Photo credit: Masanori Udagawa/Photo Wellington
AUCKLAND TUATARA
If you THINK the Tuatara will be worried about losing to the Hawks in R16 THEN it will probably come a distant second to contemplating how they now deal with an extended break until their Semi-Final clash on July 24? Due to venue availability, the 14-day break between games is the most any team has faced this season and could be an unwanted distraction for coach Aaron Young and his star-studded team.
FRANKLIN BULLS
If you THINK the Bulls wanted to find some confidence heading into the Final 6 THEN there was never going to be a better way to find it than by taking down the Canterbury Rams. The Bulls were locked-in and unified at Cowles Stadium and returned one of their best, if not the best, wins of the season. While it won’t be easy winning it all from fifth place, this is a team that simply won’t back down. And while all eyes are always on Luther Muhammad, plenty of his teammates found good form in R16. Could this be the Year of the Bulls?
TAURANGA WHAI
If you THINK the Whai were hopeful of finishing their inaugural season with a bang THEN they couldn’t have imagined a better send-off than another thrilling home win, this time against the Jets. Though they sat well behind sixth-placed Giants on points percentage, they did amass the same number of wins (8). It’s a pass mark for the Whai in 2024 and a good result to build on.
TARANAKI STEELFORMERS AIRS
If you THINK the Airs were satisfied with a R16 win over the Giants on Sunday evening THEN they will be the first to acknowledge that it all means very little come Wednesday night when they host the Giants again in a knock-out final. With the regular season done and dusted it’s a whole new ball game and the Airs will be expecting a fierce fight from the Giants.
TAYLOR HAWKE’S BAY HAWKS
If you THINK the Hawks might be looking for some good news from season 2024 THEN it might come in the shape of star guard Isaiah Moore claiming a spot in the All-Star 5. The voting for all league awards is underway and Moore will absolutely be in the mix after averaging 25.7 points at 48%, 7.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.4 triples per game.
PROPERTY BROKERS MANAWATU JETS
If you THINK the Jets were hoping to end the season on a high THEN they might need to look beyond the losses to the Whai and Sharks to find some nuggets of gold. Despite the defeats, which left the Jets with a miserable 1-19 record, they did find some joy in the form of young Kiwis Lukah Richards, Campbell Scott and Liam Judd who all playing well in R16.
MILLS ALBERT WELLINGTON SAINTS
If you THINK the Saints are well placed for a 13th championship THEN they will need to get back to full strength in a hurry. Ben Ayre (sick) was a noticeable absentee against the Sharks in what turned into a tough battle, with Sharks guards Cooper Robb and Caleb Asberry both getting off the leash. A healthy Ayre is at the very top of the wish list for the Saints this week as they prepare to enter another finals series.
NBS NELSON GIANTS
If you THINK the Giants will be swinging free and easy during the Final 6 THEN their 8-12 record this season is all you need to think about when considering their approach. The Giants finished a staggering five wins behind the fifth-placed Bulls, that’s one quarter of the season (20 games), which highlights a clear gap from the top five teams down to the rest. However, it’s a Final 6 and the Giants are in the mix and have literally nothing to lose and everything to gain. Beware the rank outsider.
WHEELER MOTOR COMPANY CANTERBURY RAMS
If you THINK the Rams will consider their loss to the Bulls as nothing more than a slip-up THEN you can leave the room right now. The Rams will be picking film of the game apart meticulously, as will opposition coaches, because the Bulls found something that worked against a team that had previously won 16 straight games. And what exactly was it? The work the Bulls put into Taylor Britt was telling, the star Rams guard just had no room to operate at his normal level, which limited the Rams elsewhere. Is it a strategy that can be replicated by upcoming opposition (Airs or Giants)?
NIGHT 'n DAY OTAGO NUGGETS
If you THINK the Nuggets fell off the pace this season THEN no doubt a lack of team stability played a big part. Finishing with seven wins, just one shy of the Giants in sixth, the Nuggets endured a horrible run with their star guards – Tai Webster, Dontae Russo-Nance and (more recently) Ben Henshall. The three-guard front would have been a handful to deal with if they actually played more games together. Enjoy the off-season Nugs, see you in 2025.
SOUTHLAND SHARKS
If you THINK the Sharks will already be thinking about next season THEN it might start with asking Caleb Asberry and Cooper Robb if they are interested in returning? The Sharks have looked a far better team since Asberry and Robb joined forces and a return to the deep south in 2025 wouldn’t be the craziest idea. Throw in Cal McRae and all of a sudden the skies will be blue on the horizon once more for the southerners.
