17-day test for in-form Sharks

The next 17 days might well provide the ultimate test and insight into the Southland Sharks’ 2026 National Basketball League title credentials.

And it all starts tonight [Thursday] at ILT Stadium Southland.

Over the next 17 days, the Sharks will cram in four games against four of the leading teams in the NBL - the Auckland Tuatara, Canterbury Rams, Wellington Saints, and Otago Nuggets.

First up are the current competition frontrunners, the Tuatara, at 7pm tonight.

That will be followed by a trip to Christchurch to take on the Rams on Sunday, then a showdown with defending champions the Saints in Invercargill next Thursday, before heading to Dunedin to play the Nuggets three days later.

Southland Sharks coach Jonathan Yim admitted the NBL officials hadn’t done his team any favours with the draw, but he was embracing the challenge of four leading teams in the space of 17 days.

Read more on The Southland Tribune