Stars Align
All Whites/Football Ferns goalkeeper stocktake, Blackcaps & Super Smash, Steven Adams, Kiwi-NRL regional squads, plus plenty more
Scotty’s Word
In recent weeks I have mapped out NZ Warriors depth and it can be summed up by three pockets...
NRL back ups: every position has a back up with NRL experience.
Positional versatility: I can list 11 players in the top-20 who I have seen play multiple positions for NZW in the NRL.
Threads: all roles/positions/skillsets are evident throughout the system, meaning players enter the NRL team having already done that job at the lower levels.
New Zealand Warriors NRL-ish Depth Chart For The 2025/26 Summer
Exploring The Depths Of The 2026 New Zealand Warriors Top-50ish
2025/26 Kiwi-NRL Train & Trial Breakdown
An Emerging New Zealand Warriors Team Ahead Of The 2026 Season
Blackcaps have started their T20I series in India and are on the cusp of a T20 World Cup. Here is a T20 team of emerging players who are not in the T20WC squad which combines Blackcaps mahi with Super Smash form and doesn’t include the Will O’Rourke/Nathan Smith duo who are injured...
Level Tahi
Katene Clarke, Dale Phillips, Tim Robinson, Bevon Jacobs, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay (wk), Zak Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Ben Lockrose, Ben Sears, Matt Fisher
Some of Aotearoa’s best emerging cricketers can’t crack that squad though, so here is another T20 team of emerging players…
Level Rua
Jamal Todd, Curtis Heaphy, Matthew Boyle, Muhammad Abbas, Max Chu (wk), Josh Clarkson, Cameron Paul, Tim Pringle, Adithya Ashok, Toby Findlay, Angus Olliver
Those teams focus on emergers but it’s also worth highlighting that mature players keep developing towards the Blackcaps level. Brett Hampton comes to mind as someone who could play T20Is for New Zealand if the stars align for example. Tom Latham, Tom Blundell and many more experienced troopers are excellent Super Smash players who could plug Blackcaps holes with experience, or at least set the standards at the domestic level.
No one should be worried about depth for NZW and Blackcaps pipelines.
Beyond the paywall I have a regional breakdown for the NZW U17 and U19 squads that were named this week, as well as two more emerging T20 teams that stretch deeper into Super Smash action. I’ve also got some Glenn Phillips and Kyle Jamieson stats after they impressed in the T20I loss vs India.
2025/26 Super Smash: Five Funky Pockets For Men And Women
2026 New Zealand Tour Of India: ODI Series Win
2025/26 Super Smash: Samuel Morgan, Oscar Jackson & Senior Blazers
Jacob Duffy took 2w @ 6.7rpo and was the only Blackcaps bowler below 10rpo vs India. Duffy is among Aotearoa’s best formats in each format and as long as he’s in this groove, he will stay at the top of these lists...
New Zealand T20I bowlers who have taken 50+ wickets ranked by lowest averages
Jacob Duffy: 16.92
Lockie Ferguson: 17
Trent Boult: 21.43
Nathan McCullum: 22.03
Tim Southee: 22.38
Ish Sodhi: 22.44
Mitchell Santner: 23
Jimmy Neesham: 23.71
Adam Milne: 24.64
New Zealand T20I bowlers who have 30+ wickets and average below 20
Jacob Duffy: 55w @ 16.92avg
Lockie Ferguson: 64w @ 17avg
Daniel Vettori: 38w @ 19.68avg
Jacob Duffy international bowling mahi
Test: 16.28avg/2.3rpo
ODI: 24.25avg/5.9rpo
T20I: 16.92avg/7.3rpo
Following on from Bree Illing’s (22yrs) rise to White Ferns, 19-year-old lefty seamer Stella Cornelius has had a solid start to her domestic career with Canterbury. Here are her first five games with three HBJ Shield games followed by two Super Smash games...
vs CD: 2w @ 5.2rpo
vs CD: 10ov @ 4.9rpo
vs Auckland: 1w @ 4.6rpo
vs Wellington: 1w @ 5rpo
vs Southern: 1w @ 6.7rpo
Canterbury also have Missy Banks as their leading wicket-taker and I reckon she is their best prospect right now. Here are her last five Super Smash campaigns with the ball...
2021/22: 14w @ 15.7avg/6.9rpo
2022/23: 15w @ 22.2avg/7.5rpo
2023/24: 4w @ 24avg/6.9rpo
2024/25: 9w @ 26.5avg/7rpo
2025/26: 12w @ 16.5avg/7.4rpo
Waka Tate (St Paul’s College) has moved from NZ Warriors to Sharks after playing a few years of U19s for NZW and he will enter Sharks at the U21 level. After his U19 mahi last year, Tate played for Mt Albert in Fox Memorial and was on the bench for their Grand Final loss vs Otahuhu.
This is funky because Sharks love big boppers from Aotearoa and signed Hudsyn Frost (Otahuhu) from NZW U19s last summer as a middle forward. They also signed Ben Peni from NZW last summer and he has since moved to footy in the Newcastle region. Last season Sharks had forwards Felix Fa’atili (Hornby), Richie Tupuailei (Hornby) and Manako Piutau (St Paul’s College) in their U21 group, as well as Jake White (Bell Block) in their U19 group.
White is from New Plymouth and made the Australian Schoolboys team last year as a mark of his talent. Sharks also had wingers Pharrell Gray (Victoria - Wellington) and Elijah Paea (De La Salle College) in their U19/U21 groups last year. I’m expecting plenty mroe Kiwi-NRL juniors in their system as squads are announced over the next few weeks.
BunniesTV also shared NSW Cup and U21 pre-season squads for Rabbitohs. Oliver Lawry (Halswell) is the funkiest addition after spending the last few years with Sea Eagles U21s and now he’s in the Rabbitohs NSW Cup mixer, probably as a centre but he was a half in Aotearoa and with Tigers before he moved to Sea Eagles.
Rabbitohs already had Kaearangi Mathews (Arataki) and Caelis Samuel (Mangere East) in their system and they’re in the U21 group. Te Paeroa Wi Neera (Hamilton) has moved from NZW to Rabbitohs and Jamayne Feast (Papanui) has made the same move but he only played one game for NZW U21s last year.
Musical jam…
Nick’s Notebook
On Monday I made the case for Michael Woud at Auckland FC. He’s come into some unfair criticism, particularly after his role in the winner for Melbourne City last week. My argument was that he’s been an above-average A-League goalkeeper across the fullness of the season. Not the best, like Alex Paulsen was... but if you didn’t recognise that AP was special while he was in the ALM then you might need to get slapped with the context stick. Woud has his weaknesses but so do most goalkeepers at this level. Don’t stress.
He’s also not in the All Whites World Cup mix right now. Fair play on a decent run of form – the 13 games that he’s played for AFC are the most he’s gotten in a league campaign since the 2020-21 season with Almere City in the Dutch second division – but we’re stacked for goalkeepers right now... and it might be time to start moving past a few of the journeymen backups in favour of the emerging class because we’ve got some spectacular prospects in this position. We’re sorted for GKs for at least the next fifteen years. Here’s how I think the hierarchy looks right now...
1) Max Crocombe (Millwall – English Championship)
It’s 1A and 1B at the top and you know who the other bloke is. But right now, Paulsen is still in his winter break while Crocombe continues to deliver reliable performances for a Millwall team that’s right up there in the playoff spots at the midway stage of the season. Yes, his kicking is erratic. But at least he doesn’t mess around with it, aware of where his strength lies, and he has an enormous boot. Very experienced and very assured. Could be a little more effective against aerials but he’s fantastic as a shot-stopper.
2) Alex Paulsen (Lechia Gdansk – Polish Ekstraklasa)
The last 23 All Whites games in a row have only seen either Crocombe or Paulsen wear the gloves. AP seemed to be nudging ahead when he started against both Poland and Norway in October but then an injury gave Crocombe both starts in November. It’s been back and forth and there’s no wrong answer. Paulsen was the best goalkeeper in the A-League with two different clubs (and contrasting styles) and now he’s settling confidently on loan in Poland. Brilliant with his feet and phenomenal with his saves. The only real downside to his game is that he’s not got the size/frame that you tend to see from Premier League goalkeepers, which is where he’s aspiring to get to with Bournemouth.
3) Kees Sims (GAIS – Swedish Allsvenskan)
Sims can’t claim to be our highest-level keeper now that Max Crocombe and Alex Paulsen have shuffled upwards but he can claim to be the incumbent number three after being called up in the wake of some winning form towards the end of the last Swedish season. Usually the backup, Sims got six games after the main man got injured and helped carry his team into European qualification. Still only 22yo, perfect frame for a GK, makes some crazy saves and has a very accurate long boot. In terms of potential, he’s right up there on par with the bloke ahead of him and the bloke behind him on this list.
4) Henry Gray (Harrogate Town - English League Two)
20 years old and just made his EFL debut on loan at Harrogate Town. This is the third full year that Gray has been with Ipswich Town and each has followed the same course. First half of the season he spends with his parent club, hovering around the edges of the first team (getting as high as third-choice keeper which has had him involved on matchdays, albeit not in the playing squad) and then second half he goes out on loan for experience. He excelled at Chelmsford City in the sixth tier. He excelled at Braintree Town in the fifth tier. And based on his first couple games at Harrogate Town in the fourth tier (League Two) he should go alright there too. Gray was the starter at the 2025 U20 World Cup (just as Sims was in 2023 and Paulsen was at the 2024 Olympics). Another tall, composed keeper who can pull off some crazy reaction saves and commands his area.
5) Michael Woud (Auckland FC – Australian A-League)
And it’s only here that we get down to the A-League stocks. Woud received his build-ups in Monday’s newsletter so you already know the story. He was a highly regarded prospect on the way up the NZ youth ranks but has largely been stuck playing second fiddle over the past five years. Still only 27 years old – for a goalie that’s just coming into his prime years – and putting up a pretty solid display in the ALM. That’ll get him back in the picture for the national team... though there’s a drop between the proven calibre of the top two plus the blossoming abilities of the next two and then everybody else.
6) Nik Tzanev (Newport County - English League Two)
For a while there, Tanz had the inside lane on the GK3 spot for the All Whites... but he hasn’t been able to kick on. Whereas Max Crocombe got to League One and was awesome, earning a move up to the Championship, Tzanev has never quite made it stick at that level and is currently back down in L2 where he had a bright start to the campaign but wasn’t able to keep it up and later got dropped. He’s sitting on the bench for the bottom team in the fourth division (Henry Gray’s team, which he’s only just joined, is one place above them – so Gray’s overtaken Tzanev in pretty much every regard except for age and experience). Good with his feet but can be slightly brittle. At 29yo he’s got a way to go in his career but dunno how much international football that’ll entail. Probably none, since younger keepers having already overtaken him. But he’s a good solid pro if his services are required.
7) Oli Sail (Auckland FC – Australian A-League)
Currently riding the pine behind Michael Woud. Arguably not a whole lot between the pair but dunno if that really works in Sail’s favour – like, why would you drop Woud for someone who is no better or worse? Sail is an excellent leader from the back, his communication is his best attribute (we even saw that a bit for the AFC Reserves in the National League) but he, like Woud, does occasionally fluff a goal. The main case for him being in the World Cup squad is to have a veteran GK3 but does that really matter in a squad that’s likely to be carrying Tommy Smith in some capacity (maybe not a playing capacity)? Sims and Gray have both served as backups for long stretches at high levels, they know what that job entails.
8) Alby Kelly-Heald/Eamonn McCarron (Wellington Phoenix – Australian A-League)
Not sure how to split them so I haven’t. Last year, AKH got a stint in the A-League after Josh Oluwayemi was injured and he performed really well, even keeping Olu on the bench after his return... until AKH got injured himself. That injury then allowed McCarron to take his place through preseason and thus it was EM who benefitted when Oluwayemi was injured this season. Couple shaky moments in there, including a rough first start away to Melbourne Victory, but he’s grown with every match. AKH is very tall and fantastic with his feet. Really dependable presence. McCarron isn’t that much shorter and is throwing himself around courageously against big A-League bodies, leaping to claim crosses and diving at the feet of attackers. AKH is 20 years old. McCarron is 18 years old. Between them they haven’t even played 15 professional league games but they’ve already shown enough to be enticed by. (If you forced my hand, I’d tell you I still think AKH is the superior keeper… but McCarron’s starting ahead of him right now so it’d be weird to put him higher).
9) Zac Jones (AFC Fylde – English National League North)
We’re reaching pretty far down the leagues here for Jonesy who moved to the English sixth tier after a series of wonderful seasons in Wales, although note that his clean sheets and timely saves have helped put AFC Fylde in position to push for promotion. Max Crocombe was playing at the same level at the same age (25yo). ZJ is a big game player who I’ve no doubt can hold his own in the higher divisions.
10) Joe Wallis (West Bromwich Albion – English Championship)
Let’s chuck one more youngster in the mix... Wallis was the backup to Gray at the last U20 World Cup. Formerly with Auckland United and then Auckland City, he’s been in the West Brom system for the last two years and is currently poised as their third-choice senior goalie, having made it onto the bench a couple times this season.
Get amongst the subscriber whanau for a few more notes on other goalkeeping prospects that I reckon have the potential to rise up the ranks, as well as a geeze at the much more defined Football Ferns situation.
Steven Adams is going to be out for a wee while for the Houston Rockets...
Ime Udoka speaks on Steven Adams’ injury: “Yeah, it’s a sprained ankle. A lot of swelling already, but nothing broken. Not a high ankle sprain, so not sure about anything as far as time wise, but quite a bit of swelling and pain. Obviously couldn’t put much weight on it.”
Adams landed badly on his left leg during the fourth quarter of a win over the Pelicans. They haven’t put a timeframe on it yet, probably gotta wait for the swelling to go down. Worst case scenario is that there might be ligament damage and he’s out for the season. More likely, he should be able to return for the playoffs... but again that depends on how he’s diagnosed. Wait and see. It’s felt like much of this season for Steve-o has been about trying to keep him fresh for the postseason without over-exerting him during the regulars and now that’s potentially gotten a whole easier to do with him unlikely to feature for at least another month.
Players used for the Blackcaps victorious Test series in India (Oct-Nov 2024):
Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Will O’Rourke, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi
Players used for the Blackcaps victorious ODI series in India (Jan 2026):
Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitch Hay, Michael Bracewell, Zak Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Aditya Ashok, Jayden Lennox
Players who played in both tours:
Devon Conway, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips (all four played all six matches)
Spinners who bowled during either/both tours:
Ajax Patel, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Aditya Ashok, Jayden Lennox
That’s 21 players across two series, one Test and one ODI, with only four crossovers. Both were the first time that the Blackcaps have ever won a series in India in those formats. They got overs from eight different spinners. Kane Williamson did not play on either tour.
Musical Jam...
