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Former New Zealand Supercars rivals Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin will race together at the 24 Hours of Daytona in January. Van Gisbergen and McLaughlin, who won five straight Supercars titles between 2018 and 2022, will share a Trackhouse Racing-prepared Corvette with Connor Zilisch and Ben Keating. LATEST HEADLINES: Black Sticks women named for USA series White Ferns stars to play domestic matches Big night for Miller, Sevens at NZR Awards Undermanned Breakers drop fifth straight Football Ferns to battle Costa Rica in Feb It continues Trackhouse’s motorsport expansion, with van Gisbergen to make his full-time Nascar Cup Series debut with the team in 2025. Trackhouse’s GT racing foray adds to its Nascar and MotoGP programmes, with the American squad teaming up with TF Sport for the Daytona race. IndyCar star McLaughlin, who won 56 Supercars races between 2013 and 2020, was excited to race with his old rival. “When the opportunity came up from General Motors to run with Ben, Connor and Shane, I jumped at it straight away,” McLaughlin said. "I’ve always wanted to run an endurance race in a Chevrolet Corvette, and I could not imagine a better group to join. I am confident we have a real chance of winning a Rolex with this team. "Shane and I have so much history racing against each other, including some time as teammates. He is one of the best racers I’ve ever competed against, so it’ll be great to be on his side again for Daytona. "Connor is a young star who’s going to be around for a long time, and Ben has won Le Mans and a World Championship in a Corvette. We’re going to have some fun.” Van Gisbergen, who won three Supercars titles and three Bathurst 1000s, added: “This is a dream come true to get to drive alongside Scotty, Connor and Ben. "I love the 24 Hours of Daytona and it’s awesome to do this with this team. Justin, Chevrolet and TF Sport have done a great job putting this all together.” The race will be held on January 25-26.

White Ferns player Suzie Bates will play for the unbeaten Otago Sparks for the first time this season PHOTO: DAVE LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY Women's T20 World Cup winner Suzie Bates returns to Otago for the first time this season, as the unbeaten Sparks take on Northern Districts in Dunedin this weekend. Bates returns from a stint with the Hobart Hurricanes in the Australian Women's Big Bash League and joins the Sparks as they sit top of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield standings. LATEST HEADLINES: Big night for Miller, Sevens at NZR Awards Undermanned Breakers drop fifth straight Football Ferns to face Costa Rica in Feb Chiefs bring in new assistants for 2025 Tim Southee to be honoured in third test At the completitoin of four rounds, the Sparks have put together incredible performances against Canterbury and Wellington, collecting a bonus point in each match and seven points clear of the second place Auckland Hearts. After sealing her second List A century against Wellington, Sparks opener Bella James tops the run scoring list with 246 runs, while Anna Browning, Eden Carson, Hayley Jensen and Louisa Kotkamp all feature in the top 10 wicket takers this season. This weekend's opponents Northern Districts currently occupy third in the standings, picking up two wins from their four matches. Both matches at the University of Otago Oval starting at 10:30am. Meanwhile Melie Kerr and Sophie Devine look likely to make their Blaze season debuts as the HBJ Shield One Day Competition enters its final rounds before Christmas. Devine has been included in the squad for Sunday’s game, while Melie Kerr is available to the squad for both fixtures this weekend. The Blaze are Auckland-bound today as the Auckland Hearts welcome them to Kennards Hire Oval at Eden Park for back-to-back fixtures this Saturday and Sunday. The two White Ferns will get some reps in before the three ODI series against Australia comes to the Basin Reserve next week, starting with a free entry fixture Thursday 19th December. HALLYBURTON JOHNSTONE SHIELD FIXTURES Rounds 5-6, Saturday-Sunday, December 14-15 Otago Sparks vs Northern Districts University of Otago Oval, Dunedin Central Hinds vs Canterbury Magicians Pukekura Park, New Plymouth Auckland Hearts vs Wellington Blaze Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland

The Black Sticks Women will face the USA in two tests in Auckland in January. PHOTO: HOCKEY NZ Hockey New Zealand (HNZ) has named a developmental Black Sticks Women squad for their series against the United States. The squad will play four matches against the touring USA at the National Hockey Centre in Auckland, including two practice matches and two tests on January 17 (5.30pm) and January 19 (3pm). LATEST HEADLINES: White Ferns stars to play domestic matches Big night for Miller, Sevens at NZR Awards Undermanned Breakers drop fifth straight Football Ferns to battle Costa Rica in Feb Tim Southee to be honoured in third test The 24-player group includes five debutants - Britt Wang, Jamiee Eades, Julia Gluyas, Mezzy Surridge and Millie Calder - and is led by veterans Brooke Roberts, Hope Ralph, Rose Tynan and Steph Dickins. Several leading players are unavailable for the series. Grace O'Hanlon, Olivia Shannon and Hannah Cotter will be playing in the Hockey India League, while Katie Doar is working back from injury, and Megan Gibson, Liz Thompson, Alia Jaques and Frances Davies are taking a break from international hockey. "The players have demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication throughout the Premier Hockey League season, and we believe this group has the potential to achieve great success," BSW head coach Phil Burrows said. The squad is dominated by the Falcons and Alpiners, who contested the women's Premier Hockey League (PHL) final last weekend. The champion Falcons have 10 players and the Alpiners seven. Tynan (England), Gravenall and Casey Crowley (Australia) come into the squad after competing overseas and missing the PHL. This series serves as a crucial prep phase ahead of the FIH Nations Cup in Chile in February, as the team builds towards FIH Women's World Cup qualification against Australia in August.   BLACK STICKS WOMEN SQUAD Anna Crowley, Anna Willocks, Breana Catley, Britt Wang, Brooke Roberts (gk), Casey Crowley, Emma Findlay, Emma Rainey, Hannah Gravenall, Holly Pearson, Hope Ralph, Jaimee Eades, Jessie Anderson, Julia Gluyas (gk), Kaitlin Cotter, Kirsty Nation (gk), Mezzy Surridge, Millie Calder, Paige Blake, Rebecca Baker, Riana Pho, Rose Tynan, Stephanie Dickins, Tessa Reid

The NZ Breakers' hot start to the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) season is now just a distant memory. The Breakers endured another challenging night, losing their fifth straight game, 100-76 to the defending champion Tasmania JackJumpers at Auckland's Eventfinda Stadium on Thursday night.  LATEST HEADLINES: Football Ferns to face Costa Rica in Feb Chiefs bring in new assistants for 2025 Tim Southee to be honoured in third test Breakers Pineau out with long-term injury Leana de Bruin joins Stars coaching team Despite flashes of promise, the Breakers struggled to contain the JackJumpers’ offence as the visitors delivered their fifth straight win. Tasmania shot 53 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc, while their bench contributed 56 points. The Breakers were led by American centre Tacko Fall, getting his first start, who posted a team-high 16 points (6/6 FG, 4/7 FT), with four rebounds, a block and drawing eight fouls. Matt Mooney drives to the basket for two of his 13 points against the JackJumpers. PHOTO: NZ BREAKERS Point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright contributed 11 points (4/10 FG), four assists and two steals in 30 minutes, while the third import Matt Mooney added 13 points (6/15 FG) and three rebounds off the bench. Shooting struggles plagued the Breakers throughout the game, particularly from three-point range, where they managed just 4-of-29 (13 percent). The JackJumpers were spearheaded by Jordon Crawford and Sean Macdonald, who scored 24 and 17 points, respectively. Breakers head coach Petteri Koponen said it was a tough night where they created good scoring options but couldn’t get their shots to fall. “I felt we tried, but it wasn’t our day. Basketball sometimes is so simple. They made their shots and we couldn’t find a bucket today,” he said. “Confidence is a tricky thing sometimes and we need to see the ball go through the hoop, get some confidence and see the guys believe again. “We need something extra from everyone and need to keep fighting together with that underdog mentality.” The Breakers opened the ANBL season 6-2 - a stretch which included three games against NBA teams in an attention-grabbing tour to the US - but have since early November have dropped six of their last seven. The Breakers have not won since cutting loose American big Freddie Gillespie to bring in Fall on November 17, following a road win over the Cairns Taipans. The Breakers now travel across the Tasman for a match-up against the Adelaide 36ers on Saturday (tip-off 7.30pm NZT). Tasmania JackJumpers 100 (Jordon Crawford 24, Sean Macdonald 17, Craig Sword 13, Milton Doyle 10) NZ Breakers 76 (Tacko Fall 16, Matt Mooney 13, Parker Jackson-Cartwright 11). 1Q: 29-19, HT: 59-42, 3Q: 78-63

Jorja Miller became the second-youngest to win Player of the Year honours at the NZR Awards. PHOTO: NZR The Olympic Gold medal-winning Black Ferns Sevens have swept the New Zealand Rugby Awards in 2024. The team claimed the New Zealand Team of the Year, Cory Sweeney the New Zealand Coach of the Year and Jorja Miller received the prestigious Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year title on Thursday night in Auckland. LATEST HEADLINES: Undermanned Breakers drop fifth straight Football Ferns to face Costa Rica in Feb Chiefs bring in new assistants for 2025 Tim Southee to be honoured in third test Leana de Bruin joins Stars coaching team Miller became the second-youngest recipient of the Player of the Year gong in its 30-year history (behind just All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu), another piece of history for the Timaru native, after becoming New Zealand’s youngest women's gold medallist at the Paris Olympics. Sweeney’s nod was his fifth time claiming the title, equalling the record held by Sir Steve Hansen. The Blues almost made a clean sweep of the awards they were nominated for, picking up both Domestic Men’s and Women’s Team of the Year, Hoskins Sotutu and Katelyn Vahaakolo winning the Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year awards and Vern Cotter taking home the Domestic Men’s Coach of the Year. Weeks after receiving the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award, Wallace Sititi was recognised as the All Blacks Player of the Year. Fellow All Blacks forward Tyrel Lomax (Ngāi Tuhoe, Muaupoko) took out the hotly-contested Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year. All Blacks Sevens captain Dylan Collier rounded out 2024 with the Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year award. A bulldozing season in black for Kaipo Olsen-Baker saw her acknowledged with the Black Ferns Player of the Year, while her provincial teammate Hollyrae Mete received the Fiao’o Fa’amausili Medal for her outstanding Farah Palmer Cup campaign for the Matawatū Cyclones. Other domestic winners were Tasman’s Timoci Tavatavanawai and Whanganui’s Alekesio Vakarorogo, winning the Duane Monkley Medal (NPC) and Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Heartland Championship) player of the year honours, respectively. Waikato FPC coach James Semple was recognised for his premiership-winning efforts with the Domestic Women’s Coach of the Year, while Auckland midfielder Xavi Taele received the New Zealand Rugby Age-Grade Player of the Year. Dunedin’s Green Island Rugby Football Club received the Rugby Club of the Year, Putāruru’s Conor Croke the Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year and Erin Rayner from Sense Rugby the Te Hāpai New Zealand Rugby Community Impact Award. After becoming New Zealand’s most-capped international match official, Ben O’Keeffe won the New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year for the fourth year in a row. The New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association Kirk Award was awarded to All Blacks great Dan Carter, while Ian Kirkpatrick was recognised for his outstanding service to the game with the Steinlager Salver. “Congratulations to all the winners and nominees this year," said NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson. “There is no doubt the gold medal at the Olympics for the Black Ferns Sevens at the Olympics was a real highlight, so the recognition for Jorja, Cory and the team is thoroughly deserved this evening. “We had a great year in the community game, with growth across the board in registrations. Seeing the stories of some of our game’s unsung heroes tonight really highlights the heart of rugby.” YOUNGEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS 1995 Jonah Lomu (20 years old) 2024 Jorja Miller (20 years old) 2004 Dan Carter (22 years old) 2003 Richie McCaw (22 years old) NEW ZEALAND RUGBY AWARD WINNERS Fans Try of the Year Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong (King Country) New Zealand Rugby Referee of the Year Ben O’Keeffe Charles Monro Rugby Volunteer of the Year Conor Croke (Waikato) Rugby Club of the Year Green Island Rugby Football Club (Otago) Te Hāpai New Zealand Rugby Community Impact Award Erin Rayner (Sense Rugby NZ) New Zealand Rugby Age-Grade Player of the Year Xavi Taele (Auckland) NZRPA Kirk Award   Dan Carter Steinlager Salver– outstanding contribution to New Zealand Rugby Ian Kirkpatrick Ian Kirkpatrick Medal (Heartland Championship Player of the Year) Alekesio Vakarorogo (Whanganui) Duane Monkley Medal (NPC Player of the Year) Timoci Tavatavanawai (Tasman) Fiao’o Fa’amausili Medal (Farah Palmer Cup Player of the Year) Hollyrae Merekara Mete (Manawatū) Domestic Men’s Coach of the Year Vern Cotter (Blues) Domestic Women’s Coach of the Year James Semple (Waikato) New Zealand Coach of the Year Cory Sweeney (Black Ferns Sevens) Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year Hoskins Sotutu (Blues) Super Rugby Aupiki Player of the Year Katelyn Vahaakolo (Blues) Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year Tyrel Lomax (Ngāi Tuhoe, Muaupoko) Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year Dylan Collier Black Ferns Sevens Player of the Year Jorja Miller Black Ferns Player of the Year Kaipo Olsen-Baker All Blacks Player of the Year Wallace Sititi Domestic Men’s Team of the Year Blues Domestic Women’s Team of the Year Blues New Zealand Team of the Year Black Ferns Sevens Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year Jorja Miller

Football Fern Kaie Bowen witht he ball at her feet during the FIFA 2023 WWC. The Ferns will face Costa Rica in the new year PHOTO: CRAIG BUTLAND/LINTTOT PHOTOGRAPHY The Football Ferns have confirmed their first games since the Olympics with two fixtures in Costa Rica in February. The New Zealand side will kick off their new cycle building towards the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 with two games against the 43rd ranked Costa Ricans February 22, 26. LATEST HEADLINES: Chiefs bring on new coaches for 2025 Tim Southee to be honoured in third test Breakers Pineau out with long-term injury Leana de Bruin joins Stars coaching team Strong entry list for the 2025 ASB Classic Both games will be played at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, San José. The games mark the first time the two teams have faced each other at senior international level and could see a large crowd supporting the central American nation. The Ferns will have interim head coach Michael Mayne in charge again with the recruitment process for a permanent head coach will get underway in early 2025. Mayne took control of the side when Jitka Klimkova stood down in June. "What we have at this point, and will use to our advantage, is time to set our intentions and expectations as a team," said Mayne. "With a focus on preparing to perform in the qualifying tournament and FIFA Women's World Cup 2027, as well as providing our growing pool of talented players with international football experience. "The past couple of months have centred on understanding where we are at, and what we should focus on, starting in February against Costa Rica, and I'm excited about working with the team on and off the pitch to achieve something great. "Costa Rica are a really good fit for us in this window and will provide the perfect test for what I need to see from the players and staff as we embark on this new cycle." The Football Ferns were beaten in all three pool games at the Paris Olympics. New Zealand Football is also in advanced discussions for games in the April and June FIFA match windows.

Fiji forwards coach Graham Dewes and New Zealand Under-20s head coach Jono Gibbes have been added the Chiefs coaching group for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season. Dewes previously represented Chiefs provinces Counties Manukau and Thames Valley. He also played 28 games for Fiji and was part of one of their most successful squads that made it to the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. LATEST HEADLINES: Tim Southee to be honoured in third test Breakers Pineau out with long-term injury Leana de Bruin joins Stars coaching team Strong entry list for the 2025 ASB Classic Vaimauga re-signs with Warriors until 2028 As a coach, he was able to repeat the feat at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where Fiji made the quarters for the third time. Additionally, Dewes has been a specialist forwards and scrum coach for the Blues A, Blues U20s, and the Northland Taniwha since 2020. “We are glad to have coaches of Graham and Jono’s calibre as part of the team. Graham has jumped the ranks a bit by going from NPC to international coaching, but having the experience he’s gained with us for the coming season will be a real asset," said Chiefs CEO Simon Graafhuis. Meanwhile, Dewes was thrilled to return to the franchise. “I’m honoured to join the Chiefs rugby family as scrum coach for 2025. This is an incredible opportunity to work alongside world-class players, coaching staff and management. I’m excited for the challenges ahead and eager to build on the strong foundation already set in place.” Gibbes returned to the Chiefs ahead of the 2024 season in a Resource Coach role, working across all of the club’s teams. The former Waikato, Chiefs and Māori All Blacks captain’s equally decorated coaching resume will add a lot of knowledge to the Chiefs coaching group. “I’m thrilled to be more involved with the Gallagher Chiefs this season and have the privilege of being part of coaching the team I once played for. We have a superb group of hardworking men who are great to work with, so it’s an exciting opportunity to help them succeed," said Gibbes. Dewes and Gibbes step into their new roles this week to prepare the Chiefs for their upcoming season. Former coaches Nick White and Ross Filipo have departed to pursue other opportunities in 2025

The ‘Tim Southee End’ will be the official name of the Seddon Park Pavilion end for the duration of the upcoming Black Cap test match against England. It is regarded as a fitting acknowledgement for a player who has truly changed the test landscape of cricket in New Zealand. LATEST HEADLINES: Breakers Pineau out with long-term injury Leana de Bruin joins Stars coaching team Strong entry list for the 2025 men's ASB Classic Vaimauga re-signs with NZ Warriors until 2028 Jeet Raval challenges all-time slowest record Southee will bring his test cricket career to a close following the third and final match against England, which starts in Hamilton on Saturday. He will finish as New Zealand's second highest test wicket-taker, requiring 11 more to reach 400. He also sits five away from being the fourth cricketer to hit 100 est sixes. “Tim is a legend of the game” said Northern Districts Cricket CEO Ben MacCormack. “Naming a bowling end in his honour for this Test not only celebrates his outstanding international career but also his connection with Northern Districts (ND). “He is a proud ND man who has made himself available for his region whenever possible, and he is considered a treasure in his home district.” “We are grateful to Tim for his commitment and passion for the game, and at this junction in his career I also wish to thank his family. The support network sitting alongside the players in our sport are what allow exceptional talent to flourish.” England won the first test by eight wickets and the second by 323 runs.

NZ Breakers centre Dane Pineau faces an extended period on the sideline after being ruled out with a knee injury. Pineau injured his left knee in the team’s Round 10 game against the Perth Wildcats, with scans confirming a torn meniscus. LATEST HEADLINES: Leana de Bruin joins Stars coaching team Strong entry list for the 2025 men's ASB Classic Vaimauga re-signs with NZ Warriors until 2028 Jeet Raval challenges all-time slowest record NBL's preseason Westside blitz bigger in 2025 He will have surgery this week as the best option for a full recovery. Tall Blacks international Tai Wynyard has been signed by the club as injury cover. Wynyard has trained with the team over the past week and was on the bench against Sydney Kings last Saturday. The Breakers (7-7) are back in action in the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) on Thursday (tip-off 7.30pm) when they host the Tasmania JackJumpers at Eventfinda Stadium on Auckland’s North Shore.

Chilean Alejandro Tabilo kisses the 2024 ASB Classic trophy. He returns as second seed in the strong field for January's 2025 tournament. PHOTO: ASB CLASSIC/TIM MARSHALL The men's entry list for January's ASB Classic is one of the most condensed in recent times with rankings ranging from just 21 to 58. American left-hander Ben Shelton tops the list at 21 in the world followed by defending champion Alejandro Tabilo two places below. LATEST HEADLINES: Raval challenges all-time slowest record NBL's Westside blitz goes bigger in 2025 NZ Open champion Jones returning in 2025 Chiefs prop Aidan Ross departing for Reds Auckland, Wellington get two All Blacks tests New to the entry list Argentine No 1 Sebastian Baez comes in as third seed after an epic start to the year where he reached the semis at Cordoba, quarters at Buenos Aires, won the title at Rio de Janairo and also at Santiago in consecutive tournaments. Another Argentine, Francisco Cerundolo is next at 30 in the rankings after a number of semifinal results throughout the year and strong performances in Davis Cup. Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France is the fifth seed at 31 in the rankings and used his big serve and height to huge advantage. Flavio Caboli is another young player just a spot further back in the rankings Nuno Borges is the seventh seed from Portugal who played at the ASB Classic in 2024 when he reached the second round. He's now just below his career high of 30 after winning the title in Bastard over Rafael Nadal in the final and making the fourth round at the Australian Open. Twenty-year-old Alex Michelson returns to Auckland again. He made the finals at Newport and Winston Salem throughout the year to improve his ranked up to 41 to be the eighth seed. Of the unseeded players are locally-raised Cam Norrie at 49 as well as Geal Monfils and rising star Jakub Mensik, veteran Jan-Lennard Struff who won the Munich title and a raft of other players The ASB Classic men's tournament run by tournament director Nicolas Lamperin is held 6-11 January 2025. Entry list: 21 Ben Shelton (USA), 23 Alejandro Tabilo (Chile), 27 Sebastian Baez (Argentina), 30 Francisco Cerundolo (Argentina), 31 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (France), 32 Flavio Cabolli, 36 Nuno Borges (Portugal), 41 Alex Michelson (USA), 42 Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany), 43 Pedro Martinez (Spain), 44 Luciano Darderi (Italy), 47 Mariano Navone (Argentina), 48 Jakub Mensik (Czech Republic), 49 Cam Norrie (England), 53 Lorenzo Sonego (Italy), 55 Gael Monfils (France), 58 Roberto Carballes Baena (Spain), 58 Fabian Marozan (Hungary)

Former Silver Fern Leana de Bruin has joined the Northern Stars coaching staff. PHOTO: NORTHERN STARS Leana de Bruin will be back wearing the purple of the Stars for the 2025 ANZ Premiership season; except she will be swapping out her playing dress for a clipboard as the new assistant coach. The Silver Ferns great was Stars player No 1 when the franchise featured in their maiden season in 2017 and also the team’s first captain. LATEST HEADLINES: Strong entry list for the 2025 men's ASB Classic Vaimauga re-signs with NZ Warriors until 2028 Jeet Raval challenges all-time slowest record NBL's preseason Westside blitz bigger in 2025 NZ Open champion Jones returning next year De Bruin shared the court with new head coach Temepara Bailey for both the Stars and Silver Ferns and was thrilled to be working alongside her good friend in the coaching setup. “We’ve done a lot of challenging things together and I think the cool thing about us is we can have a lot of robust and tough conversations without getting too precious, which is awesome.” de Bruin said. “I’m so excited. I’m looking forward to learning from her as she is one of the most well-respected players and now coaches and it will be cool to team up with some of the girls that I’ve played with in the past but now in a different role.” Stars general manager Jane Bennett was excited to add an astute netball brain like de Bruin to the Stars whānau. “We are thrilled to see our very first Stars player coming back to us in this role. I’m personally excited about the energy she brings along with her defensive expertise and know she will compliment Temepara well.” Bennett said. A no nonsense defender, de Bruin played 104 tests for New Zealand, 34 for South Africa and played many games for various domestic teams, with her last outing for the Stars in 2022. Since finishing playing, de Bruin admits she still held a burning desire to be a part of a high-performance netball environment again. “It’s such a special thing to be a part of and something I’ve really missed after playing and trying to find my feet. I’ve got so much knowledge and love for the game that I want to give back and obviously when Temepara was named as head coach, I thought this could be quite exciting.” De Bruin explains. De Bruin played in the Stars’ first final in 2019 and has watched the Stars return to the decider in 2022 and 2023, with a maiden title still proving illusive. She was encouraged by the make-up of the new squad and their potential. “There are some strong older heads who have been here long enough to want to give that final push to get over the line, because they know they’re so close. We’ve also got a good mix of new players which adds a point of difference and it’s a nice mix.” De Bruin said. “Within the community they’ve grown heaps and everybody you talk to loves the girls. It’s great to see how competitive they’ve become on the court too. We’ve become real contenders now and you can see the players really want to win, which is great.”

Demitric Vaimauga has extended his stay with the NZ Warriors to four seasons. PHOTO: NZ WARRIORS Outstanding rookie forward Demitric Vaimauga has locked in his time with the NZ Warriors until the end of the 2028 NRL season. The contract extension ensures the 20-year-old Ōtāhuhu Leopards junior is one of only two players in the 2025 NRL squad signed for the next four seasons. LATEST HEADLINES: Jeet Raval challenges all-time slowest record NBL's preseason Westside blitz bigger in 2025 NZ Open champion Jones returning in 2025 Chiefs prop Aidan Ross departing for Reds Auckland, Wellington get two All Blacks tests Then known by the surname of Sifakula, Vaimauga made his NRL debut as a 19-year-old against the Sydney Roosters in 2023 and followed it with two more matches before adding another four appearances in 2024. “Demitric’s extension takes him to 2028 – the only other player we have signed that long is James (Fisher-Harris) – so it shows just how much we believe in him as a player and as a person,” said Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden. “He has trained really well since coming back from injury and we’re excited to see him continue his development under Webby and his staff while also being able to learn off the more established leaders we have in our top 30.” While recovery from knee surgery prevented him returning to the field until midway through the 2024 season, Vaimauga quickly impressed in eight appearances for the club’s New South Wales Cup side before being recalled to the NRL lineup for the last four matches of the year. “Demitric brings so much energy and aggression to his game on both sides of the ball. We love what he provides on the field and also off it,” said Warriors head coach Andrew Webster. “Going back to our first trial against the Tigers in 2023, he immediately showed he belonged at NRL level and everything he has done since has reinforced that. “Injury impacted on his time on the field in the last two seasons but he has come back so well through a professional attitude. He’s our future, a great example of a locally produced and developed player.” In his seven interchange outings in the NRL, Vaimauga has averaged 19 minutes including a 32-minute stint in the round 25 clash against the Bulldogs this year when he made 118 metres from 10 runs, 45 post contact metres, a line break, five tackle breaks and 13 tackles without a miss. In 20 New South Wales Cup matches he averages 89 metres and 22 tackles with a total of 53 tackle breaks. As a De La Salle College student, Vaimauga juggled rugby league commitments and 1st XV rugby after being signed by the Warriors as a 15-year-old. He was based in Redcliffe with the Warriors in 2022 where he trained with the NRL squad and appeared for the Dolphins in the Queensland Rugby League’s under-20 competition.