Molloy, who led the Cairns Taipans to a maiden play-off berth in 2004, admitted he was 'burned out' and had lost his love of coaching when he left the Queensland club in 2005.

But the fact that the Dragons job was in his home town and that it is virtually a head coach's role while player-coach Shane Heal is on the court, was enough for him to come back to the pressures of the NBL.

"If it had of just been an ordinary type of (assistant's) role, it probably wouldn't have been so appealing," he told the Cairns Post.

Molloy said that his year-and-a-half away from the NBL, which included some time coaching juniors at Nunawading in Melbourne as well as leading Australia's under-22 team to the semi-finals of the world championships last year, had revitalised his love of the game, and of coaching.

"I've virtually had 18 months out of professional coaching," he said. "It's been a great opportunity to re-charge the batteries. It's pretty clear to me in hindsight that I was burned out in Cairns."

"I think there were so many factors at play that just meant it was becoming a job."

Molloy will be able to renew acquaintances with his old club when the Dragons look for their first-ever win against the Taipans in Melbourne on Sunday.

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