusion of NBL season

Vanessa SchmittWeekend Kwinana Courier

PERTH Wildcats vice captain Greg Hire will join the Rockingham Flames Men’s SBL team in the upcoming SBL season.

The WA product, who attended Augusta State and has played in more than 200 NBL games, will join the team at the conclusion of the current NBL season.

Hire will join the young and talented Men’s SBL group, who narrowly missed the playoffs last year and are looking to take another step towards the ultimate success in 2018.

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Along with team captain Ryan Godfrey and veteran player Jarryd Griffin, Hire will provide cultural and leadership qualities.

Head Coach Brad Samuelson is excited for the potential of his group in 2018.

“Greg provides and element of competitiveness and relentlessness that lots of our group hasn’t been exposed to,” he said.

“To add a guy of Greg’s experience, who possesses so many winning qualities, is a very exciting time for our young group.

“We have the potential to develop into a team that constantly competes for a championship and this addition only helps that and lifts our ceiling even higher.”

Hire said he was excited for the opportunity to join a club that showed plenty of promise last year and has some incredible young talent.

“I will be using my experience and influence that I’ve learned throughout my career on some of these younger guys, but more so looking forward to working with the coaching staff in the pursuit of championship success,” he said.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing at The Hothouse and have fond memories of playing against club stalwarts Travis Moore and Jarryd Griffin, who I regard as one of the toughest competitors.

“The club, its members, and players like Jar, deserve to taste success and I’m eager to help this club grow and reach their goals.”

Hire will play an important role in mentoring younger local players who will be bolstered by the return of Callum Beard, who has finished his time at the Basketball Centre of Excellence in Canberra.

Juniors Luke Travers and Kane Waters will also benefit from their times shared with Hire both on and off the courts as they prepare to bounce between their time in Rockingham and the Centre of Excellence in Canberra.

The Men’s and Women’s programs season starts on March 16 with a home game opener against Stirling. This will be followed by a Ronald McDonald House Charity Celebrity game and Men’s game against Kalgoorlie on March 17.