Perth Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson has demanded referees protect superstar Bryce Cotton and hand out significant punishments to any Sydney player who attempts to hurt him in the wake of inflammatory comments by Kings forward Xavier Cooks.

Earlier this week Cooks declared the Kings had to “put him on the deck a couple of times and tire him out.”

The Kings fouled Cotton seven times during the opening game of the grand final series on Sunday and he dominated with 32 points as the Wildcats won.

Gleeson said there should be ramifications for any player who deliberately played outside the laws at RAC Arena tomorrow night.

“I thought it was borderline dirty,” Gleeson said of Cooks’ comments.

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“If they’re intentionally trying to take one of our players down – and I see it is on the NBL Twitter page – the referees would be advised that that’s what their intent is. If that’s intentional that they are trying to hurt one of our players, they’ve got to make a response to that.

Camera Icon Perth Wildcats star Bryce Cotton talks to the media after training at the Jack Bendat Basketball Centre. Credit: Nic Ellis / The West Australian

“It’s public knowledge. They have come out and said they are going to put one of our players on the deck. If they’re doing it, it’s borderline dirty and intentional so the referees have got to make the call.

“If they’re pre-conceived they are going to get after someone and put them on the deck, it’s intentional isn’t it? What they talk about in closed rooms might be one thing and what they talk publicly might be totally different but the referees have got to be aware of it.”

Gleeson said it was vital his players didn’t get sucked into playing the game on Sydney’s terms and he has urged them to stay focused if the Kings get physical.

But Gleeson said with fire alarms disrupting practice and the players having to deal with knowing they shared a plane with a coronavirus carrier, they are accustomed to handling distractions.

“We won’t get flustered,” Gleeson said.

“One of our best things is we show great poise out there and get on with the job. One of our strengths is being able to put everything aside and not worry about fire alarms or coronavirus and just getting on with the job. That’s what a championship team does.”