Not just Tayla Roberts’, but Tornadoes chair Janie Finlay’s. Those in SEABL’s Melbourne head office. And anyone else’s in between.

But finally the club had inked a new deal to confirm that Launceston’s favourite basketball daughter was coming back home.

“I had 100 per cent wanted to get back here,” Roberts said in one deep breath.

“If that was an opportunity I could’ve done initially, I would have been here in a heartbeat. But it just wasn’t.

“So I went to Melbourne [Tigers], but unfortunately things didn’t work out there.

“So when a spot became vacant here due to Mikky [Reuf] leaving, I pretty much jumped at the opportunity and I am so happy that I did.”

Some 36 hours earlier back when Roberts wasn’t even an option to replace then LA Sparks-bound Mikaela Ruef walking on the court the very next night proved frenetic. 

That adrenalin had carried the 194cm power forward’s body to a career-high 35 points in a thrilling one-point Friday night home win.

Eight days later, Roberts then coolly picked off in front of her adoring fans a further 31 points – well above her average 15.7 points per game last year and 13.9 points over 144 previous SEABL games.

That has since tapered off to 21.9 points as the season rolls on, but  impressively she sits only behind Australian Opals superstar Sara Blicavs.

“I had a really strong start and I think although I’m still performing well, I’m kind of not scoring as high as I was initially,” she said.

“But I think that has a lot to do with the fact I was scoring so highly that opponents have had to adjust and I’m getting double-teamed now.

“So it’s taking away opportunities from me, but it’s giving more opportunities for some of our young guns to step up, which is awesome.”

The 24-year-old raises her eyebrows and gives out an awkward chuckle on the suggestion that the girl who hands out playful smiles to teammates on court like her rebounds is now one of the most senior Tornadoes.

Half of the Launceston playing roster are teenagers, while Roberts is the third most experienced at the club since stars Ally Wilson and Reuf departed from Elphin.

“Oh my gosh, I feel old now,” she laughs.

“But yeah, I am probably now one the senior players.

“Ally Wilson and Mikaela Ruef are amazing players and it was awesome to play with them last year, but with them no longer here, I think I had to step up.

“We have Lauren Mansfield and Lauren Nicholson still, who are both amazing players, but as a big not having that support from Mikaela, I definitely felt the need to really step up so that’s what’s happened this year.”

Her strongest WNBL year amid a tough campaign at Adelaide Lightning proved a by-product for her increased dominant SEABL figures.  

But as the Torns ice off their bumps and bruises in another off-season, the Launceston-born star dusts herself off to her sixth club in a move to WNBL heavyweights Dandenong Rangers.

“I improved a lot playing in Adelaide, I had a great coach, a lot of great girls around to help me get better, which has definitely put me in the right direction,” she said. “So I would have loved to go back to Adelaide, but it wasn’t really going to be in my best interests I don’t think.

“I had a few options but talking to Dandenong, they just sold it for me.”