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Sam Dakin (left) in action in the keirin. PHOTO: SWPIX Cycling New Zealand’s high performance riders take their first racing towards Los Angeles 2028 at the UCI Nations Cup in Turkey this weekend. With only one Nations Cup on the UCI track cycling calendar this year, Cycling New Zealand High Performance team are taking the opportunity for a longer-term view on their development. They are using the competition to blood developing combinations for team events, and more importantly, to advance performances in the individual events. LATEST HEADLINES: Tactix target playoffs spot in Premiership Jenkins switches to New Zealand football Super Rugby pressure on New Zealand teams Bulls, Saints, Hawks make big NBL signings Teen stars as Bay Hawks tip-off NBL with win “As it is year one of the Olympic Games cycle, we are taking a development focus – basically a test, trial and repeat approach,” said Cycling New Zealand high performance manager, Ryan Hollows. “Our squads – sprint, female endurance and male endurance - all have different approaches and development goals working through to the UCI World Championships in October. “The Nations Cup in Turkey is a start towards that, although we are all impressed with this track and expect there will be some very quick times set.” WorldTour professional road riders, Campbell Stewart and Ally Wollaston have flown in from their European bases to compete, focussing on the individual endurance events. The women’s endurance squad of in-form Bryony Botha, Samantha Donnelly, Emily Shearman and Prudence Fowler will contest the team pursuit and madison. The experienced Tom Sexton leads a group of Nick Kergozou, Keegan Hornblow, George Jackson and newcomer Marshall Erwood in the same events in the men’s competition. The sprint squad are represented by Sam Dakin and Olivia King in individual sprint and keirin competition, with the team sprint trio of Ellesse Andrews, Shaane Fulton and Rebecca Petch targeting training and competition blocks later in the year. Competition begins at impressive Konya Velodrome in southern Turkey on Friday night (NZ time).

Donna Wilkins wants a playoff spot for the Tactix in her first year as coach PHOTO: SUPPLIED/QUALITY ANTICS Tactix netball coach Donna Wilkins has revealed she is targeting a top-three finish, while predicting ‘new netball rules’ could bring on-court fireworks.. Wilkins has ‘raised the stakes’, setting her sights on a podium finish, while new rules are no distraction for new Tactix coach and former Silver Ferns Donna Wilkins who is shooting for a top-three finish in the 2025 ANZ competition. LATEST HEADLINES: Jenkins switches to New Zealand football Super Rugby pressure on New Zealand teams Bulls, Saints, Hawks make big NBL signings Teen stars as Bay Hawks tip-off NBL with win Largest NZ athletics team set for world indoors “We aren’t going out there to come second and with a short season we don’t have the luxury of easing into the season. Game one is crucial,” said Wilkins. With the 2025 ANZ Premiership season reduced from 15 to 10 matches, there is pressure to get results early in the season, and Wilkins hopes supporters will be there for game one, and not wait to see how the team is performing. “Game day support has the power to get us across the line, bums on stadium seats count especially for the tough games, with fewer at-home matches, you want to be there to see the action.” On-court, Wilkins is bringing her wealth of netball and basketball experience to the season, and recent rule changes lend themselves to that. Netball New Zealand unveiled a series of rule innovations for the 2025 ANZ Premiership, including the two-point, long range (3.5m) ‘super-shot’ introduced in the final five minutes of each quarter. Supporters will recognise the super-shot from Fast 5Netball World Series, which when applied to seven-a-side netball, promises to showcase Tactix shooting and defence talent. “The tougher long shot means higher stakes for the players, but the crowd was on the edge of their seats during fast-five. When Martina landed that last-second shot, the crowd was electric!” To connect head coaches with on-court play, coaches will now be permitted to stand in a designated space in front of their team’s bench. Wilkins foresees using the coach’s box sparingly. “If the players see me on my feet, I want it to boost play, not like in basketball where we see coaches barking orders at the players.” “It will be interesting to see if the coaches use it – we are used to sitting. Basketball, we are always standing. I wont be getting in the box only for negative stuff, we want it to be a boost to the players.” The 2025 ANZ Premiership season begins May 10 with the Pulse against Magic follwoed by the Tactix hosting the Steel and local derby between the Mystics and Stars.

The Tauranga Whai rode a fast start all the way to a maiden victory over the Canterbury Rams. The Whai took down the two-time defending Sal’s National Basketball League (NBL) champion Wheeler Motor Company Rams 86-70 in their season-opener at Mount Maunganui’s Mercury Baypark on Thursday night. LATEST HEADLINES: NZ track riders start post-Olympics campaign Tactix target playoffs spot in ANZ Premiership Jenkins switches allegiance to Football Ferns Super Rugby Pacific pressure on NZ teams Teen stars as Bay Hawks tip-off NBL with win Tauranga came out firing, hitting six three-pointers in the opening quarter as they raced out to a 28-12 lead against the Tall Black-laden but import-less Rams. Former Tall Blacks guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt hit five triples in his game-high 27 points (10/17 FG, 5/9 3pt), to go with six rebounds and four assists. Carter Hopoi chimed in with 17 points (6/9 FG, 3/6 3pt) and six boards, American guard Chris Jones 15 points (5/15 FG), six rebounds and five assists, and Xanda Marsters 12 points off the bench. Kruz Perrott-Hunt hit five threes in his game-high 27 points for the Tauranga Whai. PHOTO: NBL All five Rams starters scored in double-digits, led by Tohi Smith-Milner’s 18 points (7/18 FG), eight boards and two steals, but they got just one point from their bench. With the Rams struggling for offence early, the Whai continued to push, stretching their lead to 23 points by halftime, with Perrott-Hunt with 14 points. The Whai’s shooting cooled in the third, with the Rams closing within 13 before a Perrott-Hunt three in the closing seconds killed the momentum. The Rams, who shot just 3-of-18 from deep and missed 13 free-throws, could only get as close as 11 points in the fourth as Hopoi and Jones closed out the win. The Whai (1-0) head to Pukekohe on Monday to face the Franklin Bulls (tip-off 7pm), while the Rams (0-1) return to Christchurch to host the Nelson Giants on Sunday (tip-off 6.30pm). Meanwhile, in the earlier Sky Rapid League game, the Rams toppled the Whai 39-27, with Mana Martin and Tony Worthington with nine points. Te Tuhi Lewis had 11 points for the Whai. Tauranga Whai 86 (Kruz Perrott-Hunt 27, Carter Hopoi 17, Chris Jones 15, Xanda Marsters 12) Canterbury Rams 70 (Tohi Smith-Milner 18, Kaia Isaac 16, Max Darling 14, Taylor Britt 11, Tama Isaac 10). 1Q: 28-12, HT: 47-24, 3Q: 67-51

Reuben Te Rangi will suit up for his hometown Franklin Bulls in the 2025 NBL. PHOTO: DAVE LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY The Franklin Bulls, Hawke's Bay Hawks, Wellington Saints, Otago Nuggets and Taranaki Airs have made late big-name signings ahead of the National Basketball League (NBL) season. Tall Blacks forward Reuben Te Rangi has switched sides in the 'Battle in the North', going from the Auckland Tuatara to the Bulls, while the Hawks have dipped into the import pool for two Australians from the Illawarra Hawks. LATEST HEADLINES: Teen stars as Bay Hawks tip-off NBL with win Largest NZ athletics team set for world indoors Ruben Love extends with NZ Rugby until 2026 Warriors ready to make amends against Manly Bracewell to lead Black Caps against Pakistan It will be a South Auckland homecoming for Te Rangi, 30, who grew up in Manurewa, and played his early association basketball for Counties Manukau. "Signing Reuben is more than just adding a star player to our roster, it’s about inspiring our community and elevating the game in South Auckland and Franklin. I'm so excited we got his done," said Bulls GM Jamie Reddish. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 12.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists, while shooting 44 percent from the field, in 19 games for the Tuatara in 2024. Te Rangi, who just finished up with the Tasmania JackJumpers in the Australian NBL, offers extensive experience, with more than a decade in the NBL and ANBL. He has previously played for the Harbour Heat, Southland Sharks, Super City Rangers, Wellington Saints, Canterbury Rams and Tuatara in NBL basketball, and the NZ Breakers, Brisbane Bullets, South East Melbourne Phoenix and JackJumpers in the ANBL. The three-time NBL champion and 71-game Tall Black will form a dangerous starting five at The Stockyard with Tall Blacks Flynn Cameron and Ethan Rusbatch, and imports, American Tae Hardy and German Till Gloger. New Bay Hawks imports (from left) Dan Grida and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk. PHOTOS: BAY HAWKS The Hawks will add Dan Grida and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk in the coming weeks to a roster that already won the season-opener on Wednesday night. Grida, a 6-foot-8 forward, spent last season with the Nelson Giants, averaging 22.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals, while shooting 47 percent, in 21 games. Only 23, Swaka Lo Buluk, a 6-foot-6 forward has seven years in the ANBL with the Perth Wildcats and Hawks, with 2025 his NBL debut. Both are currently involved in the best-of-five ANBL Finals Series against Melbourne United, featuring Kiwis Cameron, Shea Ili and Rob Loe. Veteran Australian guard Shaun Bruce is returning to the Wellington Saints after seven years. PHOTO: SAINTS The Saints and Taranaki Airs also signed their third imports, while the Otago Nuggets added their second in the past week. The 12-time champion Saints went across the Tasman again, picking up Sydney Kings guard Shaun Bruce to join compatriot Nick Marshall, American Nick Muszynski and the Tall Blacks core of Izayah Le’afa, Ili and Hyrum Harris. Bruce, a 34-year-old 6-foot-4 guard, is returning to the Wellington, having previously played in all 20 games of the Saints’ runner-up 2018 season. Australian Harry Froling (Taranaki Airs) and American Donald Carey (Otago Nuggets). PHOTOS: AIRS, NUGGETS When the Airs lost Australian Angus Glover to an overseas contract last week, they went to a familiar name for his replacement. Harry Froling, a 6-foot-11 center and the brother of the Airs’ standout import last season, Sam Froling, will head to New Plymouth, joining imports Owen Foxwell and Armon Fletcher, and Carlin Davison. Froling, 26, played four NBL games for the ill-fated Southern Huskies in 2019, and has played parts of five seasons in the ANBL, the last with the Bullets in 2022-23. The Nuggets' new import Donald Carey is coming off two seasons with the Maine Celtics, the Boston Celtics' G-League affiliate, where 6-foot-5 guard averaged around 11 minutes a game off the bench. NBL FREE AGENT TRACKER Auckland Tuatara Rob Loe, Tom Vodanovich, Dan Fotu, Dylan Wilkie, Josh Wyllie, Charles Pride*, Will 'Davo' Hickey*, Buay Tuach*, Cooper Te Ratana, Nick Barrow, Chris McIntosh, Josh Leger, Matthew Dalton, Chris Wyllie, Bart Jackowski, KC Ioane, Noa Latu, Noah Rasmussen Indian Panthers Lokendra Singh, Jaideep Rathore, Alex Robinson Jr*, Riyanshu Negi, Vaisakh Manoj, Aaron Verghese Blessen Franklin Bulls Ethan Rusbatch, Halasiale Maile, Tobias Cameron, KC Nwafor, Corey Perry, Harrison Coker-Grey, Brody Perry, Payton Hughes, Harrison Kelso, Zion Anderson, Flynn Cameron, Tae Hardy*, Till Gloger*, Reuben Te Rangi, Christian Vano Tauranga Whai Jayden Bezzant, Sean Bairstow*, Te Tuhi Lewis, Jett Thompson, Chris Jones*, Kruz Perrott-Hunt, Denhym Brooke, Carter Hopoi, Jayden Boucher Taranaki Airs Dom Kelman-Poto, Scott Telfer, Jack Exeter, Owen Foxwell*, Jack Andrew, Armon Fletcher*, Quintin Bailey, Harry Froling* Manawatu Jets Dontae Russo-Nance, Kenny Goins*, Isaac Miller-Jose, Dion Collins, Makhel Mitchell*, Miles Gibson*, Zavier Pearn, Tinashe Matambanadzo, Hikaia Lambert, Tautoko Wynyward, Corey Webster Hawke's Bay Hawks Jackson Ball, Jacob Murphy, Clifton Bush II, Ezrah Eagle, Harry Keighley, Kobe Kara, Maz Taylor, Isaac Allan, Lennox Singh, Campbell Scott, Darnell Cowart*, Luca Yates, Dan Grida*, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk*, Ryder Moore Wellington Saints Hyrum Harris, Troy Plumtree, Izayah Le'afa, Shea Ili, Rangimarie Dougall-Mita, Nick Marshall*, Kazlo Evans Jr, Lukah Richards, Nick Muszynski*, Arthur Pilcher, Hassan Munir, Tyrael-Cage Heke, Shaun Bruce* Nelson Giants Alex McNaught, Liam Judd, Aston Inwood, Hayden Jones, Lachlan Crate, Sam Dempster, Brice Johnson*, Callum McRae, Callum Dalton*, James Matthews, Kaleb Chamberlain, Jaylen Forbes*, Will Blight, Coen Williams Canterbury Rams Taylor Britt, Kaia Isaac, Max Darling, Walter Brown, Sean Macdonald*, Tama Isaac, Mana Martin, Jake Holmes, Ihaka Cate, Tawhiri Cate, Kyle Bowen*, Jonty Bond, Tony Worthington, CJ Penha Jr*, Tohi Smith-Milner, Max De Geest, Corban Mason, Sam Smith Otago Nuggets Matthew Bardsley, Darcy Knox, Josh Aitcheson, Jono Janssen, Caleb Smiler, Michael Ruske, Mac Stodart, Jose Perez*, Danyon Ashcroft, Patrick Freeman, Donald Carey*, Christian Martin Southland Sharks Alonzo Burton, Johnny Helu, Sam Timmins, Keylan Boone*, Tukaha Cooper, Caleb Asberry*, Hayden Collier, Dane Bertinshaw, Josiah Allick*, Quake Webster, Riley Snow, Joseph Riwhi, Will Leger, Jack Ramage

New Canterbury Rams signing CJ Penha Jr (left) and Nelson Giants guard Jaylen Forbes. With the National Basketball League (NBL) tip-off fast approaching, several teams have made import additions in the past week. Seven of the league's 12 franchises announced at least one overseas signing in the last seven days, with less than a week until the start of the NBL's 43rd season. LATEST HEADLINES: Miles Pearce to coach NBL's Indian Panthers Black Caps defeat South Africa to reach final Difficult Indian Wells draw for NZ's Lulu Sun Super Rugby Pacific Round 4 teams named Rams, Hawks pick up NBL preseason wins The Nelson Giants and Canterbury Rams completed their three-man import quotas, the Indian Panthers, Hawke's Bay Hawks and Otago Nuggets confirmed their first, while the Franklin Bulls and Wellington Saints picked up their second. The Giants have signed 6-foot-5 American shooting guard Jaylen Forbes, joining American power forward Brice Johnson and Australian centre Callum Dalton in Sun City. The two-time defending champion Rams have inked 6-foot-7 American forward CJ Penha Jr to a one-year deal, but he will not arrive in Christchurch until early-April. Canterbury also signed Tall Blacks forward Tohi Smith-Milner, joining Max Darling and Australian Kyle Bowen in the front-court. New import signings (from left) Darnell Cowart (Bay Hawks), Alex Robinson Jr (Indian Panthers) and Jose Perez (Otago Nuggets). American guard Alex Robinson Jr was the Panthers' first import, among four players announced over the last two days. The franchise also revealed former Tall Black and NBL veteran Miles Pearce as their first head coach. After filling their roster with NBL role players and Rapid League regulars, the Hawks locked in 6-foot-8 American forward Darnell Cowart, who has played professionally in Mexico, Spain and Kosovo, along with time in the G-League. The Nuggets locked down their local core before announcing 6-foot-5 Dominican-American forward Jose Perez, who will be playing professionally for the first time. Wellington Saints import Nick Muszynski (left) and Franklin Bulls big man Till Gloger. The Wellington Saints added another Nick to their front-court, with 6-foot-11 American centre Nick Muszynski joining Australian forward Nick Marshall and their Tall Blacks-laden guard line. Muszynski, 26, has played professionally in Germany and Poland, while he appeared in three games for the Portland Trail Blazers' G-League affiliate earlier this season. The Bulls put pen to paper with 6-foot-8 German forward Till Gloger, to go with American Tae Hardy and the Cameron brothers, Flynn and Tobias. Gloger, 32, has spent the last four-plus seasons with the Rostock Seawolves in the top-two tiers of German hoops. New assistant coaches (from left) Phill Jones (Nelson Giants) and Chris Tupu (Wellington Saints). In coaching and front office news, Tall Blacks legend Phill Jones has come out retirement again, this time to serve as an assistant coach on Michael Fitchett's staff. Jones, who played two decades in the NBL, with all but one season in Nelson, will join his teen son Hayden, who is in his second season with the Giants. The Giants have also hired former Black Caps all-rounder and long-time selector Gavin Larsen as commercial manager. The Wellington Saints have signed former Tall Blacks guard and assistant coach Chris Tupu as an assistant under first-year coach Aaron Young. Tupu, a physical education teacher at Wellington's Rongotai College, started his NBL career with the Saints in 1989, and won two championships as a player and another as an assistant coach. NBL FREE AGENT TRACKER Auckland Tuatara Rob Loe, Tom Vodanovich, Dan Fotu, Dylan Wilkie, Josh Wyllie, Charles Pride*, Will 'Davo' Hickey*, Buay Tuach*, Cooper Te Ratana, Nick Barrow, Chris McIntosh, Josh Leger, Matthew Dalton, Chris Wyllie, Bart Jackowski, KC Ioane, Noa Latu Indian Panthers '}Lokendra Singh, Jaideep Rathore, Alex Robinson Jr*, Riyanshu Negi Franklin Bulls Ethan Rusbatch, Halasiale Maile, Tobias Cameron, KC Nwafor, Corey Perry, Harrison Coker-Grey, Brody Perry, Payton Hughes, Harrison Kelso, Zion Anderson, Flynn Cameron, Tae Hardy*, Till Gloger* Tauranga Whai Jayden Bezzant, Sean Bairstow*, Te Tuhi Lewis, Jett Thompson, Chris Jones*, Kruz Perrott-Hunt, Denhym Brooke, Carter Hopoi, Jayden Boucher Taranaki Airs Dom Kelman-Poto, Scott Telfer, Jack Exeter, Owen Foxwell*, Jack Andrew, Armon Fletcher*, Quintin Bailey Manawatu Jets Dontae Russo-Nance, Kenny Goins*, Isaac Miller-Jose, Dion Collins, Makhel Mitchell*, Miles Gibson*, Zavier Pearn, Tinashe Matambanadzo, Hikaia Lambert, Tautoko Wynyward, Corey Webster Hawke's Bay Hawks Jackson Ball, Jacob Murphy, Clifton Bush II, Ezrah Eagle, Harry Keighley, Kobe Kara, Maz Taylor, Isaac Allan, Lennox Singh, Campbell Scott, Darnell Cowart*, Luca Yates Wellington Saints Hyrum Harris, Troy Plumtree, Izayah Le'afa, Shea Ili, Rangimarie Dougall-Mita, Nick Marshall*, Kazlo Evans Jr, Lukah Richards, Nick Muszynski* Nelson Giants Alex McNaught, Liam Judd, Aston Inwood, Hayden Jones, Lachlan Crate, Sam Dempster, Brice Johnson*, Callum McRae, Callum Dalton*, James Matthews, Kaleb Chamberlain, Jaylen Forbes* Canterbury Rams Taylor Britt, Kaia Isaac, Max Darling, Walter Brown, Sean Macdonald*, Tama Isaac, Mana Martin, Jake Holmes, Ihaka Cate, Tawhiri Cate, Kyle Bowen*, Jonty Bond, Tony Worthington, CJ Penha Jr*, Tohi Smith-Milner, Max De Geest Otago Nuggets Matthew Bardsley, Darcy Knox, Josh Aitcheson, Jono Janssen, Caleb Smiler, Michael Ruske, Mac Stodart, Jose Perez*, Danyon Ashcroft Southland Sharks Alonzo Burton, Johnny Helu, Sam Timmins, Keylan Boone*, Tukaha Cooper, Caleb Asberry*, Hayden Collier, Dane Bertinshaw, Josiah Allick*, Quake Webster, Riley Snow, Joseph Riwhi, Will Leger, Jack Ramage

High jumper Hamish Kerr leads the team of 12 to the World Indoor Athletics Championships PHOTO: ATHLETICS NZ New Zealand will send its largest team to the World Indoor Athletics Championships, with 12 athletes selected for the event in China later this month. Olympic high jump champion Hamish Kerr leads the squad and is aiming to defend the Indoor world title he won last year. LATEST HEADLINES: Ruben Love extends with NZR until 2026 Warriors ready to make amends against Manly Whai lift Westside Blitz trophy; Ball named MVP Black Caps quartet in Champions Trophy team Bracewell to lead Black Caps against Pakistan New Zealand won four medals at the 2024 event finishing third on the medal table. "I'm looking forward to defending my title and ready for some big jumps," said Kerr. Joining the high jumper is a full complement of shot putters with two men and two women selected. Paris Olympic silver medallist Maddi Wesche and Kaia Tupu-Smith will contest the women's event. The United States based Tupu-Smith who is at the University of Washington in Seattle will be representing New Zealand for the first time. Tom Walsh who won silver at the 2024 World Indoor Champs in Glasgow is joined by Jacko Gill who finished seventh at the Paris Olympics and fifth at last year's World Indoor Championships. A notable absentee is pole vaulter Eliza McCartney who won silver in Glasgow last year. McCartney's only recently returned to competition after the Paris Olympics, contesting the national track and field champs in Dunedin at the weekend but she failed to reach the qualifying mark. Paris Olympians Olivia McTaggart and Imogen Ayris did reach the qualifying standard however and will compete in China. Sprinters Zoe Hobbs and Tiaan Whelpton will contest the 100m, while middle distance runners Maia Ramsden and Laura Nagel will compete in the 1500m. Ramsden has been in good recent form setting a new New Zealand mile record in Boston to qualify for China. Rounding out the team is Canada based 800m runner Alison Andrews-Paul, who recently ran the fourth fastest time by a New Zealand woman over the distance. Sam Tanner withdrew to focus on his outdoor season while Ethan Olivier will concentrate on rehabbing a minor injury picked up earlier in the season. Kimberly May has withdrawn to focus on her outdoor season. Eddie Osei-Nketia has withdrawn to focus on the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor season. Men: Hamish Kerr (High Jump) – Coach: James Sandilands Tom Walsh (Shot Put) – Coach: Hayden Hall Jacko Gill (Shot Put) – Coach: Dale Stevenson Tiaan Whelpton (60m) – Coach: Angus Ross Women: Maddi Wesche (Shot Put) – Mike Schofield Kaia Tupu-South (Shot Put) – Walter Gill/Jason Schutz Zoe Hobbs (60m) Coach: James Mortimer Olivia McTaggart (Pole Vault) Coach: Scott Simpson Imogen Ayris (Pole Vault) Coach: Scott Simpson Maia Ramsden (1500m) Coach: Dathan Ritzenhein Laura Nagel (1500m) Coach: Paul Hamblyn Alison Andrews-Paul (800m) Coach: Brit Townsend

Ruben Love will remain with the Hurricanes and NZ Rugby until at least the 2028 season. PHOTO: ALL BLACKS All Blacks back Ruben Love has recommitted to the Hurricanes and New Zealand Rugby through to the end of 2028.   Love, Hurricane No 277, debuted for the Hurricanes in 2021 against the Highlanders and was called-up by the All Blacks for the first time in 2024, scoring two tries against Japan. LATEST HEADLINES: Warriors ready to make amends against Manly Whai lift Westside Blitz trophy; Ball named MVP Black Caps quartet in Champions Trophy team Bracewell to lead Black Caps against Pakistan Stable All Whites squad for World Cup qualies Indian Panthers unknown ahead of NBL debut The 23-year-old All Black is a relentless trainer which only enhances his natural ability on the field. The former Palmerston North Boys’ High School student played cricket and rugby for New Zealand age-group teams and oozes natural ability. He can cover a number of positions but is best known as a fullback.  “I’m very honoured to re-sign my contract with this (team)," Love said. "I have great love for this team, and it is truly an honour to represent my people and play on the land where I grew up.”  “Super excited to have Ruben Love re-signing with us," Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw said. "He’s an example of local talent, through school and then onto Wellington Rugby. He had a tricky start at the beginning of his professional career with injuries but as we saw last year, when has a run at games he has great quality in his performance. “He’s shown real maturity after returning from his time in the All Blacks and he has potential to become a real leader and outstanding player for the future. He is everything we want in a Hurricane, an unbelievable professional and sets a high standard for himself and others around him.”

Round one in Las Vegas against the Raiders was a disaster. Can the Warriors do better against Manly? PHOTO: NRL An unchanged squad has been named for the NZ Warriors opening home game of the season against Manly on Friday at Mt Smart. It’s the first of two back-to-back Friday night home games with the Sydney Roosters in Auckland a week later on March 21. “If I’m honest, I want to give these guys an opportunity to right the wrongs. You won’t see many changes at all,” said head coach Andrew Webster. LATEST HEADLINES: Whai lift Westside Blitz trophy; Ball MVP Black Caps quartet in Champions Trophy team Bracewell to lead Black Caps against Pakistan Stable All Whites squad for World Cup qualies Indian Panthers unknown ahead of NBL debut In fact there haven’t been any changes with the same 22 players selected for the match against Canberra in round one retained this week. Webster shuffled his starting forward pack on game day in Las Vegas with Jackson Ford brought off the bench to start at prop, Mitchell Barnett moved from the front row to start at loose forward and Erin Clark shifted to the interchange. The players not used in Vegas – hooker Sam Healey, halfback-standoff Te Maire Martin, second rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, prop Bunty Afoa and winger Edward Kosi – were all involved in the Warriors’ 18-16 round one New South Wales Cup win over the Canberra Raiders last Saturday. While the Warriors began their season with an 8-30 loss to the Raiders, the Sea Eagles were in irresistible form against North Queensland as they raced to a 24-0 halftime lead before going on to win 42-12 last Saturday night. “They were unreal. They got off to a flier,” said Webster.“They attacked well, they defended well. Hopefully we can create an atmosphere here that will make it hard for them. We’re coming up against a good team so that’s exciting.” The match will have special meaning for co-captain James Fisher Harris as he experiences his first home game for the Warriors at a packed Go Media Stadium. Clark will edge towards his 100-game career milestone when he plays his 97th game this week and his first as a Warrior at Go Media Stadium since his debut there against the Storm on the 22nd anniversary of the club’s first game (March 10, 2017). Centre Adam Pompey will make his 96th first-grade appearance, all of them for the Warriors. Manly has been the Warriors’ most challenging opponent in their history holding a 28-13 advantage in 42 matches played (with one drawn). When the two sides met in Auckland last April they drew 22-22 after extra time while in 2023 the Warriors prevailed 29-22. Warriors: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Taine Tuaupiki, 3 Ali Leiataua, 4 Adam Pompey, 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 James Fisher-Harris (cc), 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Mitch Barnett, 11 Kurt Capewell, 12 Marata Miukore, 13 Erin Clark Interchange: 14 Dylan Walker, 15 Jackson Ford, 16 Demitiric Vaimauga, 17 Leka Halasima, 18 Sam Healey, 20 Te Maire Martin, 21 Eddie Ieremia Toeava, 22 Bunty Afoa, 23 Ed Kosi

Who will step on court for the NBL's 12th franchise, the Indian Panthers, in the season-opener on Wednesday night remains a mystery. PHOTO: NBL The Indian Panthers‘ introduction into the National Basketball League (NBL) is just under 36 hours away and who will take the court for them is still unknown. The Panthers - with a yet to be confirmed roster - are due to take on the Hawke’s Bay Hawks at Napier's Rodney Green Arena in the 2025 season-opener on Wednesday night (tip-off 7pm). LATEST HEADLINES: Lulu Sun, Erin Routliffe beaten at Indian Wells Auckland FC reserves to make domestic debut Alker wins on PGA Tour Champions in playoff White Ferns wrap up Sri Lanka ODI series 2-0 Auckland FC grab A-League point at Newcastle The expansion and foreign-owned franchise, who will play their home games out of South Auckland’s Bruce Pulman Arena, have announced just six player signings to date - five Indians and one American. However, with the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) naming an extended squad for a national team training camp this week ahead of their 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Final Qualifying Tournament from March 21-23, the Panthers will be without most, if not all, of their players. Instead, the Panthers have been given a special dispensation by the NBL Commission to fill their roster with New Zealand players for the opening weeks of the season, the NBL said in a statement on Monday, although no players were revealed. Guard Vaisakh Manoj is the only contracted Panthers player to appear for India during the second round of FIBA Asia Cup qualifying. PHOTO: VAISAKH MANOJ Of the Panthers' five contracted Indian players, only guard Vaisakh Manoj appeared for India during the six games of the second round of FIBA Asia Cup qualifying, for a total of two minutes. "Similar to when the Tall Blacks call up players from the NBL for national team duty, the same applies for the Panthers and the Indian national team," said former Tall Blacks and NBL veteran Casey Frank, now the league's media, fans and brand manager. "Ideally you would like it to occur out of season for us, but it happens and it's been great to see a number of Kiwi players step up to help out." The Panthers' rushed introduction as the league's 12th franchise has been fraught with issues. The first players were only announced last Tuesday, eight days before their first game, and they did not have a head coach until the following day, when former NBL stalwart Miles Pearce was confirmed. They had to withdraw at late notice from last week's Westside Blitz NBL preseason tournament on the South Island's West Coast due to the inaugural INBL Pro season in India and subsequent visa issues.

Matt Henry was top wicket taker at the Champions Trophy and named in the Team of the Tournament. PHOTO: ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY A quartet of New Zealand cricketers have been named in the ICC Champions Trophy tournament team after their loss in the final. India beat the Black Caps by four wickets in the final on their 'home' ground in Dubai, while the New Zealand side travelled from Pakistan to the Middle East twice. LATEST HEADLINES: Bracewell to lead Black Caps vs Pakistan NZ All Whites squad for World Cup qualies Indian Panthers unknown ahead of NBL debut Lulu Sun, Erin Routliffe beaten at Indian Wells Auckland FC reserves to make domestic debut Spinner Mitchell Santner is picked as captain, player of the tournament Rachin Ravindra to open, allrounder Glenn Phillips and the tournament's top wicket taker Matt Henry are in the eleven. Ravindra scored two centuries at the tournament and finished top runscorer with 251 runs averaging 62.75. Santner finished second equalwicket taker with nine, while Phillips outstanding fielding added to that a strong batting performance with 177 runs, averaging 59 and also picking up two wickets saw him included. Henry despite being ruled out of the final with a shoulder injury finished top of the wicket taking list with ten. Winners India have six players in the side batters Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer, wicket keeper KL Rahul, pace bowler Mohammed Shami, and leg spinner Varun Chakarvarthy. The only players not from New Zealand or India are Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zahran and allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai. Omarzai was last year's men's ODI player of the year and took 5-58 against England, taking seven wickets in total at the tournament and scoring 126 at an average of 42. India won nearly $4 million in prizemoney in winning the final while the Black Caps picked up $2.12 million in finishing runners-u

The Tauranga Whai rallied in the final quarter of a loss to the Wellington Saints to claim the Westside Blitz NBL preseason title. PHOTO: TAURANGA WHAI The Tauranga Whai have claimed the first trophy of the National Basketball League (NBL) season. Despite a loss to the Wellington Saints in their final 'half-game', the Whai accumulated enough victories and quarter wins to claim the title at the Westside Blitz preseason tournament in Greymouth. LATEST HEADLINES: Black Caps quartet in Champions Trophy team Bracewell to lead Black Caps against Pakistan Stable All Whites squad for World Cup qualies Indian Panthers unknown ahead of NBL debut Lulu Sun, Erin Routliffe beaten at Indian Wells Due to the Indian Panthers' late withdrawal, the Whai, Saints and Nelson Giants played a game-of-three-halves on the tournament's final day. The Whai were the only team that could overtake the unbeaten Hawke's Bay Hawks on Saturday for the title, needing four-and-a-half of the seven points on offer in the two half-games. Winning both quarters in a 46-39 win over the Giants and taking the last quarter in a 46-32 loss to the Saints, the Whai did exactly that, drawing level with the Hawks on 16.5 points, earning the top spot on a tiebreaker. Former Tall Blacks guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt had 16 points (5/9 FG, 3/5 3pt) against the Giants, with Carter Hopoi adding 10 points, while Perrott-Hunt finished with nine points and Australian Sean Bairstow eight points against the Saints. Junior Tall Black Hayden Jones led the Giants with 12 points against the Whai, while Australian big Callum Dalton put up 11 points and American guard Jaylen Forbes 10 points in the 46-41 win over the Saints. For Wellington, Rangimarie Dougall-Mita finished with 12 points and six rebounds against Nelson, with American centre Nick Muszynski and Kiwi guard Kazlo Evans Jr putting up double-digit points in the win over the Whai. Hawks forward Jackson Ball (right) was awarded the Phill Jones Medal by the Tall Blacks legend. PHOTO: WESTSIDE BLITZ/DIGISPORT Hawks teen Jackson Ball collected the Phill Jones Medal as tournament MVP. Ball, a recent Tall Blacks call-up who celebrated his 17th birthday on Monday, amassed 29 of a possible 30 points in the MVP voting system, to finish ahead of Taranaki Airs forward Carlin Davison and Perrott-Hunt. Ball scored 25 points in a 98-86 win over the Franklin Bulls on Tuesday, had a 29-point outburst in a 98-89 victory over the Canterbury Rams on Thursday and hit the game-winning three as time expired amid 21 points in an 83-82 win over the Otago Nuggets on Friday. In the tournament's final game at the Westland Recreation Centre, the Airs rode a strong first half to defeat the Rams 81-72. Davison, an NZ Breakers development player, finished with an incredible stat-line of 26 points (9/14 FG, 5/8 3pt), 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals and five blocks, supported by 18 points and 11 boards from Jack Andrew and 14 points from Dom Kelman-Poto. Another Breakers and Tall Blacks player, Max Darling, led the Rams with 19 points (7/14 FG, 3/6 3pt), nine rebounds and two blocks.

Chris Wood (centre) will lead the All Whites in their FIFA World Cup Oceania Qualifiers. PHOTO: OFC/PHOTOTEK The All Whites squad for their FIFA World Cup Oceania Qualifiers this month in New Zealand has been confirmed. New Zealand will face Fiji in the Oceania semifinals on Friday, March 21 at Wellington's Sky Stadium, with the winner qualifying for the final, against either New Caledonia or Tahiti on Monday, March 24 at Auckland's Eden Park. LATEST HEADLINES: Indian Panthers unknown ahead of NBL debut Lulu Sun, Erin Routliffe beaten at Indian Wells Auckland FC reserves to make domestic debut Alker wins on PGA Tour Champions in playoff White Ferns wrap up Sri Lanka ODI series 2-0 The winning team will automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history after the tournament was expanded giving an OFC side direct entry. Should the All Whites win it will see New Zealand represented at the men’s FIFA World Cup for the first time in 16 years. Head coach Darren Bazeley has named a strong squad with 22 of the 23 players part of the team that assembled for the All Whites back-to-back wins over Vanuatu and Samoa in November. Joining the squad for this window is Auckland FC forward Jesse Randall, who made his debut in June 2024 at the OFC Nations Cup, earning four caps and scoring his first international goal as part of the tournament-winning side. All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley was happy with the squad and being able to regularly select players. “This is the business end of the competition now and we know we have a job to do in these games to see us return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2010. “We aren’t taking anything for granted, all of the squad are completely focused on what we want to achieve this month. “We have been really consistent with a lot of our selections over the last year to drive cohesion in the team so that when players arrive in camp they know what is expected, especially when we have limited time together and need to perform. “It was brilliant to see the support we had last year, and it is exciting that we get the opportunity to fight for our place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in front of our own fans, we hope to see as many of you in the stands as possible.” Portland Timbers' Finn Surman was not selected as the defender recently earned a starting place for the MLS side. The MLS schedule continues during the FIFA window, so Darren Bazeley elected not to call up Surman to prioritise the player’s development with his club. ALL WHITES SQUAD Kosta Barbarouses (65 caps/7 goals) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand Joe Bell (22/1) Viking FK, Norway Tyler Bindon (13/2) Reading FC, England (on loan from Nottingham Forest) Michael Boxall (53/0) Minnesota United, USA Liberato Cacace (31/1) Empoli FC, Italy Max Crocombe (13/0) Burton Albion, England Matt Garbett (28/5) NAC Breda, Netherlands Eli Just (32/6) SKN St. Pölten, Austria (on loan from Horsens) Callum McCowatt (21/4) Silkeborg IF, Denmark Alex Paulsen (3/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand (on loan from AFC Bournemouth) Tim Payne (41/2) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand Nando Pijnaker (23/0) Auckland FC, New Zealand Jesse Randall (4/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand Logan Rogerson (14/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand Storm Roux (15/0) Central Coast Mariners, Australia Alex Rufer (18/0) Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand Oli Sail (9/0) Perth Glory, Australia Sarpreet Singh (16/2) U.D. Leiria, Portugal Tommy Smith (56/2) Auckland FC, New Zealand Marko Stamenić (27/2) Olympiacos, Greece (on loan from Nottingham Forest) Francis de Vries (8/1) Auckland FC, New Zealand Ben Waine (22/8) Mansfield Town, England (on loan from Plymouth Argyle) Chris Wood (80/41) Nottingham Forest, England