The Just Better Care Roller Hawks have edged past the Red Dust Heelers in a Sunday thriller at Shellharbour City Stadium to sweep the weekend 3-0 and maintain an unbeaten start to the 2026 NWBL season. 

The home side was down by as many as nine midway through the first half but fought back to be locked at 45 all going into the final quarter.

Red Dust’s Damon Fent opened the scoring in the fourth quarter to push the visitors ahead by two but from there it was all Wollongong, shutting the Heelers out and scoring 16 points of their own to secure a 61-47 win.

The Roller Hawks had an easier time of it in the weekend’s earlier games winning 73-37 on Friday and 67-47 on Saturday. 

“Our energy and effort all weekend was great. We asked Steve Elliott to chase around Bedzeti all weekend and he did, and didn't complain once. 
That's a really tough thing, too, because Bedzeti is world class. And he did a great job on him,” said Roller Hawks coach Brett Stibners.

“Scoring being shared around with the players as well, keeping our space, all the things that we've been working on preseason, come to fruition. It took a little more time this game, up to probably the last four minutes of this game. 
But when we started playing that way it looked really good, and I think we scored the last 16 points in the game.”

Return of Jontee and Jaylen

The Roller Hawks and Red Dust will meet again next week as part of Kevin Coombs Indigenous Round with all 6 NWBL teams descending on Narrandjeri Stadium in Melbourne. 

The Heelers will welcome back 2025 high point MVP Jaylen Brown and the Roller Hawks welcome back Jontee Brown (no relation) after the pair went down three games to one in the championship series in the Turkish league.

“Jontee provides a lot for us. Outside shooting, post up, getting to the basket. Great defender, big body, too. So, we're a bit light in the high point department, that's why my name was thrown up, but it's gonna be great to have him back.”

While shooters Tristan Knowles, Luke Pople and new recruit Phil Evans have attracted much of the spotlight to date, the contribution made by veteran Shawn Russell in Jontee’s absence has ensured the Roller Hawks scoreboard kept ticking over when outside shots weren’t dropping.

“It's good. I’m happy to come in and just help. I think I've been around for a while now, so just got to slow things down a little bit and let us get into that offense without rushing it,” said Russell.

Russell is averaging 10.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in 20 minutes per game but will be happy to see Jontee Brown back in the line up next week.

“Can’t come soon enough. It will be good to get some more minutes on the bench. We’ve got some guys on the Aussie team, you want them to shine, right? So it'd be good to have him back and just add more strength to our team.”

Still More Gears to Find

Stibners says the Roller Hawks have more levels to lift to and will need them with the task only getting tougher from here on in.

“We can go up another level for sure. With Jontee back, it takes the pressure off Tristan to have to score as much as he has and I think he'll be better for that. Jontee will make a huge difference for us,” said Stibners.

“I think we just feel like we're starting. We're still getting familiar with each other with Phil as the inclusion, so we're starting to learn to play with each other. 
I think it's exciting,”  said Russell. 

“There’s going to be some hard teams coming up, with Jaylen coming back for Red Dust,”

“We've got them next weekend and you got other guys coming back from here. We’ve got Jontee next week so it's going to be another change to the team as well. 
I feel like we've got an unlimited ceiling at the moment. Yeah, hopefully it continues on the upward trajectory.”

The Roller Hawks travel to Melbourne on Friday ahead of the clash with Red Dust on Saturday afternoon and Perth on Sunday.

SEASON DRAW FULL FIXTURES go to rollerhawks.com.au or wba.net.au 

ROUND 4 – KEVIN COOMBS INDIGENOUS ROUND

Narrandjeri Stadium, VIC

Saturday 4 July vs Red Dust Heelers 3:30pm – 5 on 5

Sunday 5 July vs Perth Wheelcats 10:00am – 5 on 5

 

ROUND 5 – vs VICTORIA MARVELS

Shellharbour City Stadium, NSW

Friday 31 July 6:15pm – 3x3 7:00pm – 5 on 5

Saturday 1 August 2:15pm – 3x3 3:00pm – 5 on 5

Sunday 2 August 11:00am – 5 on 5