South Starting Five - Round 2

Round 1 delivered a strong opening to the NBL1 South 2026 season, with early contenders emerging, new combinations taking shape and plenty of storylines already unfolding across the competition.

Round 2 is already underway, with Nunawading and Ringwood opening the round on Tuesday night, and with momentum, response and early positioning already in play, the next chapter is moving quickly.

Here are five key storylines to watch.

1. Cobras set the early pace

One round in, and the Kilsyth Cobras have made the strongest statement.

They are the only club to open the season with both their men’s and women’s programs sitting at 2–0, taking care of business against Geelong United before backing it up against Ringwood.

Across both teams, Kilsyth have shown balance, depth and an ability to control games on their terms. It’s very early, but they’ve set the benchmark.

Now the question becomes how long can they hold onto it?

2. Reid returns to the spotlight

One of the competition’s biggest names is back.

Steph Reid returns from China's CWBA  and steps straight into one of the headline matchups of Round 2, taking on her 2025 club, the Diamond Valley Eagles on Friday night.

A proven game-changer, Reid remains one of the league’s most influential players, acknowledged as the 2025 Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Her return to the South adds immediate star power and another layer of intrigue to an already loaded round.

3. Built from within

A clear early trend in 2026 is the impact of homegrown talent across the competition.

Clubs throughout NBL1 South are seeing strong contributions from players developed within their own systems, reinforcing the value of long-term pathways and internal development.

Jacob Richards (Hobart) has exploded out of the gates, leading the men’s competition with 28.5 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists per game, while Christian D’Angelo (Nunawading) and Ryan Rapp (Dandenong) have also made strong starts.

At Kilsyth, Adrian Tomada has been one of several internal contributors helping drive their early success, reflecting the depth of their program.

On the women’s side, Alex Sharp’s return to Diamond Valley has brought immediate impact following her MVP season in NBL1 West, while Hannah Giddey has opened the year with 20 points and 9.5 rebounds per game for Melbourne.

Across the league, that trend is clear. Teams are leaning on familiar faces, and those players are delivering early.

It’s an early reminder that success in NBL1 South is increasingly being built from within.

4. Green for a reason

Round 2 marks Mental Health Round across NBL1 South.

Players will wear green socks, officials will wear green headspace lanyards, and across the league, clubs will engage their communities in conversations around wellbeing.

Several players who typically wear number 15 will instead take the floor in 1 and 5, representing the statistic that 1 in 5 Australians experience mental health challenges each year.

It’s a powerful visual and an important reminder of the role sport can play in supporting its community.

5. Hawks on home court

Ringwood take centre stage in Round 2 with a rare home-heavy stretch.

They opened the run on Tuesday night against Nunawading, back up again tonight, before closing it out on Saturday, all at Norwood Secondary College.

For fans, it’s a unique opportunity to see their team repeatedly on home floor.

For Ringwood, it’s an early-season test. After already hitting the floor once this week, can they build across the stretch and come out of it with momentum?

With school holidays underway and another full round of fixtures ahead, it’s the perfect time to get out and support your team across the competition.