It's hard enough to win one championship these days in the Sal's NBL, but the mighty Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams are on the cusp of winning their third straight title. On paper, this Rams unit looks good ... REALLY good!
2024 Position: 17-3 (1st place and Champions)
Head Coach: Quinn Clinton (1st season)
Players Departed: Lachlan Olbrich (import), K.J. Buffen (Import), M.J. Walker Jr (import), Mac Stodart (Nuggets), Aidan Tonge, Taki Fahrensohn
Players Incoming: Tohi Smith-Milner (Saints), CJ Penha Jr. (import), Kyle Bowen (import), Sean Macdonald (import), Sam Smith (returning), Max de Geest
Predicted Starters: Taylor Britt, Sean Macdonald, Walter Brown, Kyle Bowen, Tohi Smith-Milner
X-Factor: Sean Macdonald
Watch For: Taylor Britt (and his elite ability to look after the ball)
Wanted Headline: Rams Charge To A Dynasty
Unwanted Headline: Rams Can't Shake Championship Hangover
Straight Shot
It would be unfair to suggest the 2025 Sal's NBL championship is for the Rams to lose because no matter how good a roster looks on paper, you still need to navigate form, injuries and the big target on your backs as every other team comes gunning for you. However, such is the squad that rookie coach Quinn Clinton and highly regarded GM Caleb Harrison have put together, the 2025 version of the Rams looks red hot. If the addition of Tohi Smith-Milner and three quality imports isn't impressive enough, you simply cannot avoid just how good the Kiwi contingent is - Taylor Britt, Max Darling, Walter Brown, Kaia Isaac and his increasingly talented younger brother, Tama Isaac. In a master move, former coach Judd Flavell (now the Tall Blacks coach) remains in the Rams camp and will mentor Coach Clinton, who himself already has an excellent grasp of the caper having assisted Flavell in recent seasons. The pairing of guards Taylor Britt and Sean Macdonald will prove to be one of the best in the League, and their immediate support cast of brothers Kaia and Tama Isaac will be relentless every time they step on court. This guard foursome is one that will have people talking and opposition coaches reeling all season long. One of the biggest boxes the Rams have already ticked before any games have been played is the delivery of the most intimidating and hardest venues for opposition teams to visit - Cowles Stadium is always full, and unlike a few teams who prefer playing excessive music over any fan noise, the Rams fans bring the decibels in a major way. Probably the toughest decision the Rams coaching staff will need to make most weeks is who starts? Did we mention Sam Smith has also returned? Yes, this is a stacked roster. Look for this team to be one of the best offensively and one of the tightest defensively, and provided health is maintained there is no reason why the Rams won't finish in the top two and earn at least one home final.
What Our Experts Say
Casey Frank: The Rams look good! Great analysis I know, but truth is truth. They have a lock on a championship local core with Britt, Darling and Brown, players who contribute on offense and perhaps more importantly play lock down defense. Kaia Issacs re-signing was a coup as he could start for many other teams in the league but he returns to bolster the depth once again while his younger brother Tama will also be looking for more minutes and a greater opportunity for input and they are joined by a bevy of other talented Kiwis that are looking to get a bit more playing time. Somehow the back-to-back champs improved on that local core by bringing in Smith-Milner who adds true big man play defensively and ultimate floor spacing with his range. Kyle Bowen has a similar skill set and the two should be able to play with each other as well, offering super big lineups when needed. The only real loss this team has suffered in recent years is at coach, where losing Judd Flavell will hurt a bit, but he is still with the club and will be a valuable tool for rookie coach Quinn Clinton to lean on. When you add it all up, they look to be the championship favourites once again, and it might be a wide margin.
Justin Nelson: The Rams are the team to beat ... again. At this time of any season (before a game has been played) it's easy to deliver throwaway lines but believe me when I say that it will take an extremely good team to stop the Rams from landing a three-peat. Led by one of the best ball-users in New Zealand, Taylor Britt, this Rams teams is hard to fault (on paper) - and I like the fact it is arguably more about the Kiwis than it is about the imports. Tohi Smith-Milner was a good scoop from the Saints and will add some more strength and spread, but you feel he will need to accept a slightly reduced role in this squad. I can't wait to see Kaia Isaac and Tama Isaac take on more opportunity, while Walter Brown is my pick to battle it out with Shea Ili for DPOY. I know the Rams are minus Judd Flavell, but he's not too far away and continues to be a great ally and mentor for incoming coach Quinn Clinton. Overall, this team can mix it up in so many ways - big, small, fast, athletic, a half-court game or full-court pressure - you name it, they have the pieces to battle hard in every game of chess. The Rams start favourites for a third successive title.
