By Elliot Stevenson
University is aiming to defend all three crowns without a number of its premiership heroes when the 2025-26 Men’s Cricket Tasmania Premier League season gets underway this weekend.
Former captain and Emerson Rodwell Medallist Param Uppal has headed back to his home state of New South Wales, while Nikethan Radhakrishnan, Patrick Dooley, and Tom Chapman have also departed.
The Lions have recruited Sri Lankan all-rounder Ruwantha Kellapotha to fill the void left by Uppal, but Ben Hilfenhaus’ side will be the hunted this season.
Kingborough is one of the teams that will be out for a measure of revenge, having narrowly missed out in all three formats last season. The Knights have lost Zak Honeybrook, but otherwise have much of the same side that played in last season’s two-day decider against Uni.
The New Town Bucks have signed former Glenorchy captain-coach Josh Hartill as they push for their first premiership since defeating Clarence in the T20 grand final in 2023-24. Hartill scored 856 runs last season at an average of 53.5 and will bring an element of star power to the New Town batting lineup.
Another club that has made a splash in the offseason is Clarence. The Roos have secured a trio of signings, with Ben McDermott and Mac Wright joining from Lindisfarne, while batsman Justin Galeotti returns to the club after a two-year hiatus in Victoria. It puts Clarence firmly in contention for a premiership under new coach Shane Holland.
Glenorchy also has a new coaching structure, with Richard Grubb and Nathan Matthews taking over the reins due to Hartill’s departure. Grubb will focus on performance and culture, while Matthews is specialising in program delivery and selection.
The Magpies have a plethora of young talent coming through their junior pathway and are aiming for to build a base for sustained success.
Lindisfarne and South Hobart-Sandy Bay are similarly promoting a youth-driven path to success.
The Lightning, having lost a number of experienced players, will be reliant on young players to drive them forward this season under head coach Matt Wilkie.
South Hobart-Sandy Bay has promoted Sam Voss to captain, cementing their eye towards the future. Voss takes over from experienced quick Gabe Bell and will lead a young team in the new season as the Sharks search for their first premiership in four years.
North Hobart and the Greater Northern Raiders have placed their emphasis on stability and developing improvement within their established squads. The Demons have brought in Keshana Fonseka from Lancashire, England, to sure up their batting stocks, while the Raiders have recruited Ben Hann from Riverside.
Play commences this Saturday with the beginning of the Kookaburra Cup One-Day competition.
This weekend’s headline game is a rematch of last season’s red ball grand final between Kingborough and University at the Twin Ovals.
Lindisfarne hosts Glenorchy in a matchup between two sides looking to improve on last season while dealing with the losses of some star players.
Clarence welcomes New Town to Kangaroo Bay as Shane Holland aims to begin his coaching reign with a victory.
South Hobart-Sandy Bay is set to travel up the highway to face off against the Greater Northern Raiders at Riverside 1.
CLARENCE
Last Season: 5th
Additions: Justin Galeotti [Greenvale, VIC], Ben McDermott [Lindisfarne], Mac Wright [Lindisfarne]
Losses: nil
Captains: Justin Galeotti & Sam Rainbird
Coach: Shane Holland
Coach’s Comments: “It's an exciting season for the Roos with our mix of younger players coming through, mixed with our quality group of more experienced and contracted players. It's an exciting challenge to balance the availability of professional cricketers with opportunities for our full squad and I'm looking forward to seeing the development and performances of all players within our squad to contribute to winning games of cricket.”
Player to Watch: Justin Galeotti – an opening batsman who returns to Clarence after a two-year stint in Victoria with the Greenvale Kangaroos. Galeotti is expected to make a seamless transition into the Roos lineup. Alongside big-name recruits Ben McDermott and Mac Wright from Lindisfarne, he will look to help Clarence bridge the gap between the middle of the pack and contending for premierships.
GLENORCHY
Last Season: 9th
Additions: Vishwa Deemantha [Oman/Sri Lanka], Manu Singh [Sydney, NSW]
Losses: Josh Hartill [New Town], Deepak Singh, Navroj Virk
Captain: Jyles Horne
Coaches: Richard Grubb & Nathan Matthews
Coach’s Comments: “The club's cricket strategy is to produce First-Class cricketers from within our community zone. With this in mind, we've recruited players who will lead and enhance the development of those players integrating into senior cricket from our junior program. We are extremely buoyed by the pre-seasons of Ryan Green, Zac Pfitzner, Jonty DeCotter and Kai Martin who have benefited from a winter in CT programs.
“Internally, our new coaching team has made a strong impact on the development of Brandon Kopper (21), Alex Rolle (20), Kane Lovell (20) and Blake Sillifant (20) who are leading the way with their standards. We are young, and largely homegrown - by design - which sets us up well for a sustained push at success.”
Player to Watch: Tarkyn Jones – The 16-year-old has impressed the hierarchy at the Magpies, as they push to become more competitive in the upcoming season.
“He’s as naturally gifted a cricketer as we've seen at the club since Luke Butterworth and we look forward to playing a role in his growth as a player and human,” Glenorchy President Brett Geeves said.
Jones, who played two 1st Grade games last season, aligns with the club’s clear emphasis on youth in 2025-26.
GREATER NORTHERN RAIDERS
Last Season: 3rd
Additions: Ben Hann [Riverside, TAS]
Losses: Nil
Captain: Alistair Taylor
Coach: Alistair Taylor
Coach’s Comments: “We are looking at continual improvement from our stable squad. We had a big focus on being in games for longer periods of times and we felt we achieved this. Obviously like all other clubs we are striving to play finals cricket in all formats and with another year of growth from our young brigade I’m confident we will be around the mark this season.”
Player to Watch: Caleb Brewer – Has had a ‘massive preseason’ according to captain-coach Alistair Taylor, after missing out on large parts of 2024-25 due to injury. Brewer, a right-arm fast bowler, is looking to cement a spot. His height and frame allow him to generate pace and bounce, and if his body holds up, he’ll be one to look out for.
KINGBOROUGH
Last Season: 2nd
Additions: Jackson Bird [NSW], Mitch Backhouse [Blackmans Bay], Blair Harrison [Blackmans Bay]
Losses: Riley Backhouse [Prahan, VIC], Zak Honeybrook [Perth, WA], Jake Steele [Retired]
Captain: Dylan Hay
Coach: Tom Martyn
Coach’s Comments: “We’ve had a great couple of seasons and will be looking to continue building on those same standards, levels of performance, and a growth mindset.
“Our squad will take on a younger look this year, with Jake Steele, Riley Backhouse, and Zak Honeybrook retiring or moving interstate, and our CT-contracted players tied up with Tigers/Hurricanes commitments. While we’ll miss these guys, it also opens up exciting opportunities for others to step up and cement themselves as 1st Grade cricketers. And with the season approaching, don’t be surprised if we have a few more additions to the squad.”
Player to Watch: Patrick Harnwell.
“We were really pleased to get 10-12 games into Patty last season, where he improved game by game and was very unlucky to miss out on 1st Grade selection during the finals,” Kingborough coach Tom Martyn said.
“After another strong winter in CT’s pathway programs and senior footy with the Kingborough Tigers, we’re expecting an exciting 2025-26 season from him.”
LINDISFARNE
Last Season: 7th
Additions: Marcus Bean [QLD], Rory McAlpin [Pambula, NSW], Rommel Shahzad [Canada]
Losses: Ben McDermott [Clarence], Mac Wright [Clarence], Jarrod Freeman [Mowbray], Daniel Chapman [Retired]
Captain: Tom McGann
Coach: Matt Wilkie
Coach’s Comments: “A big year of opportunity for some very talented young players, with the loss of a few experienced players. The squad has been working hard on building the foundations, to get themselves back in the top four for years to come.”
Player to Watch: Paxton Smart – A rising star for the Lightning, Smart has impressed in preseason training and will look to break into the 1st Grade team after a strong season in 2nd Grade and the Under 16s. The wicketkeeper-batsman made five half-centuries across the grades and even debuted in 1st Grade, playing three games. Smart will be the understudy to club captain and wicketkeeper Tom McGann.
NEW TOWN
Last Season: 4th
Additions: Josh Hartill [Glenorchy], Jason Stott [Southport, QLD], Riley Broadhead [Wollongong, NSW], Fletcher Keeling [Knee Injury]
Losses: Otto Newstead [NSW]
Captain: Joe Randall
Coach: Peter Di Venuto
Coach’s Comments: “We have added four players who are all capable of playing in the ones, so we have strengthened our depth and talent.
“We are looking for continued progress within the squad and for player performances to generate opportunities at higher levels. We had eight players ply their trade overseas this year and expect them to come back better for their experiences. Calean Maladay, Josh Hartill, Jayden Vince, John Montgomery, Joey Graham and Jesse Willmott should all be pushing for opportunities higher up, in 2nd XI cricket or the Tasmanian team in the Australian Country Championships.”
Player to Watch: Jayden Vince.
Having enjoyed an exceptional year with the bat for New Town that saw him finish in the top 10 run scorers in the competition, Vince is set for another big season in 2025-26. He hit a pair of hundreds that helped him lead the Bucks runs tally for the second year running and is primed to do so once again. The addition of former Glenorchy star Josh Hartill adds another layer to the Bucks’ batting depth, which will no doubt benefit Vince and allow him to thrive.
NORTH HOBART
Last Season: 6th
Additions: Keshana Fonseka [Lancashire, UK]
Losses: Robb Macmillan [Slab Road]
Captain: Jack White
Coach: Richard Cowlard
Coach’s Comments: “We are in a rebuilding phase after losing several senior players over the past two seasons, but we’re confident that our current squad has the depth and talent to remain competitive across all three formats.
“One player to keep an eye on is Sanjay Anandarajah, who will be looking to build on his strong performances from last season and play an even bigger role this year.”
Player to Watch: Keshana Fonseka.
“He is set to play his first season in the CTPL, and he’s certainly one to keep an eye on,” North Hobart coach Richard Cowlard said.
“A technically gifted top-order batter, he has developed through Lancashire’s elite pathway since the age of 10, progressing from County Age Groups through to the Academy. With his first professional contract under his belt, Keshana brings both talent and experience that could see him make an immediate impact on the CTPL stage.”
SOUTH HOBART-SANDY BAY
Last Season: 8th
Additions: Jonah Evans [Sheffield, TAS], Hatoa Sweet [QLD]
Losses: Nil
Captain: Sam Voss
Coach: Richard Allanby
Coach’s Comments: “We feel that we have a number of talented juniors at the club.
“From a bowling perspective we are looking for Jordan Cooper and Charlie Fish to support Ed Gulline to continue to improve and we will give opportunities to Harry Thomson and Cooper Stubbs in all formats with the bat.
“Will Prestwidge is highly skilful with both bat and ball and will have a big impact in games he plays. Archie Banks-Smith had a great season in 2024-25 and will be important alongside captain Sam Voss with bat and ball.
“We will back our young local players this season to continue to develop as we see real potential in them.”
Player to Watch: Sam Voss.
While Voss isn’t a new face in the Sharks’ 1st Grade setup, his role as club captain certainly is. Captaincy can be a factor that inspires athletes to meet their full potential, and Voss seems primed to hit full stride. His ability with both bat and ball allows him to be influential throughout a day of cricket. Voss showcased his talent last season against Glenorchy at Queenborough, where he hit 102 off 110 balls. Taking over from Gabe Bell is no small feat, but the Sharks will be eager to see what their new skipper can achieve this season.
UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA
Last Season: 1st, T20, One-Day and Two-Day Premiers
Additions: Ruwantha Kellapotha [Casey South Melbourne, VIC]
Losses: Param Uppal [Sydney, NSW], Nikethan Radhakrishnan [Sydney, NSW], Patrick Dooley [Brisbane, QLD], Tom Chapman [Overseas]
Captain: Ruwantha Kellapotha
Coach: Ben Hilfenhaus
Coach’s Comments: “With the loss of a few experienced players this provides opportunity for our younger group to not only build on last year but also undertake more demanding roles and continue their development.”
Player to Watch: Louis Smith – The young fast bowler has shown flashes of promise over the last few years in the Uni 1st Grade setup but will be aiming to take the competition by storm in 2025-26. Smith has played a handful of Toyota 2nd XI matches, as well as being called up to play against Sri Lanka A for Australia A in Darwin over the winter. Lions coach and fast bowling maestro Ben Hilfenhaus serves as a great mentor for Smith, who will have a major role to play for the reigning premiers with both bat and ball.
SEASON PREDICTIONS
Two-Day Premiers: Kingborough.
It was a case of close but no cigar for the Knights in 2024-25. Tom Martyn’s side finished atop the overall ladder but fell short in the Two-Day grand final, T20 semi-final and weather interrupted Kookaburra Cup semi-final - all to University. It remains to be seen how often veteran star Jackson Bird will play, but Kingborough will doubtless be competing towards the back end of the season.
One-Day Premiers: New Town.
Another side which failed to defeat the all-conquering University side of 2024-25 in a grand final, the Bucks are primed to shake up the competition this season. The addition of former Glenorchy captain-coach Josh Hartill means New Town should be battling it out with Uni and Kingborough for the Kookaburra Cup. And under the leadership of Peter Di Venuto, the sky is the limit for this team.
T20 Premiers: Clarence.
Perhaps the winners of the off season, the Roos have brought in three genuine star batsman to make the push for a premiership. Ben McDermott and Mac Wright will spend much of their time during the CTPL T20 competition with the Hobart Hurricanes, but have other experienced stars such as Sam Rainbird and Justin Galeotti to lead the charge to a grand final.
Emerson Rodwell Medallist: Ruwantha Kellapotha – Uni’s replacement for last year’s winner of the Emerson Rodwell Medal, Param Uppal, brings bags of experience and knowhow. Kellapotha will likely play the entire season with the Lions’, with his leg-spinning wizardry and graceful batting bound to set the competition alight. The Sri Lankan has played for Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades in the past and is aiming to earn similar call-ups in Tasmania.