'Under his skin': “Bryce-stopper” sets stage for epic Cotton showdown

Thursday, August 28, 2025

The rivalry between Adelaide and Perth is set to erupt, with Ben Henshall stoking the fire ahead of their NBL26 showdown as he prepares to face former teammate Bryce Cotton in a high-stakes clash.

Mark it down. Sunday, November 9. Adelaide v Perth.

It was already shaping up as a must-watch clash, but Ben Henshall has just turned up the heat ahead of his team’s first showdown with former teammate Bryce Cotton.

"That game is going to be great. I think there's going to be a lot of shit-talking happening and me trying to get under his (Cotton’s) skin," Henshall told basketball.com.au.

Cotton’s exit from Perth was nothing short of controversial. The five-time MVP stated he “didn’t technically leave” and that the club took the decision out of his hands.

“They (the Wildcats) made the business decision to part ways because they didn’t want to wait … which is fine, but I don’t want to hear all this bitching and complaining when I’m doing what’s best for me, as well as the result,” he said.

The Wildcats responded by calling it a “horrible decision we had to make” as part of their roster build, which drew plenty of criticism from fans.

“We felt we certainly gave Bryce as much time as we could, and I think we probably would have been able to give more time if we didn’t have so many players out of contract. But ultimately, our role is to build a team that can win a Championship. We felt, and still feel, that we had to move on and start building that team and that roster,” owner Mark Arena said.

The 33-year-old has since locked in a three-year deal with the Adelaide 36ers, marking one of the most significant Free Agency moves in NBL history.

With one of the most unmissable clashes of NBL26 on the horizon, Henshall has poured even more fuel on the fire.

"I feel like we've had so many battles at practice and I always say, at practice, I call myself the Bryce-stopper and again, just try to get under his skin. So I think, it's going to be a great battle,” he said.

An eight-time scoring champion, All-NBL First Team regular, and three-time title winner during his time in Perth, Cotton will now suit up for one of the Wildcats’ fiercest rivals, the Adelaide 36ers.

Read the full story here >> Ben Henshall: Why it was always the Perth Wildcats