In a bizarre co-incidence, the two teams met at the same stage last season, when the the Breakers held a 5-1 record and were heavily favoured to beat Wollongong, but the visitors easily won 73-57.

As the players gazed at the championship banner being raised at the North Shore Events Centre last night, a few of them might have been contemplating whether they can add another one in 12 months' time.

The Breakers wore smiles at the end of tonight's match but for a long time they were grimaces as they stumbled their way to their first win at home this season.