# Cairns Marlins

The Cairns Marlins are an Australian basketball team based in Cairns, Queensland. The Marlins compete in the men's NBL1 North and play their home games at Early Settler Stadium. The team is affiliated with Cairns Basketball Inc. (CBI), the major administrative basketball organisation in the region. CBI's women's team is the Cairns Dolphins.

## Team history
### Entry into the QBL

After operating a successful basketball program in Cairns, Queensland, Cairns Basketball joined the Queensland State Basketball League in its second season in 1987. They fielded two teams, the Cairns Marlins in the men's competition and the Cairns Dolphins in the women's competition.

### Expansion to the NBL

Between 1993 and 1998 the Marlins won four championships, prompting calls for Cairns to join the Australian National Basketball League. The Cairns Taipans joined the NBL for the 1999–2000 season, with Marlin's head coach Rod Popp coaching the team.
Since the Taipans' entry into the NBL the two teams have remained very close, often sharing development and training players over the NBL off-season and the QBL season.

### Championship dynasty

The Marlins are the most successful team in the QBL, holding nine championships since the team joined the league. They also make regular appearances in the playoffs, making 19 appearances over 26 seasons since 1993.

### Transfer to NBL1

After a successful first season in 2019, in 2020 the NBL1 expanded into Queensland and replaced the QBL. After this change, the Marlins transferred to the NBL1 North.

## Season by season

| Season | League | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Regular Season | Post-Season | Head Coach | Captain | Club MVP |
| Season | League | Position | Played | Wins | Losses | Win % | Post-Season | Head Coach | Captain | Club MVP |
| Cairns Marlins |||||||||||
| 1987 | QSBL | | | | | | | | | |
| 1988 | QSBL | | | | | | | | | |
| 1989 | QSBL | | | | | | | | | |
| 1990 | QSBL | | | | | | | David Ingram | | |
| 1991 | QSBL | | | | | | | Peter Pendle | | |
| 1992 | QSBL | | | 4 | 22 | | | Brian Vincent | | |
| 1993 | QSBL | | | 16 | 8 | | Champions in Final against Burdekin Wildcats | Rod Popp | Alan Christie | |
| 1994 | CBA | 1st | | 27 | 4 | | Lost in Final to Ballarat Miners | Rod Popp | Ben Johnson | |
| 1995 | CBA | | | 15 | 9 | | | Rod Popp | Ben Johnson | |
| 1996 | CBA | | | 16 | 8 | | | Rod Popp | Billy Ross | |
| 1997 | CBA | | | 24 | 2 | | Lost in Final to Suncoast Clippers | Rod Popp | | |
| 1998 | ABA | | | 34 | 2 | | Champions in Final against Townsville Heat | Rod Popp | Lucas Agrums | |
| 1999 | ABA | | | | | | Lost in Final to Southern Districts | Rod Popp | | |
| 2000 | ABA | 6th | 18 | 7 | 11 | .388 | | Mark Beecroft | | |
| 2001 | ABA | | | | | | Champions in Final against Brisbane Capitals | Mark Beecroft | | |
| 2002 | ABA | 2nd | 20 | 14 | 6 | .700 | Lost in Final to Brisbane Capitals | Mark Beecroft | | |
| 2003 | ABA | 1st | 20 | 15 | 5 | .750 | Lost in Final to South West Metro Pirates | Mark Beecroft | | |
| 2004 | ABA | | | | | | Champions in Final against Townsville Heat, 103–94 | Mark Beecroft | | |
| 2005 | ABA | 1st | 18 | 15 | 3 | .833 | Lost in Final to Southern Districts Spartans, 90–85 | Mark Beecroft | | |
| 2006 | QABL | | | | | | | Aaron Fearne | | |
| 2007 | QABL | | | | | | Champions in Final against Gold Coast Goannas, 135–94 | Aaron Fearne | | |
| 2008 | QABL | | | | | | | Aaron Fearne | | |
| 2009 | QBL | | | | | | Champions in Final against Rockhampton Rockets, 113–81 | Aaron Fearne | | |
| 2010 | QBL | 4th | 18 | 12 | 6 | .667 | Did not qualify | | | |
| 2011 | QBL | 7th | 18 | 10 | 8 | .556 | Did not qualify | | | |
| 2012 | QBL | 4th | 16 | 11 | 5 | .688 | Lost in Elimination Finals to Mackay Meteors, 106–75 | | | |
| 2013 | QBL | 2nd | 16 | 14 | 2 | .875 | Lost in Elimination-finals to Townsville Heat, 86–99 | Jamie Pearlman | | |
| 2014 | QBL | 3rd | 16 | 13 | 3 | .813 | Lost in Elimination-finals to Mackay Meteors, 83–63 | Jamie Pearlman | | |
| 2015 | QBL | 7th | 17 | 10 | 7 | .588 | Did not qualify | Jamie Pearlman | James Mitchell | |
| 2016 | QBL | 5th | 17 | 11 | 6 | .647 | Champions in Final against Brisbane Capitals, 2–0 | Jamie Pearlman | James Mitchell | Damon Heuir |
| 2017 | QBL | 4th | 17 | 11 | 6 | .647 | Lost in Semi-finals to Townsville Heat, 79–77 | Jamie Pearlman | | Damon Heuir |
| 2018 | QBL | 6th | 18 | 10 | 8 | .556 | Lost in Final to Townsville Heat, 2–0 | Jamie O'Loughlin | | Anthony Fisher |
| 2019 | QBL | 4th | 18 | 13 | 5 | .722 | Lost in Elimination-finals to Rockhampton Rockets, 79-90 | Jamie O'Loughlin | Anthony Fisher | |
| 2020 | NBL1 North | Season cancelled | Season cancelled | Season cancelled | Season cancelled | Season cancelled | Season cancelled | Season cancelled | Season cancelled | Season cancelled |
| 2021 | NBL1 North | 5th | 13 | 7 | 6 | .538 | Lost in Grand Final to Mackay Meteors, 2–0 | Kerry Williams | Anthony Fisher | |