Photo credit: Blake Armstrong
Before the season began we asked a chunk of the Sky Sport commentary crew for the Sal's NBL to go out on a limb and share their predictions across a slew of topics for the upcoming Sal's NBL season. Now that we have reached the halfway mark of the season we revisit those picks to see whose prognostication skills are worthy Nostradamus and those that should have been left in the crystal ball. In part one we have a look at our pre-season thoughts on which teams would wind up where. (Editors note, article was written prior to round 8)
Huw Beynon:
Preseason Predictions: Auckland Tuatara, Taranaki Steelformers Airs, Mills Albert Wellington Saints, Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams, Night n' Day Otago Nuggets , NBS Nelson Giants
Now: I'm pretty happy with March Huw here. Of my 6 pre-season picks, I'm confident I'll be correct on 5 of them. The maybes are the Giants or Nuggets, and I think one of them will make it, likely at the other's direct expense (i.e. will get the 6th spot on the ladder). There still a world where all 6 make it, so pretty happy.
Tom Abercrombie:
Preseason Predictions: Wellington, Taranaki, Auckland, Canterbury, Otago and Franklin. mentioned Nelson
Now: I picked Wellington, Auckland, Taranaki, Canterbury, Franklin and Otago. I think the Giants are going to scrape into that 6th spot but the other 5 are set.
Justin Nelson:
Preseason Predictions: Taranaki Airs, Wellington Saints, Auckland Tuatara, Canterbury Rams, Southland Sharks, Franklin Bulls
Now: My friends at the Sharks are still a mathematical chance, so I’m right on target. That said, clearly I should have gone with the Nuggets, Hawks or Giants instead of the team in orange. I’d love to see the Hawks make it given the massive rebuild they have gone through
Phill Jones:
Preseason Predictions: Nelson Giants, Taranaki Airs, Canterbury Rams, Otago Nuggets, Wellington Saints, Auckland Tuatara & Tauranga Whai.(Picked 7 for 6 spots)
Now: It seems I cant count as I picked 7 the first time I did this…. Giants, Airs, Rams, Nuggets, Saints and Tuatara…. I’ll leave the Whai out this time.
Maia Williamson:
Preseason Predictions: Auckland Tuatara, Taranaki Airs, Wellington Saints, Canterbury Rams, Franklin Bulls, Otago Nuggets
Now: I feel like a bit of a beast right now considering my initial pick of six teams are currently the top 6 on the leaderboard. I'm running with that!
Brooke Ruscoe:
Preseason Predictions: Saints, Rams, Tuatara, Airs, Nuggets, Bulls
Now: LOVE my 6. 1-5 I'm very confident and the Nuggets can still do enough to lock up 6th place
Taylah Johnson:
Preseason Predictions: Giants, Rams, Jets, Whai, Saints, Tuatara
Now: I’m going to make a switch up = I’m swapping out the Jets for the Airs and the Whai for Hawks.
Andrew Mulligan:
Preseason Predictions: Saints, Rams, Tuatara, Airs, Nuggets, Bulls
Now: I stand by my post on X a couple weeks ago that the top five are locked in already and that it’s a straight race for the sixth spot – who that is going to come down to are the Giants and the Hawks. The Nuggets and the Whai drop out of contention.
Casey Frank:
Preseason Predictions: Taranaki Airs, Wellington Saints, Auckland Tuatara, Canterbury Rams, Manawatū Jets, Southland Sharks
Now: Four of those are Great!! Two not so much... Gonna have to pull my support of the Jets and Sharks (sorry squads, but it's you not me), and allow me to insert the Bulls and Giants. I think the Hawks might be a chance to sneak past one of those as well.
Miles Pearce:
Preseason Predictions: Saints, Rams, Tuatara, Airs then maybe Bulls, Sharks, Whai, Jets, Giants, Nuggets, Hawke's Bay. (literally mentioned every team in the league...)
Now: I had Saints, Rams, Tuatara, and Airs in the mix with an unknown for the last couple of spots. So far so good on that side. Bulls were my big miss. They have been playing some good basketball and look like a lock to be there and cause some chaos along the way.
Nick Bewley:
Preseason Predictions: Tuatara, Rams, Saints, Airs, Nuggets & Bulls.
Now: I'm 5/6 at the halfway mark of the season and could easily be perfect if it wasn’t for a couple of dud showings from the Nuggets. I still back the talent there to sneak into the six.
Huw Beynon:
Preseason Predictions: Tuatara
Now: I said the Auckland Tuatara pre-season and was pretty effusive about it. Perhaps now I'd give more shrift to the Airs and Saints, but I still think come playoff time, the Tuatara will be a tough beat, and I still see them winning it all.
Tom Abercrombie:
Preseason Predictions: Tuatara
Now: I had the Tuatara and I’m sticking with them. They continue to look better and better each week as the old crew start to gel and get their game legs under them. Their experience will be hard to beat come playoff time.
Justin Nelson:
Preseason Predictions: Taranaki Airs
Now: I went with the Airs and I’m not budging. Avalanche!!!
Phill Jones:
Preseason Predictions: Nelson Giants
Now: Air’s are going to be tough to beat but Giants all the way!!
Maia Williamson:
Preseason Predictions: Taranaki
Now: I said Airs once and I'll say it again.
Brooke Ruscoe:
Preseason Predictions: Tuatara
Now: Going to stay with the Tuatara. Like how they've played as of late and all that experience late in the year might jus be enough to get them over the line
Taylah Johnson:
Preseason Predictions: Auckland Tuatara
Now: I’m holding true and sticking to the Tuatara. Yes, they have stumbled in a few games but when everyone is firing on all cylinders, they look like a tough outfit to beat.
Andrew Mulligan:
Preseason Predictions: Wellington Saints
Now: I had the Saints but Hyrum’s knee is a concern for me. At the moment it’s the Tuatara. What they did to the did to the Hawks in round six was exactly how you’d expect that roster to operate. Rob Loe with the on ball action or posting. Tommy V muscling up, crashing the glass or shooting the long ball. Cam Gliddon from deep and in the passing lanes and Corey Webster surgically picking your defence apart with his elite passing game which opens up the floor for everyone and they just added Charlie Dalton to the bench.
Casey Frank:
Preseason Predictions: Taranaki Airs
Now: The Tuatara are playing great and at the top of the ladder and joined up there by the Saints and Rams but I'll stick with my preseason thoughts and back the Airs to rise come the end of the season.
Miles Pearce:
Preseason Predictions: Saints v Tuatara final maybe!! (once again did not make a pick)
Now: My early pick was Saints v Tuatara in the final. The Saints need Harris back on the floor to help make that happen, while the Tuatara are in great form at this point of the season.
Nick Bewley:
Preseason Predictions: Canterbury Rams
Now: I went with the Rams. They are unbeaten when Lachie Olbrich plays. I’m happy with my pick.
Huw Beynon:
Preseason Predictions: Taylor Hawke's Bay Hawks. \
Now: My pre-season pick was the Hawks. I did caveat it by saying if they get their imports right, I'd stand corrected. Well, I stand corrected. Huge kudos to GM Jarrod Kenny and his staff. The Hawks could sneak into the 6, and if they don't they certainly won't come bottom.
Tom Abercrombie:
Preseason Predictions: Hawks
Now: Sorry Hawks fans, I was wrong. I really like the way they are playing and will give themselves a shot at the playoffs. Southland can take the spoon right now.
Justin Nelson:
Preseason Predictions: Whai
Now: I went with the Whai but the Sharks have done their absolute best to convince me otherwise …. and it’s worked. Sharks for the spoon!
Phill Jones:
Preseason Predictions: Southland Sharks
Now: Sharks, no reason to change this selection at this point of the season.
Maia Williamson:
Preseason Predictions: Whai
Now: I said Whai initially. While they don't look totally favourable right now, nothing is going the way of the boys in the deep south, so I'm gonna have to change my pick to the Sharks.
Brook Ruscoe:
Preseason Predictions: Whai
Now: Sharks, great chance for some young guys to play some big minutes tho..
Taylah Johnson:
Preseason Predictions: Hawke's Bay Hawks
Now: I will eat my words and now nominate the Southland Sharks to be the wooden spooners.
Andrew Mulligan:
Preseason Predictions: Whai
Now: I choose the Whai and am happy to see them make a run for the sixth spot, or higher. Shouldn’t this question be ‘are you taking overs or unders on 2.5 wins for the Sharks’?
Casey Frank:
Preseason Predictions: Hawks
Now: Mea culpa here as well. The Hawks starters have been great and the play of the starting 5 has thrust them into finals contention. Sorry to keep burying the dead, but let's switch that spoon up to the Sharkies.
Miles Pearce:
Preseason Predictions: Waffled unbelievably well and didn't pick one....
Now: I was all on the fence for this. Hopefully the teams at the bottom of the ladder get some wins to boost their seasons. (editors note: still not picking one, but to be fair he is on on the Sharks coaching staff )
Nick Bewley:
Preseason Predictions: Whai
Now: I reluctantly tipped the Whai for the wooden spoon. Credit to them for grinding out three wins from eight. I’ve seen enough to change my pick to Southland. If you’ve got this far in the article and don’t know why, I’m sorry I can’t help you
Huw Beynon:
Preseason Predictions: Rams or Nuggets
Now: Nuggets or Rams got my vote at the start of the season, and they've both done well so far. The one time I don't go bias and pick the Giants, I'm left looking silly! Giants are the team to beat in the Sky Broadband Rapid League.
Tom Abercrombie:
Preseason Predictions: Wellington Saints
Now: With my completely blind pick I went with the Saints here. With half a season under our belt its hard to go past the league leading Giants.
Justin Nelson:
Preseason Prediction: Canterbury Rams
Now: I went with the Rams on complete blind faith, but the Giants and Hawks are the deserved frontrunners. I expect a pleasant phone call from Phill Jones any moment now because I’m going with the Giants.
Phill Jones:
Preseason Prediction: Nelson Giants
Now: Giants have been tracking well in the rapid league and their young legs got them off to a good start. Nice to seem them playing by the rules and playing the guys that are meant to play in the rapid league…….
Maia Williamson:
Preseason Prediction: Otago Nuggets
Now: I had too much faith in the Nuggies first time around! I'm changing my answer (and being a bandwagoneer) to the almighty Nelson
Brooke Ruscoe:
Preseason Prediction: Nelson
Now: Saints. Good mix of youth and talent. Saints Vs Giants in the final (if there was one).
Taylah Johnson:
Preseason Prediction: Franklin Bulls
Now: You can’t go past the Giants at the moment - they seem to really thrive in the new innovative league.
Andrew Mulligan:
Preseason Prediction: Nelson
Now: Sticking with the Giants.
Casey Frank:
Preseason Prediction: Auckland or Canterbury.
Now: Not bad picks on the whole on this one. While the Giants and Hawks are leading the ladder now, I'll narrow in on one of my original picks and say the Rams will find the peak when all is said and done.
Miles Pearce:
Preseason Prediction: Rams or Saints.
Now: I was slightly off on this. Giants are on another level for Rapid League. If they keep this form they should hold top spot for the rest of the season.
Nick Bewley:
Preseason Prediction: Otago Nuggets.
Now: I put some blind faith in the Otago Nuggets and while they’re not far off the pace I think there’s a couple of better teams in Te Wai Pounamu. I’ve called a lot of the Rams in Rapid League, they can beat anyone on their day, same can be said for the Nelson Giants. I’ll switch to the Giants.
