A family reunion set for Sunshine Coast

A family reunion is set to take the court in brothers Jamaal and Darnell Robateau for the NBL1 North’s Sunshine Coast Phoenix, ahead of their hopeful 2024 season.

The pair will represent the Phoenix uniform together for the first time since June of 2022, with a season-ending ACL injury leaving Darnell sidelined for the entire 2023 season. 

The 26-year-old guard believed his Sunshine Coast side were on the rise before his extended injury, and is hopeful the team can pick up where they left off.

“Right before I got injured we had something going, I’m excited to get back to it,” Darnell told 7 News Sunshine Coast.

The siblings are two of the best scorers in the competition when healthy, with Jamaal averaging 19.8 points last season, while Darnell averaged 15 per game in his eight games during the 2022 season. 

Phoenix Men’s head coach, Sean Page expressed his excitement in having the brothers back in the starting line-up, revealing a promising showing from Darnell.

“Darnell’s a really talented young player, and his best basketball is ahead of him,” Page said.

“To have the two brothers in the same line-up is something to really look forward to.”

Jamaal, the older out of the two was thrilled to have his brother back healthy.

“In a Phoenix jersey, we haven’t played too many minutes together – because he’s been injured or I’ve been injured,” he said.

 The Phoenix finished 10th on the ladder last season, but will look to become a threat in the NBL1 North competition with the brother-act in full play.

The Robateau brothers will face the Southern Districts Spartans on Sunday, April 14 in Round 1 of the 2024 season.