Tall Blacks, Tall Ferns named for trans-Tasman
- Dave Worsley
- Apr 29
- 3 min read
Experimental squads have been confirmed for the Tall Ferns and Tall Blacks to face the Australia in the trans-Tasman Throwdown.
The series gives the long-time rivals a chance to put young and mainly home-based talent to the test, with games set to tipoff in Adelaide, the Sunshine Coast, and Hamilton next month.
LATEST HEADLINES:
Judd Flavell has named four teenagers in the Tall Blacks to face the Boomers; 17-year-old Jackson Ball and 18-year-olds Oscar Goodman, Tma Isaac and Juiius Halaifonua from Georgetown Univeristy. Two players are still to be added.
The remainder fo the squad features the experienced heads of Corey Webster, Reuben Te Rangi, Shea Ili and Tohi Smith-Milner
The Boomers are mainly Australian NBL playrs with a few youngsters from American universities.
The Tall Ferns have eight players still to appear in full internationals but some with 3x3 experience to take on the Opals who are also giving domestic and young players an opportunity.
Twenty-five-year-old Esra McGoldrick is he most experinced player with just 19 caps to her credit. She debuted for the Tall Ferns against Japan in 2019.
Tegan Graham, Tylah Hooper, Ashlee Strawbridge and Ella Tofaeono, Sharne Robati and McGoldrick all play in the Australian basketball league.
The games are Wednesday 7th May, Adelaide, Friday 9 May, Sunshine Coast, Sunday 11 May, Hamilton.
Tall Ferns:
Ella Bradley, Northern Kāhu & University of Texas - Tyler, debutant
Ella Brow, Southern Methodist University, debutant
McKenna Dale, Tauranga Whai & Mandurah Magic, 5 games
Bailey Flavell, Northern Kāhu & Launceston Tornadoes , 3 games
Tegan Graham, VFL AstroStars Bochum, debutant
Keriana Hippolite, Tokomanawa Queens & Brisbane Capitals, debutant
Pahlyss Hokianga, Tauranga Whai, 5 games
Tylah Hooper, Melbourne Tigers, debutant
Waiata Jennings, University of Alabama, debutant
Esra McGoldrick, Mainland Pouākai & Casey Cavaliers, 19 games
Sharne Robati, Mainland Pouākai & Casey Cavaliers, 2 games
Emme Shearer, University of Portland, debutant
Kaylee Smiler, Tauranga Whai, debutant
Ashlee Strawbridge, Mainland Pouākai & West Adelaide Bearcats, 3 games
Ella Tofaeono, Melbourne Tigers, 3 games
Tall Blacks:
Jackson Ball, Hawke’s Bay Hawks, 2 games
Taylor Britt, Canterbury Rams & NZ Breakers, 31 games
Walter Brown, Canterbury Rams & Tasmania JackJumpers, 18 games
Flynn Cameron, Franklin Bulls & Adelaide 36ers, 28 games
Max Darling, Canterbury Rams & NZ Breakers, 6 games
Carlin Davison, Taranaki Airs & NZ Breakers, 1 game
Oscar Goodman, University of Michigan, 1 game
Julius Halaifonua, Georgetown University, 1 game
Shea Ili, Wellington Saints & Melbourne United, 71 games
Kaia Isaac, Canterbury Rams & NZ Breakers, 3 games
Tamatoa Isaac, Canterbury Rams, 2 games
Tohiraukura Smith-Milner, Canterbury Rams & Brisbane Bullets, 66 games
Reuben Te Rangi, Franklin Bulls & NZ Breakers, 71 games
Corey Webster, Manawatū Jets, 100 games
Games:
Wednesday 7th May
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
Australian Opals v 2degrees Tall Ferns
7:30pm tip off (NZT)
Australian Boomers v Tall Blacks
9:45pm tip off (NZT)
Friday 9th May
UniSC Arena, Sunshine Coast
Australian Boomers v Tall Blacks
7:30pm tip off (NZT)
Australian Opals v 2degrees Tall Ferns
9:45pm tip off (NZT)
Sunday 11th May
Globox Arena, Claudelands, Hamilton
Australian Boomers v Tall Blacks
2pm tip off (NZT)
Australian Opals v 2degrees Tall Ferns
4pm tip off (NZT)
