TRAGARDH TOUCHES DOWN WITH HAWKS | Rockhampton Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rockhampton

BASKETBALL: WOLLONGONG Hawks match-winner Cameron Tragardh has played basketball all over the world but still rates the Rockhampton crowd the best.

Tragardh will touch down in Rockhampton with the Hawks today ahead of tomorrow night'sMotel 98 NBL Pre-Season Shootout against the Gold Coast Blaze at Hegvold Stadium.

The former Rockhampton Stadium Nightclub Rockets crowd favourite said yesterday he could not wait to hit the court in front of the Rockhampton faithful once again this weekend.

"I'm definitely looking forward to playing in Rocky and in front of the home crowd ... and getting cheered this time," laughed Tragardh, whose last game at Hegvold Stadium was in Northside Wizards colours against the Rockets in June.

"I can't wait to come back, just playing in front of that crowd, it's pretty special when you hit a shot and they're just losing they're minds.

"If I could take them with me (for every game), I'd be a better basketballer."

Tragardh, who was in action for the Hawks in game one of their double-header against the Blaze on the Gold Coast last night, said he expected the Rocky crowd to get behind Wollongong.

"I'm hoping the Rocky fans jump on the Hawks' bandwagon and we can form some kind of link between Rocky and Wollongong," said Tragardh, who is joined by Rockets point guard Rhys Martin on the Wollongong playing roster this season. The Hawks have enjoyed a mixed start to their pre-season campaign so far, with two wins and two losses from their matches against the Sydney Spirit and Adelaide 36ers.

Tragardh was one of the stars for the Hawks in Adelaide last weekend, hitting a game-high 27 points in Wollongong's 118-111 win over the 36ers before again top-scoring with 20 points in the Hawks' 95-83 loss to Adelaide.

The 24-year-old big man said he was gearing up for another bumper season in the NBL after he was named the competition's most improved player last season.

"I feel fit. It's been a great off-season and I'm just trying to ride that into the pre-season and the season," Tragardh said.

"I'm not resting on any laurels and I'm coming in hungry on September 18."

The Hawks launch their 2008-09 NBL championship assault on the road against the New Zealand Breakers on September 18 while the Blaze tip-off their campaign at home against the Cairns Taipans the next night.

With the Hawks adding former Brisbane Bullet Dusty Rychart and Australian Boomer Glen Saville to their squad in the off-season, Tragardh is confident the Hawks can reach this year's play-offs.

"I think it's such a tough competition this year it's so close," he said.

"I'm not going to say we can go deep (into the finals) but we definitely have the potential to."

The Blaze, led by Australian basketball legend Shane Heal, hit Rockhampton following a successful Queensland Cup pre-season tournament in Cairns last weekend.

Tickets are still available at Hegvold Stadium for tomorrow night's match.