Posted on Saturday, April 11th, 2026
Game Preview: Tuatara v Bulls
Game Preview: JadCup Auckland Tuatara v Franklin Bulls
Saturday night hoops heads to Eventfinda Stadium as the Auckland Tuatara open their 2026 Sal’s NBL campaign against a Franklin Bulls side looking to make an early statement in the 09 derby.
The Tuatara come in after a 2025 season that ended with a 10-10 record that saw them punch a post-season ticket before bowing out in the eliminator final. The Bulls finished 9-11, and despite missing the finals on points percentage, showed throughout the year that they were more than capable of troubling anyone when their key pieces were healthy and clicking. Both teams enter the new season with offseason changes and a different look from the groups that closed last year, setting the stage for an intriguing Round 1 clash in the Big Smoke.
When: Saturday 11 April, Rapid League 6.30pm, Sal’s NBL 7.30pm
Where: Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland
Watch: Live on Sky Sport 5 in NZ, ESPN+ in the United States and FIBA YouTube everywhere else and Tik Tok livestrea
Commentary: Glen Larmar and Dillon Boucher
Last Season:
The Tuatara were one of the more dangerous offensive teams in the early stages of the competition last year, but finished 10-10 as that well oiled machine sputtered down the stretch. Davo Hickey was electric in his short stint, Luther Muhammad gave them a major scoring punch upon arrival, and Rob Loe (when healthy), Buay Tuach, Charles Pride and Tom Vodanovich all played important roles in a team that could put points on the board in a hurry. At their best, Auckland combined size, skill and perimeter shot-making to become a difficult team to contain.
The Bulls finished 9-11 and were a tough side to get comfortable against. Tae Hardy was one of the league’s best scorers, David Okwera gave them a strong interior presence while the Cameron brothers brought effort and intensity in spades. Much of the perimeter shooting has departed with those players and Ethan Rusbatch. That group found different ways to compete even as personnel shifted through the season. Franklin may not have quite found the consistency it wanted across the full campaign, but at their best the quality was enough to threaten any opponent in the Sal’s NBL.
Projected Starters
Auckland Tuatara
PG: Josh Dilling
SG: Dylan Wilkie
SF: Sean Bairstow
PF: Chris Johnson
C: Rob Loe
Franklin Bulls
PG: Carter Whitt
SG: Derrin Boyd
SF: Jace Carter
PF: Matt Freeman
C: Ellis Biggar
The Tuatara’s opening-night group has plenty of size and experience. Rob Loe remains the headline anchor in the middle but the freshly announced Chris Johnson looks to reunite one of the better frontline duos the league has seen in recent years with two All-Star Five level talents with genuine size who can also shoot from deep. Sean Bairstow gives Auckland quality and versatility on the wing while Dylan Wilkie will bring the shooting. Josh Dilling steps into the lead guard role in what looks like a lineup built to play with balance and good spacing. With Tom Vodanovich moving to the bench Auckland suddenly look much deeper than a season ago, and that is before looking at Zach Riley, Josh Wyllie and Mattie Daulton. With this supporting group, the Tuatara look to have solid depth inside and out around their starting five.
Auckland’s biggest strength may be the variety in its frontcourt and the way that can open the floor. Loe gives them a proven scoring and rebounding presence, Johnson a three level scorer who will defend the paint and both can step outside to shoot the three. With Vodanovich and Bairstow they have players capable of doing a bit of everything. If the Tuatara can control the glass and get their half-court offense flowing through their size and shot-making, they should be able to put real pressure on the Bulls defense while putting on offensive pressure of their own.
Franklin arrives with fresh faces on the court and on the sideline giving a fresh feel to the south-siders. Carter Whitt, Derrin Boyd, Jace Carter, Matt Freeman and Ellis Biggar are the named starters, although Freeman is listed as questionable with a foot issue. That makes this a fresh-look Bulls side that may need to find answers by committee rather than relying on one dominant scorer, but don’t be surprised if one arises regardless.
Even thought there are unknown factors there is plenty to like about this Bulls lineup. Whitt and Boyd give Franklin a new backcourt look, Carter and Freeman offer size and versatility across the forward spots, and Biggar gives them a body to compete on the interior. Off the pine expect Jaylen Gerrand, Zion Anderson and KC Kwafor to be the most likely to be impactful. This leaves questions about how quickly the pieces come together and who can really impact the game off the bench against a Tuatara side that should feel comfortable leaning on its size, experience and home-court advantage.
This game may come down to physicality and composure. Auckland likely will want to play through its size, stretch the floor around those post threat and trust its experienced pieces to make the right reads. Franklin, meanwhile, may look to influx a turn of speed, defend hard, and make sure the Tuatara do not get too comfortable in the half-court. If the Bulls can keep the rebounding battle close and get enough production from their guards, they give themselves a chance to stay right in it.
Matchup to Watch: Chris Johnson and Rob Loe v Ellis Biggar, Matt Freeman and Jace Carter
This game could be won or lost in the frontcourt.
The Tuatara roll into opening night with a formidable pairing in Chris Johnson and Rob Loe. Johnson, both former All Star Five selections, with rare length at 6’11 and the ability to hurt teams both inside and out, whether that is finishing around the rim, stretching the floor, or making plays over the top of smaller defenders. Playing together they look to stand among the league’s most reliable big men, whose combination of size, touch and experience make them a constant problem in the paint and beyond the arc. Defensively their ability to defend the rim lifts the defensively level immensely.
Franklin will counter with a bigger committee approach through Ellis Biggar, Matt Freeman and Jace Carter. Freeman, if cleared to go, gives the Bulls an experienced forward who can help stretch the floor, while Carter and Biggar will need to bring energy, physicality and discipline to keep Auckland from controlling the game around the basket. If Johnson and Loe are able to establish themselves early, the Tuatara will be difficult to contain. If the Bulls’ frontcourt can match the physicality and limit second-chance points, Franklin gives itself a real chance to stay in the fight.
2025 Stats that Might Matter
Stat
Tuatara
Bulls
2025 Record
10-10 (5th)
9-11 (7th)
Points Per Game
95.7 (1st)
87.35 (8th)
Points Allowed Per Game
89.86 (7th)
87.65 (4th)
Field Goal %
44% (9th)
45% (6th)
Field Goal % Defense
46% (7th)
45% (3rd)
Free Throw %
70% (2nd)
73% (4th)
3-Point %
33% (5th)
32% (8th)
Rebounds Per Game
43.33 (4th)
41.9 (6th)
Assists Per Game
17.86(7th)
18.65 (6th)
Turnovers Per Game
12.81 (8th)
15.7 (11th)
Steals Per Game
6.76 (9th)
8.0 (4th)
Blocks Per Game
4.0 (4th)
4.1 (3rd)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game
9.43 104th)
10.65 (5th)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game
29.38 (2nd)
28.05 (5th)