Game 1 - Bulls V Tuatara - Game Preview

Former Tuatara Reuben Te Rangi will suit up for the Bulls against his old team.

The Franklin Bulls begin their 2025 season facing off against their cross-town rivals, the Auckland Tuatara. Since 2022, the Bulls and the Tuatara have faced each other 8 times, including two semifinal matches in 2023 and 2024. The Tuatara have emerged victors in 7 of these encounters. The Bulls have managed to defeat the Auckland team only once since the Auckland franchise took over from the Auckland Huskies in 2022.

However, tomorrow's game offers the Bulls another opportunity to secure a win, amidst the considerable roster challenges faced by all teams in the early rounds of the SalsNBL, as players return from overseas leagues and wrap up finals series.

Both the Bulls and the Tuatara are significantly impacted by these early season challenges, raising the question of which team is better equipped to capitalize and secure some early season points.

The Tuatara will be missing their 'Ruler', Rob Loe, and import Will Hickey, while local and former Bull, Dan Fotu, is still absent. This means they will need to depend on the experience of Tom Vodanovich and their two imports, Charles Pride and Buay Tuach.

The club will be bolstered by a talented young local team and a solid group of former Bulls players: Dylan Wilkie (2021), Chris McIntosh (2020), Nick Barrow (2020), and Pukekohe native Josh Leger (2022). However, the Tuatara have the home advantage and have history on their side.

For the Bulls, the 'coup' of the preseason was acquiring Tall Black and former Tuatara player Reuben Te Rangi, who is making a return to play in South Auckland for the Bulls. Tobias Cameron is set to make strong statement after a strong season with the Taranaki Airs in 2024. Marcel Jones will bring a veteran presence to the squad and will be looking to find form against the Tuatara Imports. US import guard Tae Hardy and German big man Til Gloger will bolster the starters and like the opposing imports have had time to gel with thier kiwi counterparts.

The team also boasts a robust local core of Waikato Country and Franklin players who have been working under Bulls Head Coach Sebastian Gleim in the off-season. This group includes KC Nwafor, Christian Vano, Payton Hughes, Harri Coker-Grey, and fan favourites Hala Maile and Corey Perry—all were with the Bulls in 2024.

The Bulls will be without their 2024 team captain, Ethan Rusbatch, who is finishing a finals series in Finland, and Tall Black Flynn Cameron, who is busy with Melbourne United's Australian NBL Grandfinal. Also newly announced big man David Okwera will be unavailable as he is overseas.

What Matters:

1. Bulls need wins! 1-7 is not a a great record against our biggest rivals.

2. Tuatara have a new Head coach and staff so will be looking start strong and continue their winning reign over the Bulls.

3. Sebastian Gleim, as the Bulls first ever second year coach, will want to start strong and get a much needed win and get one up on the Lizards.

4. Game changer? Reuben Te Rangi returns to Event Finder playing for a South Auckland NBL team for the first time ever.

You can watch the game live on the North Shore at Event Finder stadium or head to the Good Home In Pukekohe to watch with other fans on the big screens.

Get tickets to the Bulls first home game - Monday 17 March - vs Tauranga https://www.bullsbasketball.nz/event-details/franklin-bulls-vs-whai-1