Focus On Game And Going Forward: Mat Break Our Spirit

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday December 20, 2007

By TIM KEEBLE

WOLLONGONG captain Mat Campbell believes the Hawks' senior players are responsible for keeping their less experienced team-mates focused during the club's financial crisis.

Campbell has spent his entire 13-year career with the Hawks and admitted the club's fading survival hopes were "playing on people's minds".

Tonight a nine-man Wollongong outfit will try to block out the off-court crisis when they meet the Breakers in New Zealand.

Tomorrow morning they will fly straight to Townsville for a Saturday night clash with the Crocodiles.

"We can't lose focus of the game itself and what we are there to do," Campbell said.

"We're there to improve the younger guys on the squad. A lot of these guys will have a long career in the NBL and no matter what the situation for our club, we're obligated to them to continue their development. If it's not with us and we don't have a team, we're obligated to the game to make sure these kids get better and they go on and play better and our league gets better. That way Australian basketball moves forward."

After fearing an Achilles injury could end his season, Campbell has become far more concerned about the Hawks' perilous state.

He played his third game after a seven-match lay-off in last Sunday's loss to Sydney and will do his best to soldier on against the Breakers.

"The Achilles isn't feeling too awesome, but I'll be playing," he said moments before boarding a flight to New Zealand yesterday.

"We're coming off a good game against Sydney and if we play as well as we played against them we'll beat most teams."

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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