Saints before honeymoon

ROSS GIBLIN/Dominion Post

REVIVED: Lindsay Tait, 27, said he was confident of rediscovering the old magic with the Saints.

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A revived Lindsay Tait has vowed to stop taking his sport so seriously as he embarks on a basketball honeymoon with the Wellington Saints.

Tait married long-time sweetheart Anna last Saturday in Auckland but, rather than putting his feet up in Fiji, he left his new bride and three-year-old son Mikaere behind to link up with the Saints.

Such a move would put a strain on most new marriages, but Tait chuckled that it was always part of the gameplan.

"My girl comes down Friday. She's cool, they've both been around the world with me, they kind of know how it all works so she's real supportive. We always agreed we'd do the honeymoon at a later date.

"It was one of the best days of my life in the end, but I am glad it's finished because it was pretty stressful."

Tait and the Saints have played a game of cat-and-mouse since his Australian NBL campaign with the Wollongong Hawks ended in February.

Tait was set to join the Saints immediately but then he and Tall Blacks team-mate Nick Horvath pulled out citing physical and emotional exhaustion.

But some R&R with friends and family convinced Tait to rejoin the Saints once the wedding cake had been eaten.

"I came back [from Wollongong] and my body did need a rest, not only your body but even your mind I think, it takes a bit of a toll after a while. But my time in Auckland was good, with my family and with the wedding out of the way I managed to get to a point where I was happy coming back and playing."

Tait played 20 minutes in the Saints' victory over Hawke's Bay last Friday, but struggled to make his usual mark on the stats sheet.

While it may take a few more games, starting with an away trip against winless Taranaki tonight, Tait, 27, said he was confident of rediscovering the old magic.

"My dad said it's like riding a bike, so hopefully it will be. I think my best years are probably still ahead of me. I think a lot of players' best years are late 20s, early 30s, so I think that'll be the same for me."

The career of Tait, long one of New Zealand's great talents, appeared to have stalled recently, and the dynamic point guard feels he's now ready to start with a fresh approach.

"I kind of think I was starting to take the game a little bit too serious.

"Being back kind of in the real world with real people, it made me realise that it's just a game and there's a lot bigger things going on in the world so maybe don't take it so serious."

Tait's role with the Saints will be to give current playmaker Luke Martin a breather and he expects to also spend time at shooting guard, rotating with Troy McLean and Mike Efevberha.

Along with another high-profile returnee, Brendon Polyblank, it gives the third-placed Saints (6-2) the most exciting back-court in the NBL.

"With the Saints there's obviously unfinished business, I'd love to win a title here.

"I'm a little bit older now and I've won in this league and done some things in this league before. I consider myself a point guard first and foremost but I'm more than willing to play the two."

- © Fairfax NZ News