Australia’s men’s national wheelchair basketball team, the Rollers, will continue their preparations for the Paris 2024 Paralympics when they fly to the United States for their toughest test yet against the reigning Paralympic champions. 

 Just Better Care Illawarra & Southern Highlands Roller Hawks Tristan Knowles, Shawn Russell and Luke Pople will suit up for the Aussies against Team USA in the “Coastal Continental Clash” which will take place at Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina from June 5-9, 2024.

“It’s the last chance to test our blueprint against the best in the world, so an incredible opportunity and we get back three or four days before our opening round of NWBL,” says Australian captain and Roller Hawk Tristan Knowles.

Credit: IWBF

“It’s been a really good year for the squad, it’s felt like a gradual build for us. We went undefeated at the qualifiers and booked our spot for Paris and so we knew we were onto something potentially pretty special.”

“We came back from Europe two months ago and tested ourselves against some of Europe’s best as well and again remained undefeated so there’s a belief in the team now if we all turn up and get our job done we’re capable of something potentially really special in Paris.”

Between Paralympics and World Championships, the USA have won gold at three of the last four majors including gold at Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016 as well as last year’s World Championships in Dubai.

It’s the ultimate test for the Rollers and a far cry from their preparations going into the last Paralympics amid COVID.

“When you look at the preparation for Tokyo compared to now it’s just worlds apart. It was so hard just to get our squad together within Australia in the lead up to Tokyo and you look at the lead up we’ve had this year, you couldn’t have designed a better preparation for the Rollers.”

One man who won’t be flying to America but is now an integral part of the Rollers once again is Roller Hawks captain Brett Stibners, now an assistant coach with the national team.

The four time Paralympian took up the role when Brad Ness was appointed coach last year and has quickly settled back into the national program.

“I’m very happy with how things are going. I’m very happy with how I’ve been accepted. I’ve played with some of these guys for decades and they’ve been very good welcoming me back into the fold and we’ve had a really good preparation leading into the Paralympics.”

Although ready to play in this year’s national league, Stibners is happy to be on the sideline for the Aussies.

“I see the game differently than Brad does and he just asks my opinion on how I see things and then he makes a decision on the direction on which we need to go in.”

“There’s another assistant coach Darren Allie who brings another set of skills as well. He’s been in the game probably thirty or forty years and has a lot more experience than Brad or I do in the coaching department and he’s that calming figure. I’ve really learned a lot from him.”

The Rollers will return from their nine day dash to the US and head straight into the national league with seven teams competing in the men’s league while four teams will compete in the women’s league.

The Just Better Care Wollongong Roller Hawks begin their campaign against league newcomers Manly Wheel Eagles with two games in the Illawarra on Saturday June 15th with a game at 12pm at Shellharbour City Stadium and at 7pm at the Snake Pit. A third game will be played in Manly at the Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon at 5:30pm.

Coastal Continental Clash - USA vs AUSTRALIA

Thursday, June 6: Australia vs. USA at 6:30 PM (Friday 7th June 8:00 AM AEST)

Friday, June 7: Australia vs. USA at 6:30 PM (Saturday 8th June 8:00 AM AEST)

Saturday, June 8: Australia vs. USA at 6:30 PM (Sunday 9th June 8:00 AM AEST)

Sunday, June 9: USA vs. Australia at 9:00 AM (Sunday 9th June 11:00PM AEST)

All games will be streamed live on the NWBA’s Facebook page.