Sam Simons: NBL1 Central MVP moves South

The NBL1 Central MVP, Sam Simons has made a major cross-conference move for the 2023 NBL1 season. 

After averaging 21.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Forestville Eagles, Simons will make the move to the NBL1 South Melbourne Tigers this coming season starting on April 1st.

Speaking to NBL Media, Simons explained how impactful winning last season’s NBL1 Central MVP was to her. 

"It was really cool. I've come up from U10s all the way through Forestville, and then getting that award at the senior level was pretty cool,” she said.

“I had put a lot of work in last year, so being rewarded with that was awesome. [Going back-to-back] would be pretty cool, but to be honest, I'm not focusing on that,” she said,

“I just want to go over, have fun with the Melbourne Tigers girls and hopefully have another good season. What comes of it will come we'll have to wait and see.”

Congratulations to Forestville Eagles’ Samantha Simons and South Adelaide Panthers’ Jeremy Smith for taking home the #NBL1Central MVP Awards ? pic.twitter.com/uRDSfFwxR0

— NBL1 (@NBL1) August 14, 2022

The head coach of the Tigers is none other than club legend Warwick Giddey, who took over the women’s NBL1 side last season. Simons said that Giddey’s experience and the rich history of the Tigers sold her on moving over to the NBL1 South. 

“He's (Warwick Giddey) had so much success at the club as a player, and they have so much history going all the way back,” she said.

“So I think he has a really good passion for the club. And he was obviously a good player, so I'm really excited to play for him.”

One of the biggest influences on her decision to move was her partner Jack Piurahcase, the pair played for the women’s and men’s sides at Forstville and the Tigers junior was able to convince Simons to play for his original club for the 2023 season. 

“So he came over and played over here with Forestville last year. So we kind of wanted to go and play over in Melbourne, and I thought it was a good opportunity to switch conferences,” she said.

“[South] is obviously really strong with a lot of WNBL players playing in it. So that was my main reasoning.”

Being a WNBL player herself with the Adelaide Lightning, Simons explained that the NBL1 competition has grown stronger each year she’s played in it. 

Having multiple teammates who are also NBL1 players with the Lightning, Simons said it’s exciting how much talent is on display and for her to play against in this coming 2023 season. 

“The NBL1 provides a great pathway to the WNBL, and it's really cool playing with other NBL1 athletes (with the Lightning) and I guess I'll compete against some of them as well in the NBL1 South as well. 

“[It] will be really exciting to play with them and then compete against them too.” 

The NBL1 South starts on April 1, see the full fixture here.