What happened?

The Illawarra Hawks announced on Tuesday that they've re-signed young guard Johnny Narkle to a new two-year deal.

After a breakout first season in Hawks colours, Narkle has put pen to paper for two more years in Wollongong, which will keep him at the Foundation Club until the end of the Hungry Jack’s NBL28 Season.

Why it matters for Illawarra Hawks

Hawks General Manager of Basketball Mat Campbell said the re-signing was a reward for a young player who has done the work. “Johny showed plenty of promise in his first season with us,” Campbell said. “He earned his spot on the main roster, he competed every single night, and he never looked out of place at this level.

Recent form

The Hawks are on a 2-game winning run, with their last result being a 114-104 win over Melbourne United on 2025-03-23. Their recent form is 3W-0D-2L, with the following results: | Date | Opponent | Result | | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-03-23 | Melbourne United | 114-104 |

What comes next?

The 24-year-old guard arrived from Western Australia as a development player in NBL26, before making his debut on October 11, helping the Hawks defeat Brisbane 116-89. He finished the season with 18 games to his name, capped by a career-high 20 minutes in the season finale against the Tasmania JackJumpers, where he posted six points, four rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block.

Narkle was also part of a genuine piece of NBL history during his maiden campaign. In the NBL26 Indigenous Round, he took the floor alongside teammates Will Hickey and Biwali Bayles against New Zealand, marking the first time three Indigenous Australians shared the court for one NBL team in the same game.

The reigning NBL1 West MVP is currently averaging 23.6 points, 4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for Cockburn, highlighted by a season-high 40-point performance against the Goldfields Giants earlier this month. Narkle, 24, joins Tyler Harvey, Sam Froling, Will Hickey, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Daniel Grida, Todd Blanchfield, Mason Peatling and Kobe McDowell-White (team option) on Justin Tatum’s team for next season.

Current context

As of 05 Jul 2026, the Illawarra Hawks are looking to build on their recent form, with Narkle's re-signing a key part of their plans for the upcoming season. The team's current roster and recent performances make them a formidable opponent in the NBL, with fans eagerly anticipating their next game.