Purchase Tickets Here<\/a><\/p>\nLast Season:<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What to Expect:<\/p>\n
Projected Starters<\/p>\n
Southland Sharks<\/p>\n
\n\tPG: Rylan Jones
\n\tSG: Tukaha Cooper
\n\tSF: Will Leger (Questionable, knee)\u00a0
\n\tPF: Mac Stodart
\n\tC: Sam Timmins
<\/p>\n
Otago Nuggets<\/p>\n
\n\tPG: Alain Louis
\n\tSG: Ethan Rusbatch
\n\tSF: Zach McKenzie
\n\tPF: Mike Henn
\n\tC: Buay Tuach
<\/p>\n
The Sharks\u2019 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\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Timmins gives Southland a proven interior anchor. He has been one of the league\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0 unavailable on 3×3 NZ Tall Blacks duty a large share of the offensive responsibility will\u00a0 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Otago\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n
This game may be decided by physicality. Southland was one of the league\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u00a0 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Matchup to Watch: Sam Timmins v Mike Henn<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
2025 Stats that Might Matter<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\nStat
\nSharks
\nNuggets
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n2025 Record
\n14-9 (3rd)
\n3-17 (11th)
\n
\n
\nPoints Per Game
\n90.7 (5th)
\n86.0 (10th)
\n
\n
\nPoints Allowed Per Game
\n89.4 (5th)
\n96.95 (11th)
\n
\n
\nField Goal %
\n48% (1st)
\n42% (10th)
\n
\n
\nField Goal % Defense
\n43% (2nd)
\n49% (11th)
\n
\n
\n3-Point %
\n38% (1st)
\n33% (4th)
\n
\n
\nFree Throw %
\n73% (3rd)
\n67% (11th)
\n
\n
\nRebounds Per Game
\n43.2 (5th)
\n39.7 (10th)
\n
\n
\nAssists Per Game
\n21.4 (2nd)
\n16.2 (11th)
\n
\n
\nTurnovers Per Game
\n10.7 (2nd)
\n12.6 (6th)
\n
\n
\nSteals Per Game
\n6.7 (10th)
\n7.9 (7th)
\n
\n
\nBlocks Per Game
\n4.2 (3rd)
\n2.4 (11th)
\n
\n
\nOffensive Rebounds Per Game
\n9.9 (8th)
\n10.1 (7th)
\n
\n
\nDefensive Rebounds Per Game
\n29.2 (3rd)
\n25.8 (11th)
\n
\n
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