Steve Deane: Breakers emerge from wreckage of past campaigns

CJ Bruton reacts during the Breakers game three win over the Wildcats. Photo / Getty Images

It has taken 17 seasons but a New Zealand sports team is finally in pole position to take out an Australian club title.

That clearly won't sit well with Australians.

After being wiped off the North Shore Events Centre court last night the Wildcats cleared the building in record time, not even bothering to show for the press conference.

Brilliant. That's exactly the sort of reaction Kiwi sports fans will lap up.

Having risen up from the wreckage of four fruitless losing campaigns during which extended losing streaks tended to be broken up by occasional wins, the Breakers are perhaps are unlikely candidates to achieve such a breakthrough success.

But this club has built steadily in recent seasons under stable ownership and a coach who has the belief of his players.

First came key Aussies Tony Ronaldson and CJ Bruton, proven winners both. Then the jewel in the crown, Kirk Penney, committed to the cause.

Penney is a world class player. He may just lack the game to differentiate himself from the galaxy of hopefuls targeting the NBA, but in the ANBL he is a class apart.

The Breakers have been winners much more often than they have been losers since Penney's arrival.

Surrounding Penney and Bruton is a solid core of Kiwis, the tenacious Mika Vukona, the spring-heeled Tom Abercrombie, the street fighter Dillon Boucher, the savvy Paul Henare and the giant Alex Pledger.

Americans Kevin Braswell and Gary Wilkinson are the final pieces that ensure the whole is greater than the sum of its individual parts.

Sure, the job isn't done yet. But the Wildcats loomed as the Breakers' toughest playoff opponent.

Townsville and Cairns, the potential grand final foes who decide their series on Sunday, don't hold the same fears. Not for a Breakers side that has proved it can turn it on when it matters.

The 4000 fans that packed into the NSCE last night also deserve a nod. So often Kiwi sports fans sit on their hands. Not Breakers fans. The atmosphere last night was electric.

Bruton implored them to repeat the dose when game one of grand final series tips off next Wednesday. You get the feeling they will have plenty to cheer about.