Free agency for the 2025 Sal’s NBL season begins next week and the Auckland Tuatara will be out to make an immediate splash when signings begin.
The Tuatara have featured an All-Star cast the past few seasons since joining the League and they are expected to be significant players once again in 2025 as they aim to break the streak of three successive grand final runners-up appearances.
League MVP from 2023 Rob Loe is expected to return to the club for a fourth season while all eyes will be on whether the likes of Corey Webster, Tom Vodanovich and Reuben Te Rangi will also be back in Auckland next year.
Webster’s situation became murkier with dad Tony taking on the head coaching role at the Manawatu Jets while Vodanovich is rumoured to be being courted by a number of franchises.
Cam Gliddon, a starter the past two season for the Tuatara, has hung up the shoes and will instead be the head coach that helps assemble the roster.
Former head coach Aaron Young has headed south to the Wellington Saints and will no doubt be tapping some of his former charges on the shoulder.
“It is always exciting getting to this time of the year and starting to put your roster together for next season,” said Tuatara GM Dale Budge.
“We’ve undergone quite a change this off-season, with Cam taking over as head coach and bringing in assistants Sione Maama and Justin Bailey.
“Between us, we have been working hard playing around with a potential roster and next week we go out and try to sign the players we want.
“We are confident we will have team capable of challenging for the title in 2025.”
Teams will have a similar salary cap to last season to work within and once a contract is lodged with the League and approved, teams have five days to make their announcement public.