It’s a Grand Final loaded with storylines.
The Probuild ITM Mainland Pouākai are preparing for the first Tauihi Grand Final in club history, on their home floor, in what could also be the last ever game played at Cowles Stadium for the Pouākai. On the other side, the Northern Group Tauranga Whai are back on the biggest stage for a second straight season, this time with last season's assistant Tane Bennett leading the way as the head coach.
Across the sideline will be Alex Stojkovic, last year’s Whai head coach, now leading a new-look Pouākai group into a title decider against his old team.
We caught up with both coaches ahead of the big one.
Staying level on the big stage
For Stojkovic and the Pouākai, the key has been to embrace the occasion without getting swept up in it.
“In moments like this you do not want to get too excited or carried away. Our mindset has been to stay level, stay grateful, and stay focused,” he says. “Five teams started this journey back in late September, and now only two are left. Being here is a privilege.”
He’s also acutely aware of what the game means to the region and the club.
“It is the first final in our history, it is at home, and it is the last game ever played at Cowles Stadium. There is meaning in that, but we still talk about staying present, keeping things simple, and trusting the habits we have built over the last three months.”
Bennett’s message to the Whai has been similarly inward-looking.
“Our motto has been all about us,” he explains. “We believe that when we get it right and we put ourselves in the right positions for the skillsets of our group to be showcased, we are a tough match up.”
Lessons in resilience
Both teams arrive at the Grand Final with plenty of battle scars.
The Pouākai have been without their starting front court for the last month of the season, Tall Ferns captain Esra McGoldrick and import five Abi Fogg, yet have still surged into the decider.
“This team has shown real resilience,” says Stojkovic. “We have been playing without our starting front court… This group has just found ways to compete despite that significant challenge. We have managed to win six of our last eight games and that tells me a lot about this group.”
“We have had to adjust, problem solve, and rely on different people at different times, and that has built a belief that we can handle whatever comes our way. This team keeps finding ways to battle.”
For the Whai, adversity has been a chance to deepen the rotation and harden the group according to Bennett.
“Every team deals with moments of adversity in a season,” Bennett says. “With people in and out of the line up, it creates pockets of opportunity for others. Every athlete on our roster has played a part in our season from top to bottom. This creates a level of readiness when this moment arises.”
Youth, development and connection
One of the most satisfying parts of the Pouākai season for Stojkovic has been watching young players grow inside a winning environment.
“As a club we take a lot of pride in providing opportunities for the next generation, and that is something we want to bake into our DNA going forward,” he says.
“I take a lot of joy in seeing players like Ava Jones and Emilia Ainley get on the court in Tauihi. They are so young, but they play beyond their years and never look out of place. Ava made some crucial plays in the semifinal against the Hoiho, which says a lot about her mentality.”
He also highlights the leap made by Emma Rogers.
“The growth in her game this season has been unreal. She is playing close to 22 minutes per game and has shown why she is one of the best young players in the country. Seeing that development within a winning environment has been one of the most rewarding parts of the season.”
For the Whai, the growth has been as much about connection and character as it has been about tactics.
Their semi-final comeback win over the Queens, after three regular-season losses to the same opponent, was a snapshot of that evolution.
“This last game showed how connected our team is,” Bennett says. “Losing to a very tough Queens team all 3 times during the regular season, being down 17 early in the 2nd quarter and staying composed to give ourselves a chance later in the game.”
“The culture we have built, the maturity of our leadership and the collective character of this team was on full display.”
X-factors on both sides
There’s no shortage of star power in this Grand Final, but both coaches point to multiple threats rather than a single saviour.
For Pouākai, Stojkovic starts with the consistency of Marena Whittle.
“It is hard to name just one person, but Marena Whittle has been our most consistent player this season. She is not afraid of the big moment, and I would expect her to continue her form in the final,” he says.
Then there’s Morgan Yaeger, last year’s Finals MVP.
“From experience, I would also expect Morgan Yaeger to come up big on Sunday. She won Finals MVP last year for a reason. Nobody in the league creates off the dribble like she can. When she puts her foot down, I have not yet seen someone who can stay in front of her.”
With Whai known for staying home on shooters, Stojkovic expects driving lanes to open up for Whittle and Yaeger, while Charlotte Whittaker looms as another key piece.
“Since sliding into the starting role she has been very impressive all around, and her presence on both ends has given us real balance.”
“In a final, the defense will be strong both ways, so you often need moments of individual brilliance, especially around creating your own shot. With Marena and Morgan, we have two of the best in the league in that area.”
Bennett, meanwhile, leans into the Whai’s collective strength rather than singling out individuals.
“Our team has had different people step up in different moments all season long. This is what I believe makes us a difficult team to deal with,” he says.
“The X-factor for our group has been the buy-in to roles and the genuine celebrating of the success of others.”
Managing the pressure
Championship stakes bring pressure, but both coaches are leaning on routine and experience.
“We keep the week as normal as possible,” says Stojkovic. “Clear messaging, light sessions, simple plans, and film work that reinforces the habits we believe in. Our job as coaches is to keep the environment calm so players can focus on the basketball, not the occasion.”
He also knows he can trust a core that has already been there and done it.
“You cannot beat championship experience. Morgan, McKenna, and Emma have already won in this league. Bree has won two NCAA championships. Taylor and Marena have played at the highest levels internationally.”
“In these games, experience matters. We have a lot of it. So there is no need to be nervous. Our players know how to embrace the moment and deliver a complete performance.”
For the Whai and Coach Bennett, the emphasis is on being present and appreciating the journey as much as the destination.
“One of the conversations we had this week was being present in the moment,” Bennett explains. “Obviously, we are preparing to be at our best come Sunday. However, enjoying this week on a day to day basis has been an emphasis.”
“Being intentional about our final week together as a team, spending time with team mates, enjoying the NZ summer in Tauranga/Mount Maunganui!”
Preparation
At this point in the season, neither staff is reinventing the wheel.
“It is business as usual,” Stojkovic says of Pouākai’s build-up. “At this stage of the season, the focus is on deloading and making sure we are as fresh as possible on Sunday. The habits are already established. The scout is clear. The players know the system. Our job is simply to sharpen the details and arrive with energy.”
Bennett echoes that sentiment for Whai.
“As a coach, one of the most enjoyable parts of the Tauihi schedule is how linear it is! We found a great rhythm for our weekly build up to weekend games,” he says. “Nothing extraordinary but a routine that suits our athletes and that works for us. Given the time of the season, both teams have great data on each other. We will be prepared and we are sure that they will be prepared too.”
Familiarity
There is also the added intrigue of familiarity: Stojkovic leading the Pouākai against his former team, and Bennett game-planning against several players and the head coach he worked alongside last season.
Stojkovic is quick to praise the Whai’s achievement.
“Firstly, I think it is a tremendous achievement for the Whai to reach back to back finals,” he says. “They were playing the best basketball in the league until Laina Snyder got injured… Now that she is back, I expect a real battle.”
“I have a ton of respect for the job Tane has done with that group. They have a clear plan of attack, they play to their strengths, and he is getting the most out of his roster… There is familiarity in terms of style of play and between the players, but once the ball goes up, it becomes about execution.”
Bennett, for his part, is keeping the lens firmly on his current group.
“With respect, I am focussed on our current group and finishing our season the right way,” he says. “We have an amazing opportunity to do something special this year and this week is in preparation to be ready for that moment.”
Two coaches, two teams, two different journeys with one last game to decide it all.
With a title on the line and a possible farewell to Cowles Stadium, the 2025 Grand Final is shaping as another powerful chapter in Tauihi’s young history.
