By Elliot Stevenson
A new contender in the CTPL has emerged, with South Hobart-Sandy Bay’s biggest recruiting push in years gathering attention across the competition ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Sharks have brought in eight new players, including former New Town fast bowler Caelan Maladay and Jackson Gillespie, the son of retired Australian quick Jason Gillespie.
Maladay earned a Cricket Tasmania contract last season after a sustained period of success with the Bucks.
Long-serving South Hobart-Sandy Bay coach Richard Allanby revealed his anticipation surrounding the upcoming season, aiming to improve on a ninth-place finish last season.
“We are excited about the opportunities ahead this season,” he said.
“While the club has shown its potential at times in recent years, inconsistency has prevented us from sustaining success for long enough.
“With a blend of experienced performers, emerging talent and strong depth throughout the grades, there is genuine optimism that the Sharks can take an important step forward this season.”
Alongside Maladay and Gillespie, Tasmanian Tigers rookie Nitesh Samuel has joined the Sharks.
Samuel is an opening batter hailing from Westmead, New South Wales.
The 20-year-old has played for the Hobart Hurricanes Academy and for Australia at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in January.
He averaged 45.34 with the bat in all competitions last season, and an impressive 91 while representing New South Wales Metro at the Under-19 National Championships in December 2025.
Experienced batter Sean Willis has returned to the club after not playing last season, while Hugh Hardcastle has arrived from North Hobart and Mason Wright, Sam Smith, and Will Fraser have made the move from University.
Allanby did not downplay the club’s willingness to recruit, a forward-thinking approach that could pay dividends in the short and long term for the Sharks.
“A key objective during the off-season was to recruit quality players who would not only strengthen the playing group but also create healthy competition for places across the higher grades,” he said.
“The club believes it has achieved that goal and is confident the additions made will significantly improve our competitiveness.”
The CTPL season begins this weekend for both men’s and women’s first-grade competitions, with Allanby’s side travelling to the Twin Ovals to take on Kingborough in a one-day match on Saturday.
CLARENCE
Last Season: 1st, Two-Day Premiers
Additions: nil
Losses: Mac Wright (Carlton, VIC), Kieran Elliott (WA)
Captain: Justin Galeotti
Coach: Shane Holland
Coach’s Comments: “We are really looking forward to seeing how some of our younger players go with the added responsibility to contribute to winning this season. With our core group of dependable senior players there to support, we think some of our younger guys are ready to step up and win us some games this year. If we can have contributions from across our playing group, we would hope to be in the mix for finals across all formats.
“We are excited to see young batters Luca Di Venuto and Riley Whitelaw step up and make match-winning contributions this year, as well as the progression and more opportunity for young leg-spinner Hayden Clark-Sullivan.”
Player to Watch: Justin Galeotti – with the loss of last year’s competition-leading run scorer Mac Wright, added responsibility falls on the shoulders of Galeotti. The Roos’ skipper averaged 60.19 last season in all formats and will need to repeat his efforts if Clarence is to defend its two-day crown.
GREATER NORTHERN RAIDERS
Last Season: 6th, Kookaburra Cup Premiers
Additions: Blake Wolstenholme (Devonport), Oliver Green (Riverside), Harry Page (South Launceston), Jack Pearce (Ulverstone)
Losses: Jack Crane (Northern Magpies)
Captain: Alistair Taylor
Vice-Captain: Sam Omahony
Coach: Clinton Reid
Coach’s Comments: “The Raiders program is here to identify and develop talented and aspiring young cricketers from the North and North-West Coast. We will continue to give these players, alongside some experienced players, the opportunity to test themselves in the CTPL. We’ve been competitive over the past two seasons and want to build on that.”
Player to Watch: Lachlan Clark – the young quick took eight wickets in his eight CTPL matches in 2025-26, figures that look likely to skyrocket this season. If his success with the ball for northern Tasmanian club Mowbray can translate to the CTPL, Clark will cement his place in newly appointed coach Clinton Reid’s side.
KINGBOROUGH
Last Season: 3rd
Additions: Jake Dixon (Burnie), Cam Wheatley (Kettering)
Losses: Jaxon Thorpe (Margate), Jake Weatherald (SA), Harith Khan (University of Tasmania)
Captain: Dylan Hay
Coach: Thomas Martyn
Coach’s Comments: “We will have largely the same squad as last year, but with Jake Weatherald moving home, Nivethan Radhakrishnan expected to play more for the Tigers, and Cam Walter’s longer-term shoulder injury, there will be great opportunities for our younger group to step up and become regular contributors at first-grade level. We will no doubt be young, but we are looking forward to the energy and excitement that can bring.”
Player to Watch: Lachie Coe – with an injury to Cam Walter that will see him miss a large chunk of the season, Coe is set to become a mainstay in Kingborough’s bowling attack. The 18-year-old quick is developing at a rapid rate through Cricket Tasmania’s pathway program and enters a side eager to win silverware in 2026-27.
LINDISFARNE
Last Season: 4th
Additions: Tom Hogan (Ginninderra, ACT), Jed Steele (Longley), Luke Quinlan (returning), Teague Wyllie (WA)
Losses: Charlie Wakim (NSW), Aarav Rajnikanth (overseas), Rommel Shahzad (overseas), Harshtik Bimbral (University of Tasmania)
Captain: Tom McGann
Coach: Matt Wilkie
Coach’s Comments: “The team is looking to improve on 3x semi-finals last season and has been very driven all preseason to win a premiership this year. There is a great core of young, talented players starting to really perform at this level.”
Player to Watch: Prasanna Ketheeshwaran – following a strong second half of the season with the Lightning, he is set to return to Anzac Park to cause more destruction with the bat. A successful winter spent in Darwin with PINT Cricket Club, where he averaged 41.14 across all formats, has ensured Ketheeshwaran will be raring to go as Lindisfarne’s season kicks off this weekend.
NEW TOWN
Last Season: 2nd
Additions: Jai Lemire (Carlton, VIC), Otto Newstead (returning), William Taylor (St George, NSW)
Losses: Joe Graham (North Hobart), Caelan Maladay (South Hobart-Sandy Bay), Hayden Cross (VIC)
Captain: Josh Hartill
Coach: Peter Di Venuto
Coach’s Comments: “The team will have a different look this year, especially on the bowling front. There will be opportunities across the club, which is exciting. I can’t wait to see who grabs the opportunity with both hands in any grade. The attitude of doing extras to improve is imbedded and driven by the senior players, which will always hold us in good stead.”
Player to Watch: Jai Lemire – arriving with five years of first-grade experience in Victorian Premier Cricket, Lemire has averaged in the forties twice in all competitions for Carlton over the past three seasons. The right-hand batter earned a Victoria contract last season and has played for the Melbourne Renegades Academy in recent years. Lemire will feature prominently for the Bucks in 2026-27.
NORTHERN MAGPIES
Last Season: 8th
Additions: Jack Crane (Greater Northern Raiders), Harshit Takkar (Hoppers Crossing, VIC), Kasey Barton (Mosman, NSW)
Losses: Vishwa Deemantha (VIC)
Captain: Trent Le Rossignol
Coach: Nathan Matthews
Coach’s Comments: “It has been an excellent preseason for the club with great buy-in from the playing group. We have added some exciting talent to our list, and we are looking forward to playing an attacking brand of cricket this season. Trent Le Rossignol has taken over as skipper this year which is exciting for our club, and we are looking to make solid improvements through the growth and development in our squad.
“With Jones, Lovell, Green, Rolle, Kopper and Pfitzner having another season under their belt, we are looking to them taking the next step in their cricket journey this season.”
Player to Watch: Tarkyn Jones – the young all-rounder averaged 42.35 with the bat and 28.71 with the ball last season in all formats for the Magpies, the bulk of his work coming in the U18 competition. It was a terrific return in a promising season for Matthews’ young side. Jones will be aiming to further cement his place in the senior side, carrying his form into first-grade cricket.
NORTH HOBART
Last Season: 7th
Additions: Joe Graham (New Town)
Losses: Hugh Hardcastle (South Hobart-Sandy Bay), Nick Davis
Captain: Jack White
Coach: Sam Truloff
Coach’s Comments: “We’ve built some great depth over the off season with a number of players with first-grade experience at a very young age. Really exciting young players who can really be a big part of the club’s success in the years to come. We have some really experienced players as well who we will be looking for big performances from throughout the season. Expecting us to be in and around finals cricket!”
Player to Watch: Joe Graham – an incoming off-spinner from New Town, Graham will provide first-grade experience to a young North Hobart side. Newly appointed head coach Sam Truloff will no doubt relish Graham’s bowling nous and economical capabilities.
SOUTH HOBART-SANDY BAY
Last Season: 9th
Additions: Jackson Gillespie (Adelaide University, SA), Caelan Maladay (New Town), Hugh Hardcastle (North Hobart), Nitesh Samuel (Parramatta, NSW), Sean Willis (returning), Mason Wright (University of Tasmania), Sam Smith (University of Tasmania), Will Fraser (University of Tasmania)
Losses: Jonah Evans (North-West Coast), Harry Nichols (WA)
Captain: Sam Voss
Coach: Richard Allanby
Coach’s Comments: “Caelan Maladay arrives after establishing himself as one of Tasmania’s leading club cricketers over the past two seasons, earning a Cricket Tasmania contract in the process. He is expected to have an immediate impact across all formats when available.
“Nitesh Samuel comes highly recommended as a disciplined and organised opening batter with a proven appetite for big scores. His ability to build innings will be a valuable addition to the top order.
“Jackson Gillespie joins the club after spending time playing premier cricket in the Northern Territory. His pace bowling strengthens an area that we identified as a key focus during recruitment.
“The return of Sean Willis is another major boost. An outstanding servant of the club over many years, Sean brings a wealth of experience and leadership and is expected to play an important role in the middle order.
“Hugh Hardcastle and Mason Wright have also impressed throughout the pre-season. Both offer genuine all-round capability and have shown tremendous commitment, not missing a session to date.”
Player to Watch: Jackson Gillespie – the South Australian brings express pace to the CTPL and will doubtless become a nightmare for opposition batters. The son of former Australian fast bowler Jason, Gillespie has the talent to spearhead the Sharks’ bowling lineup. He averaged 21.28 with the ball in his winter campaign with PINT in the Northern Territory.
UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA
Last Season: 5th, T20 Premiers
Additions: Harith Khan (Kingborough), Harshtik Bimbral (Lindisfarne), Sushan Bhari (SA), Anurag Kherwar (Western Suburbs, NSW), Tom Chapman (Woodbridge)
Losses: Louis Smith (Adelaide University, SA), Krystian Jankowiak (injured), Leo Fountain (UK), Mason Wright (South Hobart-Sandy Bay), Sam Smith (South Hobart-Sandy Bay), Will Fraser (South Hobart-Sandy Bay), Ruwantha Kellapotha (VIC)
Captain: Tom Chapman
Coach: Ben Hilfenhaus
Coach’s Comments: “Our younger players will have opportunities to gain experience in playing key roles to continue their development. We have a very diverse squad and expect to be competitive in all competitions.”
Player to Watch: Jericoh Dickins – the young leg-spinner has played much of the last two seasons in the first-grade team but will have added responsibilities this season with the departure of star all-rounder Ruwantha Kellapotha. Dickins is set to be the Lions’ frontline spinner, with his numerous variations and improving consistency likely to be a major highlight for the reigning T20 premiers.
SEASON PREDICTIONS
Two-Day Premiers: New Town – despite losing key cogs in Caelan Maladay and Joe Graham, the Bucks remain contenders in 2026-27. The additions of Jai Lemire and William Taylor will go a long way in filling the void left by the quality of Maladay and Graham, and supporting pieces in Jayden Vince, John Montgomery, and captain Josh Hartill give reason to believe that New Town is primed and eager to reverse the outcome of last year’s two-day grand final.
Kookaburra Cup Premiers: Clarence – the reigning two-day premiers are one of many clubs that has lost superstar players, but the Roos are expertly coached and know what it takes to win silverware in the CTPL. While Mac Wright and Kieran Elliott will be sorely missed, Michael Jones, Lawrence Neil-Smith and Sam Rainbird are more than capable of delivering a Kookaburra Cup to Kangaroo Bay Oval this season.
T20 Premiers: South Hobart-Sandy Bay – a voracious off-season recruiting spree leaves coach Richard Allanby with plenty of tools at his disposal heading into the new season. Maladay, Samuel, Gillespie, and Willis headline the bunch, while Will Prestwidge and skipper Sam Voss are set to continue their prosperous South Hobart-Sandy Bay careers into 2026-27. It remains to be seen whether or not the Sharks will gel, but success is definitely on the horizon at Queenborough.
Emerson Rodwell Medallist: Zac Curtain – Kingborough’s young superstar had a breakout year in the CTPL last season, averaging 57.29 with the bat and making the CTPL Men’s Team of the Year, earning himself a rookie contract with Tasmania in the process. Curtain is a powerful hitter, with exceptional technique and feel for the game, and, provided he isn’t playing with the Tigers too often, will fancy his chances to take home the CTPL’s highest individual honour.