Posted on Friday, April 10th, 2026

Game Preview: Sharks v Nuggets

Game Preview: Southland Sharks v Night ‘n Day Otago Nuggets

Rivalry Round continues in the second game of the 2026 Sal’s NBL season as we head to Invercargill for the first Southern Stoush of the season, where last years runners-up, the Southland Sharks, open at home against a refreshed Otago Nuggets looking to return to their winning ways. 

Southland comes in after a strong 2025 campaign that finished with a 14-9 record that came agonisingly short of a championship, while the Nuggets closed last season with a victory to break a 15-game slide to finish 3-17 at the bottom of the ladder. Both squads will be looking to make a fast start to the season, the Sharks with a shorthanded roster still awaiting players competing overseas, while the Nuggets are closer to full strength. The Sharks  took both meetings between the sides last year, winning 98-70 to open the season in Dunedin before backing it up with an 87-82 result in Invercargill.

When: Friday 10 April, Rapid League 6.30pm, Sal’s NBL 7.30pm

Where: ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill

Watch: Live on Sky Sport 3

Commentary: Maia Williamson and Lindsay Tait

Box Score Here

Purchase Tickets Here

Last Season:

The Sharks were one of the more dangerous teams in the league as they shook off some early season doldrums where they started 1-5 before powering their way to a 13-4 finish and an appearance in the Grand Final to claim a 14-9 mark while going 8-4 on the road. Although they were only 6-5 at home, many of those losses came in the early season before the team had reached full strength and hit it’s stride. Their best basketball was powered by strong interior production, elite rebounding and dangerous perimeter shooting that more often than not came through in the clutch. 

Otago had a grind of a 2025 season, but there was still plenty of effort and a good amount of offensive punch in the lineup. The Nuggets closed the year with a 3-17 record where they experienced a humbling 15 game losing streak before finishing on a high with a victorious final game of the season. The offseason brought changes across the franchise including a new coach, a reshaped roster and a new ownership group. 

What to Expect:

Projected Starters

Southland Sharks


PG: Rylan Jones
SG: Tukaha Cooper
SF: Will Leger (Questionable, knee) 
PF: Mac Stodart
C: Sam Timmins

Otago Nuggets


PG: Alain Louis
SG: Ethan Rusbatch
SF: Zach McKenzie
PF: Mike Henn
C: Buay Tuach

The Sharks’ opening-night group unexpectedly has a different feel to the one that finished 2025. Key recruit Max Darling is out with injury (ankle), while Brayden Inger, Tobias Cameron and Caleb Asberry are all still competing in overseas competitions. Projected starter Will Leger is listed as questionable with a knee issue which adds to Coach Yim’s consternation. That puts even more importance on Southland’s available core of Sam Timmins, Rylan Jones, Tukaha Cooper and Mac Stodart, with Timmins looking like the obvious focal point on the interior while Jones will have to carry a heavy load in his first Sal’s NBL game. Off the pine Dane Bertinshaw and Johnny Helu will likely be called upon for a lions share of the bench minutes with Tautoko Wynyard is the biggest body of the backups. 

Timmins gives Southland a proven interior anchor. He has been one of the league’s elite rim protectors across multiple seasons but he may need to carry a heavier offensive load than was asked of him a season ago. The Sharks as a team got major production on the glass and from deep last year and even with roster turnover, Southland still looks like a side that will want to be physical, defend hard, and control the rebounding battle.

The Nuggets also arrive with a new-look starting group as Ethan Rusbatch, Buay Tuach, Mike Henn, Alain Louis and Zach McKenzie are named to start, none of whom were rostered in 2025. With quality benchman Christian Martin  unavailable on 3×3 NZ Tall Blacks duty a large share of the offensive responsibility will  sit with Rusbatch and Tuach on the perimeter, while Henn and Louis will be asked to carry the load on the interior and perimeter respectively. Adding to the challenge is the questionable status of two-way bench spark plug Matthew Bardsley, opening the door for Isaac Miller-Jose, Tyson Thata-Paese and Caleb Smiler to grab more minutes as they look to influence the game. 

Otago’s challenge will be to blend the talent together at pace, but this is a squad that ticks all the boxes on paper, making that challenge one they are capable of overcoming. That makes this opening game a real test of how quickly new Coach Jeff Sparrow can smelt the ore of this roster into stainless steel. Will he get this new combination to meld, especially against a Sharks team that will back itself to make life uncomfortable at home?

This game may be decided by physicality. Southland was one of the league’s better rebounding sides in 2025 and had genuine rim protection, but last years MVP Josiah Allick has moved on and the key players brought in to replace his production are unavailable. With a front line of Timmins, Stoddart and Leger the Sharks will have real size on the court that will have to be dealt with. While Otago’s best path may be to keep the game moving with pace and using the perimeter gravity of Rusbatch to open lanes for Louis and Tuach while Henn occupies the block to power the offensive production. Both teams will need to  value possession, and make enough perimeter shots to avoid getting stuck in the muck of the half court. If the Sharks control the paint and second-chance opportunities, they will be tough to beat in the Shark Tank. 

Matchup to Watch: Sam Timmins v Mike Henn

With so many fresh faces on both sides, this one could come down to who settles the frontcourt battle while acting as chairman of the boards. Timmins gives the Sharks size, experience and shot-blocking, while Henn looms as an important piece for the Nuggets in handling Southland’s physicality. If Timmins is able to control the glass and protect the rim, Southland will like where it stands. If Henn can help Otago compete inside and keep the game even in the paint, the visitors give themselves a real chance.

2025 Stats that Might Matter




Stat
Sharks
Nuggets




2025 Record
14-9 (3rd)
3-17 (11th)


Points Per Game
90.7 (5th)
86.0 (10th)


Points Allowed Per Game
89.4 (5th)
96.95 (11th)


Field Goal %
48% (1st)
42% (10th)


Field Goal % Defense
43% (2nd)
49% (11th)


3-Point %
38% (1st)
33% (4th)


Free Throw %
73% (3rd)
67% (11th)


Rebounds Per Game
43.2 (5th)
39.7 (10th)


Assists Per Game
21.4 (2nd)
16.2 (11th)


Turnovers Per Game
10.7 (2nd)
12.6 (6th)


Steals Per Game
6.7 (10th)
7.9 (7th)


Blocks Per Game
4.2 (3rd)
2.4 (11th)


Offensive Rebounds Per Game
9.9 (8th)
10.1 (7th)


Defensive Rebounds Per Game
29.2 (3rd)
25.8 (11th)