The Kāhu missed out on the championship game one year after hoisting the trophy, and have said goodbye to franchise pillars that were synonymous with the early years of the franchise. Will the roster tweaks bring the Kāhu back to the pinnacle?
The Kāhu foundation of the past few season's has shifted as the squad has moved on from the core of Penina Davidson, IImar'I Thomas and Krystal Leger-Walker. But this season's team arrives with a veteran backcourt, multiple playmakers, and serious length at the forward spots. With Head Coach Jody Cameron supported by an experienced staff, the blueprint points to a defence‑first team that can play fast in bursts, then hunt mismatches in the half court through skilled forwards.
Projected identity
Experienced guard table‑setting: Lauren Mansfield will manage pace and crunch‑time execution, Aliyah Matharu and Jasmyne Roberts add scoring punch while Tahlia Tupaea will give a bit of both. Look for the ball to be in Tupaea's hands in the crunch as she exploits her unique skill set.
Wing size and switchability: Abi Curtin, Vitolia Tuilave, Keeley Tini and Haleigh Reinoehl all have the skill set to guard multiple slots, sliding up and down positionally as needed
Rebounding by committee: Without a traditional five the Kāhu will need to pull together on the glass and defensively in the post, but a true 5 won't be required if wings finish possessions as a collective on defense while enforcing their will on the game when it comes to pace.
Quick facts
Youth movement: The Kāhu have moved on from some of the most recognisable faces in franchise history, and boast 5 teenagers as they look towards the next stage in the clubs evoulution
Height range: 170–192 cm, The Kāhu don't have a ton of true bigs but boasting a long forward group they will look to make up for any deficiency in this area with effort and grit
| Player | Pos | Ht (cm) | DOB | Age | Nat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahlia Tupaea | G | 170 | 01 Jun 1997 | 28 | NZ |
| Aliyah Matharu | G | 170 | 16 Jul 2001 | 24 | USA |
| Jasmyne Roberts | G | 177 | 01 Jan 2003 | 22 | USA |
| Haliegh Reinoehl | F | 188 | 10 Feb 1998 | 27 | USA |
| Abi Curtin | F | 185 | 18 Oct 1997 | 27 | AUS |
| Vitolia Tuilave | F | 185 | 08 Apr 2004 | 21 | NZ |
| Mary Morton‑Jones | G | 170 | 24 Aug 1996 | 29 | NZ |
| Keeley Tini | F | 180 | 02 Mar 2000 | 25 | NZ |
| Azure Anderson | G | 178 | 30 Jun 1997 | 28 | NZ |
| Lauren Mansfield | G | 170 | 18 Dec 1989 | 35 | AUS |
| Keija Miringaorangi | G | 175 | 20 May 2008 | 17 | NZ |
| Sienna Maurice | G | 180 | 13 Jan 2010 | 15 | NZ |
| Lily Fotu | G | 179 | 15 Jul 2007 | 18 | NZ |
| Emma‑Kaye Schroeder | G | 173 | 27 Jun 2007 | 18 | NZ |
| Imani Rasmussen | F | 192 | 21 Oct 2009 | 15 | NZ |
Tahlia Tupaea - Guard, 170 cm (NZ)
Poised lead guard who controls tempo, gets paint touches and organises late‑clock sets. Has proven MVP level quality and can be a dominant scorer, enforcing her will on defenses with physical penetration and dead-eye shooting from deep. Second all time in points, assists, steals and games played for the Kāhu, her varied skill set will look to carry a heavy offensive load this season.
Aliyah Matharu - Guard, 170 cm (USA)
Dynamic scorer. Pull‑up threat and a live dribble that bends coverages to her will. This will be her first foray into pro hoops after a five year collegiate career Her 3-point jumper will keep defenses honest enough but it will be skill as a penetrator that will have the biggest impact.
Lauren Mansfield - Guard, 170 cm (AUS)
Veteran decision‑maker; strong in pick‑and‑roll and game management but it is her shooting that will keep defenses stretched out in the half court. The Olympian has shown MVP quality with her play and will look to balance here deft scoring with facilitation to keep the Kāhu offense rolling all season long.
Azure Anderson — Guard, 178 cm (NZ)
Size at the two and looking to run lanes while guarding up a position when needed. She'll look to bring energy and aggressiveness off the bench on the defensive end while attacking the rim in the halfcourt and transition.
Keija Miringaorangi - Guard, 175 cm (NZ)
Energetic point‑of‑attack defender with transition burst.
Sienna Maurice - Guard, 180 cm (NZ)
Profiles as a tall guard who can find passing windows over the top while offering good rebounding from her position.
Lily Fotu - Guard, 179 cm (NZ)
Wing‑sized shooter with upside on the glass.
Emma‑Kaye Schroeder - Guard, 173 cm (NZ)
Steady handler; connects actions and keeps the ball moving.
Haleigh Reinoehl - Forward, 188 cm (USA)
High‑motor stretch four who screens with force, crashes the glass, and finishes through contact. Comfortable popping or short‑rolling to the nail, where she can hit the mid‑range or make the extra pass. Defensively, boxes out, communicates on switches, and contests without fouling; can guard anywhere from 3 to 5 Doesn't have elite size but makes up for it with effort and energy.
Abi Curtin - Forward, 185 cm (AUS)
Mobile forward who screens, short‑rolls and contests at the rim. Can carry a heavy scoring load when asked and will look to collect double doubles on the regular. Will put pressure on transition D with her ability to run the lane and her combination of shooting from deep and rim attacks will keep defenses on their toes in the half court.
Jasmyne Roberts - Wing, 177 cm (USA)
Two‑way piece who can slash, post mismatches and defend multiple positions who will be playing her first season of pro hoops here in New Zealand. Can drain the three off the catch and shoot or the bounce but has the athleticism to punish defense with rim attacks and on the glass. Her switability will help on defense, but she may need a bit of help when matched on the bigger forwards in the league.
Mary Morton‑Jones (formerly Goulding) - Forward, 170 cm (NZ)
Reliable two‑way guard who stabilises second units and spaces the floor. Offers great toughness and will be key for the rebounding presence on both ends of the court. Her inspirational story off the court may get the headlines, but it is her effort on the court that garners respect from opponents.
Vitolia Tuilave - Forward, 185 cm (NZ)
Physical presence; hits the glass and runs the floor hard. Profiles as an elite shot blocker who can move her feet in switches to keep guards in front. Will be called upon to produce off the bench and her ability to bang with bigger bodies in the post may garner her more playing time.
Keeley Tini - Forward, 180 cm (NZ)
Combo forward with stretch potential; can switch across 2–5 and comes back to the squad after a season away. Possesses good strength, enabling defensive assignments on bigger players which could see her tapped for more opportunities.
Imani Rasmussen - Forward, 192 cm (NZ)
Offers great length and upside as a rim‑protector/rebounder in limited minutes as she looks to develop her game
Starters: Tupaea, Matharu, Roberts, Curtin, Reinoehl
Primary bench: Mansfield, Tini, Tuilave, Anderson, Morton‑Jones
Situational/energy: Maurice, Fotu
Developmental RL group: Miringaorangi, Schroeder, Rasmussen
Closing groups can tilt to defence (Tini/Tuilave for boards and size) or spacing (Anderson/Fotu alongside Matharu and Roberts).
Paint protection by committee: Without a traditional centre, can the forward group own the defensive glass and protect the rim?
Shot profile: Can the guards lift three‑point volume while keeping strong rim pressure? Will this team be as dependent on the transition game as they have been in previous season?
Turnover management: With pace and youth options, can the Kāhu stay tidy in the fourth quarter when the defensive pressure mounts?
Matharu’s scoring gravity to open driving lanes for Tupaea and interior opportunities for Curtin/Reinoehl.
Roberts and Tupaea as two‑way connectors, defending wings and punishing mismatches off the bounce or with the 3-point shot
Bench creation from Mansfield, allowing dual‑handler line‑ups that keep the offence organised.
Coach: Jody Cameron
Assistant Coaches: Justine Reed, Darci Finnigan
Manager: Leah Morgan
S&C Coach: Logan Botica
Physio: Chris McIntosh
The guard room is deep, the wings are long, and the pace can spike quickly. But with a lack of elite size the question will be can the Kāhu win the glass while keeping turnovers low to win the possession game. They have the profile of a top‑tier defence with enough shot‑making to close tight games, but much of that will depend on finishing possessions with work on the defensive glass.
Ceiling: Top‑two seed and title push
Floor: On the outside looking in as the team leans on defence while spacing from shooting fails to develop
Most likely: Top‑four defence with strong guard‑led offence and multiple closing‑time options will see the Kāhu battle for a top four spot and look to make noise in the postseason.
