Courtside Collection: Gausa Arnold – The Man Behind the Mic

When the lights dim and the bass rumbles around the Cairns Convention Centre, there’s one voice that slices through the noise — commanding, familiar and brimming with Far North pride.

For more than a decade, Gausa Arnold has been the heartbeat of the Orange Army, the on-court MC whose booming introductions set the stage for every Kenfrost Homes Cairns Taipans home game.

But long before he was hyping up thousands of fans under the beaming lights, Arnold was a young kid from Cairns falling in love with basketball — thanks to a friend who changed his life.

“I was playing rugby league back in Grade 6 when one of my teammates, Shaun Henley, asked if I wanted to give basketball a try,” Arnold recalled.

“I went for a game and loved it ever since. I took the skills I had from footy — the sidestepping, the evasion — and just went from there.”

Arnold’s family couldn’t always afford the travel and fees that came with junior basketball. Unbeknownst to him at the time, Henley’s parents — Rob and Laurie Henley — quietly covered many of those costs, driving him to tournaments in Mackay and Townsville.

“It wasn’t until years later I realised how much they did for me,” Arnold said. “They’re the reason I was able to keep playing.”

That generosity paved the way for a remarkable journey. After being overlooked for a number of years, Arnold captained Queensland’s under-18 and under-20 state teams, even leading the side that became the only team to beat Victoria — a powerhouse that featured future Australian Boomers like Sam Mackinnon and CJ Bruton, as well as future Boomers assistant coach David Patrick.

By 15, Arnold was suiting up for the Cairns Marlins. The early 1990s weren’t always kind on the scoreboard, but they forged lifelong bonds.

“The old boys taught us every sneaky trick in the book,” he laughed. “Anytime I drove through the key, I’d get smashed by an elbow — but it toughened me up.”

When American coach Rod Popp arrived in 1992, everything changed. Popp professionalised the club from the ground up — new gear, new courts, new standards. Starting at the top it eventually trickled down to everyone including the juniors.

“He eliminated every excuse,” Arnold said. “We weren’t the most athletic or skilled, but we worked the hardest. There was an amazing culture and atmosphere around Cairns Basketball back then."

That work paid off. With various teammates like Chuckie White, Ben Johnson, George Butler, Anthony Alison, Billy Ross, Chris Sneed and Aaron Grabau to name a few, the Marlins became a Queensland powerhouse — winning state titles in 1993, 1994, 1997 and 1998, and a national championship in 1998 after close defeats in 1994 and 1997.

Arnold’s time as a fierce guard was central to the Marlins’ rise, highlighted by tours across the United States where he went head to head with a young Steve Nash at Santa Clara University along with Mike Bibby while he was playing for the Arizona Wildcats. 

A proud Descendant of Malu Ki’ai peoples of Boigu Island  (Torres Strait Islands) and the Kiwai peoples of Daru Island (Papua New Guinea).

The fleet-footed point guard was known for his explosiveness and infectious energy — traits that would later define his second act in basketball.

After stepping away from the game in his early 20s, he later played for the Kuiyam Pride for a few seasons before a final stint with the Marlins. 

Arnold’s journey came full circle over a decade later through his kids.

“My son and daughter when they started playing rep basketball, that brought me back in,” he said. “I started coaching juniors and club teams — it’s funny, my kids never want to listen to their fathers advice, but that’s just part of it,” he joked.

Arnold also spent a decade in local AFL, playing and coaching at the Manunda Hawks, guiding the reserves to a grand final in 2019 and later serving as seniors assistant and interim coach. 

Yet it’s his voice that’s become part of Cairns sporting folklore. His transition from player to MC began almost by accident.

“I was on the score bench with a mic when John Piva was the on-court announcer,” Arnold explained. “When he moved away, Mark Beecroft asked if I wanted to give it a go, with former Taipan Matt Smith taking over Arnold on the score bench. I gave it a lash — and I’ve been stuck there ever since.”

What started as a side gig became a calling.

“I’ve always loved doing the player intros,” he said. “That was my favourite part — trying to replicate the Chicago Bulls intros from the Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman days. I’d muck around and experiment with it.”

Arnold said he loved giving local players who suited up in orange an extra boost.

“When Nate (Jawai) was playing for us, it was always a chance to make this one loud and give him a little bit extra. Curt Ah Wang, Kerry Williams, Deba George and now Kody Stattmann. With boys from the local community, it’s fantastic, because the crowd knows what they can do. There's an extra hype for them even when they sub into the game.”

Front-row seats and a microphone might sound glamorous, but Arnold says the best nights are when the Taipans’ play does the talking.

“When the boys are winning, it’s easy. I barely have to say a word — just drop a few key phrases and the Orange Army takes over. You get an adrenaline rush when they’re up and about.”

Arnold sees his role as more than entertainment — it’s education and connection.

“For the new fans or people who don’t know basketball, I try to be a bridge between the game and the audience. Explain fouls, calls, what’s happening. Just keep everyone involved.”

The cult MC will return to fire up his vocal cords and rev up the Orange Army in their next home appearance against Illawarra Hawks on Friday night, November 7.