Roller Hawks captain Tristan Knowles has his eyes on the prize. Photo: Roller Hawks.
Illawarra Roller Hawks captain and star player Tristan Knowles OAM has one clear mission as his side heads into Friday night’s (29 August) National Wheelchair Basketball League semi-final against the Darwin Salties — to soar straight into the gold medal game and deliver another championship to the region.
Knowles has been the architect behind the Roller Hawks’ 2025 campaign, orchestrating a recruitment drive that brought Jordi Ruiz as the club’s first import in a decade, alongside domestic signings Jontee Brown and Tomas Klein.
“We spent a lot of time over the off-season putting together a squad we thought would bring further success to the club,” Knowles said.
“The whole aim of the roster we put together was bringing back another championship to the Illawarra.”
It’s a strategy that appears to be paying dividends, securing a top-two finish for a chance in the semi final on Friday against Darwin at Northern Beaches.
Winner of the semi final will advance to Sunday’s grand final, while the loser will get a second chance against the winner of Perth Wheelcats versus Southern Districts Spartans.
That was the path the Roller Hawks took last season but the side will be hoping to secure a win on Friday to earn a rest day on Saturday.
But Knowles knows they face a formidable challenge when they take on Darwin.
He said the two teams fought out last year’s grand final, with Darwin winning by just three points.
“We expect nothing but fireworks,” he said.
For Knowles, the recruitment wasn’t just about adding skill – it was about finding players who would enhance the Roller Hawks’ culture while pushing existing squad members to new heights.
“We know they’re great people, and contribute to the really positive culture we’ve created at the Roller Hawks,” he said.
“But also, it certainly puts pressure on local members of the Roller Hawks to make sure they’re putting their best foot forward, so to speak.
“We’re a club that wants to create the right opportunities for all players to be as successful as they can be.”
He said that meant opportunities beyond the club, such as Brown and Klein earning selection for the Australian Rollers’ recent European tour – a campaign that saw Australia reach the final of an eight-nation tournament in Germany before winning a five-game series in Italy 3-2.
Knowles’ drive for excellence stems from a childhood that took an unexpected turn.
He originally dreamed of playing AFL football with Hawthorn, admitting to being “absolutely obsessed with the idea”.
“As life turns out, I was thrown a couple of curveballs, and that came in the form of bone cancer at the age of nine,” he said.
“That led to an above-knee amputation of my leg and lots of time in hospital, away from school and from friends.”
Two years into remission, he had a relapse, with the cancer returning in his lung.
“From a survival perspective, that was a lot more serious,” he said.
“I learned some really valuable lessons that my parents and doctor helped me to understand around being really grateful for the fact I survived that and understanding there’s always someone worse off than yourself.
“Coming out the other side of a second battle with cancer, I was faced with the challenge of replacing that dream of playing AFL football.”
Wheelchair basketball became that replacement at 15, setting him on a journey that has included six Paralympic Games and seven professional seasons in Europe.
“It set my life in a direction I could have never anticipated,” he said.
“I have to pinch myself sometimes that my life has turned out the way it has.
“The thing I learned as a kid was I really wanted to make the most of opportunities, knowing you don’t always get a second chance at some things.
“How that’s translated into my mindset around basketball is, I want to do the absolute best I can in every single game.
“That’s turned into a very healthy competitive spirit, and I certainly don’t like losing.”
Knowles said that was the case this weekend, but believed they had done the work.
“We’ve left no stone unturned, and we’re ready to go into this game and give it our best shot,” he said.
Knowles acknowledged the community support that made the Just Better Care Roller Hawks’ campaign possible, particularly as a regional team relying on volunteers and sponsors.
“When we take the court, we’ll be doing so representing all of our sponsors and volunteers in the community we live in.”
NWBL finals games will be broadcast live on Kayo.
