Hokianga stays with Jets for next season

Manawatu Jets co-captain Kaine Hokianga has signed on again with the franchise for next season and wants to see more top Kiwi players added to the roster soon.

The 29-year-old is a veteran of the National Basketball League (NBL), with 177 competition appearances between his time for the Jets and, previously, the Otago Nuggets.

Hokianga is a teacher at Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School and was always keen to stay on with the Jets, but said signing in advance of next season, which doesn't tip-off until March, would send a message to other Kiwis. "I think it's a definite sign that we are very serious about putting together a good Kiwi base," Hokianga said.

"It speaks volumes and shows other teams around the league that the Jets are pretty keen to show that the Kiwi players are looked after here."

In a league that allows two imports per team, the winning sides more often than not still have the best New Zealand players.

This year's finalists, Wellington and Waikato, had many current or former Tall Blacks on their rosters.

It is understood Matt Te Huna is also likely to re-sign with the Jets soon and coach Ryan Weisenberg has said he wants the team to have a longer pre-season than this year, when they finished ninth of 10 teams in the NBL.

"It's important that we get a good pre-season, because we didn't before this season," Hokianga said.

He said another factor in his decision to continue with the side was Weisenberg's attitude and outlook for the franchise.

- © Fairfax NZ News