I congratulate the Manly Wheel Eagles on an outstanding end to their 2026 season. In August the Wheel Eagles claimed their first National Wheelchair Basketball League [NWBL] 5 x 5 championship, defeating the Red Dust Heelers 81-74 in a fiercely contested grand final in Melbourne. The victory followed their second consecutive 3 x 3 national championship, completing a remarkable national double. I extend special congratulations to head coach Koen Jansens and to Tom O'Neill-Thorne, who was named the NWBL Finals Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Formed in 2023, the Manly Wheelchair Basketball Association works to remove barriers to participation and provide pathways from grassroots involvement through to elite competition. The Wheel Eagles' success demonstrates just how much this young association has already achieved. I congratulate the players, coaches, volunteers and supporters who contributed to this historic season. It is a tremendous achievement and a proud moment for all of us in the community.
Read this Community Recognition Statement in NSW Hansard here.