Newley named Player of the Week

Brad Newley became the second Townsville Crocodile to win the Player of the Week award in the 2006/07 season after two stunning Round Six performances.

The young 199cm Boomers forward was in outstanding form for the Crocodiles, averaging 27.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks, while shooting 20-from-33 (61%) from the field and 9-from-12 (75%) from the free throw line.

In Townsville’s nail-biting 127-126 win over the New Zealand Breakers, the 21-year-old was the focal point of the offence finishing with 24 points, including 10 in the first quarter to get his team off to a hot start. Newley also dished out four assists, grabbed three rebounds, swiped two steals, and had one block.

The South Australian junior backed up two days later with a game-high 30 points in his team’s tough loss to the Melbourne Tigers. In addition, Newley collected three steals, two blocks, and six rebounds against the star-studded Tigers.

Though Newley, who is an NBA Draft prospect for 2007, has shined all year for Townsville, he is more worried about the immediate task of moving his team up the Philips Championship ladder.

“It’s a great honour to win the award, it is just unfortunate that we came out of the round with one win from two outings. I think we could have played better against Melbourne they are a great team but in the end our turnovers got the better of us,” Newley said.

“The win in New Zealand was important, it got the monkey off our backs as our recent away record hasn’t been that great and we as a group know we have to get some wins away from home,” he added.

“But now its time to put those games to the side and start to focus on getting another win against the Dragons this week.”

Newley beat Adelaide 36ers import Nick Horvath by the narrowest of margins for this week’s honours. Horvath picked up 26 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks, two steals, and one assist in his team’s 103-88 win over the South Dragons.

Round Two player of the week winner Martin Cattalini also had a tremendous week, averaging a double-double with 23.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, as his team went 1-1 for the round.

Other players in the running for the Player of the Week award for Round Six included Justin Bailey (West Sydney), Ben Pepper (New Zealand), Willie Farley (Adelaide), David Barlow (Sydney), Tony Ronaldson (Perth), Shawn Redhage (Perth), Mike Helms (Singapore), Larry Abney (Townsville), Shane Heal (South), Rodney Elliott (Sydney), and Sam Mackinnon (Brisbane).

For winning the Player of the Week award this round, Newley will receive Philips’ latest Dual DECT/Internet Skype phone - Simplicity is making discounted and free phone calls to your friends and family all around the world.