Perth must fix leadership issues: Gleeson

Dec 23, 2017 - 4:31 PM Perth coach Trevor Gleeson concedes the NBL champions have leadership issues to resolve in the absence of injured skipper Damian Martin.

Beaten at home by Brisbane last week, the Wildcats were upset 96-84 by an injury-ravaged Illawarra Hawks on Saturday night in Wollongong.

Martin missed both games with an ankle injury, adding weight to the theory the competition leaders are highly vulnerable whenever their skipper is out.

"Maybe it is something we have to look out when Damo's out because his leadership and inspiration out on the court is not replaceable, and we couldn't find that anywhere in his absence," Gleeson said.

"We started really well, a textbook start, and then we fell to pieces.

"We've got guys who have won two or three championships and there was no leadership out there. There was no take our time and get through it. It was deer in the headlights stuff and we certainly know what we have to work on.

"The last two weeks have been really disappointing."

Martin is expected to miss Perth's New Year's Eve away game against Cairns.

"He just got the boot off and started running, and we'll wait for medical advice on that," Gleeson said.

Perth remain second with 10 wins from 15 games, while the Hawks (6-9) broke a four-match losing streak.

"I keep saying it over and over that the character of these guys is just amazing," Illawarra coach Rob Beveridge said.

"You lose players (to injury) before the game and it's so easy to make excuses. You're playing the No.1 team in the country and the expectation is that we're not going to win the game, and that was one of the biggest character wins I've ever coached."

The Hawks play twice at home next week - against Cairns on Thursday and Brisbane on Sunday.

"It's three games in eight days and I'm glad they're all at home," Beveridge said.

"That was an incredible character win for us because our backs were against the wall, but it means absolutely nothing unless we come out with the same attitude in the next two games."

Source: AAP