Wildcats resigned to being without Rogers
Posted
Perth Wildcats forward Alex Loughton says the team needs to be prepared to play most of the NBL season without captain Paul Rogers.
Rogers is yet to play a game this campaign because of a leg injury, but coach Conner Henry is hopeful he will return to the court next month.
Loughton says the Wildcats' forwards need to work hard to overcome the captain's absence.
"We've just got to be moving forward with the group that we've got," he said.
"I don't think we can rely on any certain date for him to get back.
"I'm not sure what his recovery schedule is like, I heard it's going well but I'm not sure, and I've just got to assume that this is the team we've got right now."
The Wildcats are in fourth position on the ladder and have lost five of their six games against the top three, including last week's defeats to New Zealand and Melbourne.
Henry says Perth's championship hopes rest on its ability to beat the best teams.
"We have not shown well against the top three teams," he said.
"If we want to make any splash at the end of the season we've got to get to that fourth spot, remain there, put pressure on those top three, and then play-offs is a whole different time of year."
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