Veteran Ronaldson is the Breakers spark

Forget Winston Peters, Tony Ronaldson is striking a magnificent blow for Grey Power with his impressive start to the Australian NBL for the Breakers.

Ronaldson, 36 years young and into his 20th season in the league, has been a big part of the Breakers' eye-catching start to the new season, the New Zealand franchise the only unbeaten side after the opening fortnight of competition.

The long-time Boomer who played over 200 internationals for his country will, around game nine of this new season, break Andrew Gaze's record for the most NBL matches played. That stands at 612 and the man they call The Bear is now within clawing distance of that mark.

But age neither wearies him, nor dims his effectiveness, if the first two matches of the Breakers' campaign are any indication. In the opening 114-93 home win over the Wollongong Hawks Ronaldson had nine points and nine assists in a solid night, and then last Thursday at the NSEC was one of three Breakers to pour in 23 points in the 120-111 victory over defending champions the Melbourne Tigers.

Ronaldson's stat line in the Tigers triumph – a result that made the rest of the league sit up and take notice – was simply outstanding. His haul came off just 10 shots (eight of which went in, including a perfect four-of-four from long-range) and with four rebounds and six assists, he underlined his value to the club, even in the dotage of his career.

Throw in some valuable minutes on defence putting the shackles on Tigers star Chris Anstey in the second half (held to just 10 points after 22 in the opening two periods), and you get the picture of a veteran really pulling his weight on the court. He's to the Breakers what Steve Price is to the Warriors.

Ronaldson's former Boomers team-mate and new Breakers recruit CJ Bruton couldn't resist taking a poke at his old running partner as he reflected on the big forward's contribution.

"It doesn't surprise me," said Bruton of Ronaldson's effort against the Tigers. "He'll probably pat himself on the back. And he should give himself one from me. He'll get a lot of good looks and he's a great scorer. He defended Anstey and San Mackinnon and he also delivered the ball great."

Coach Andrej Lemanis isn't the least shocked by the prime-time performances his most experienced player is putting up. Especially not now he's finally shaken of the Achilles tendon problems that slowed him last season.

"He contributes in different ways," said Lemanis. "Against the Hawks he had nine assists, and that helped us win. What I like about our group is we've got guys who just help you win. CJ has been a winner everywhere he's gone, Tony has too, and Dillon [Boucher] has shown he's been a winner wherever he's gone. They find ways to help you win, and you don't find that on the stat sheet."

Ronaldson was rapt with the Tigers result which confirms the Breakers as legitimate title threats this season, but he warned against reading too much into talk the Melburninans had been a chance to go undefeated through the season.

"People got a bit carried away, to be honest," he said. "They would have known that themselves. You go through ebbs and flows throughout any season. But for us, we  need to beat teams like that to be considered a legitimate threat.

"Whilst I wouldn't say it was a breakthrough game, it was an important one. It just says to the rest of the league ‘hey you better respect us' because we want make this a bit of a fortress.

"We want to make sure that when people come to play here they know they're going to get a tough game. You only do that by beating quality teams."

Whilst Penney dominated the opening victory, the Tigers match showed the varied threats the Breakers possess. Ronaldson, the hugely improved Oscar Forman and Bruton all went for 23, Penney chimed in with 20 even whilst playing with a cut finger on his shooting hand, centre Rick Rickert brought his usual huge energy, Phill Jones added a dozen off the bench and Boucher provided the hustle plays that have now become his trademark.

Added Ronaldson: "We're going to have nights like [the opening] week where Kirk goes off, but the beauty of this team is we've got different guys who can step up and really put the ball in the hole.

"But the key for us is defence. If we play defence our offence generally flows a lot more. Playing defence is what we need to do to win."

He's right, of course. With the scoring options this side has, defence is where they're going to be able to create separation. If they get stops, they're going to be hard to beat.

The Breakers should get another pretty accurate gauge of their form this Thursday in the third of five straight home games to open the season. The 2-1 Adelaide 36ers cross the ditch with a highly-rated lineup strengthened greatly by the addition of impressive Aussie US collegians Aaron Bruce and Luke Schensher.

- © Fairfax NZ News