Editing Expendables (New Zealand Paintball Team)


'''Expendables Feilding''', also known as '''Expendables''' or '''NZ Expendables''', is a competitive [[paintball]] team based in [[Feilding]], [[New Zealand]].

The team has competed in international paintball tournaments across New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the United States, including the [[Millennium Series]], [[NXL Europe]], the Australian [[Super 7's Paintball Series]] and the [[National Xball League]] (NXL).

Expendables won the 2017 Millennium Series Semi-Professional championship and the 2018 NXL Europe Prague Open professional division.

The team is associated with the Manawatū paintball community and has maintained connections with internationally recognised professional players, including members of San Diego Dynasty.

Its documented tournament history also includes a second-place finish in Australia's 2019 Super 7's professional season rankings and a runner-up finish in the Open 3v3 X-Ball division at the 2025 NXL World Cup.

Expendables is closely associated with [[Manawatu Titans]], although the two names have also represented separate tournament entries.

== History ==

=== Early development ===

Expendables developed within the competitive paintball community of Feilding, in the Manawatū region of New Zealand.

The team's PBLeagues registration is dated 2 January 2015, with Feilding recorded as its home town and Run and Gun Feilding as its associated field. [1]

The registration is one of the earliest surviving formal records for the team, although its exact establishment date has not been independently confirmed.

Expendables participated in New Zealand tournament paintball during 2015 and 2016, developing an international programme that would subsequently include regular appearances in Australia and Europe.

David Hopkins has been associated with the team's organisation and international activities.

In April 2017, David and Diane Hopkins launched a fundraising campaign to support the team's participation in the European Millennium Series. [2]

The campaign described Expendables as a Feilding-based team already competing in Australia and Europe.

=== International player development ===

Expendables developed relationships with established international professional paintball players.

In a firsthand account published on 16 June 2017, American professional player Ryan Greenspan described his participation with the team in the European Millennium Series. [3]

Greenspan identified himself, Yosh Rau and Marcello Margott as players guesting for the New Zealand squad.

He also described the team's earlier relationship with American coach Blake Yarber, which had begun approximately two years before the 2017 season.

The cooperation provided Expendables with experienced international players and coaching while retaining its New Zealand team identity.

Expendables subsequently competed successfully in the European Semi-Professional and Professional divisions.

== New Zealand competition ==

=== Asylum Events Auckland Paintball Cup 2015 ===

Expendables participated in the Auckland Paintball Cup held on 7 and 8 March 2015.

The team competed in Open X-Ball and finished third out of seven teams, according to the PBLeagues historical record. [1]

=== Asylum Paintball Cup 2015 ===

Expendables returned to Auckland for the Asylum Paintball Cup on 26 and 27 September 2015.

The team entered the Open X-Ball division.

PBLeagues confirms the appearance but does not record a final placing. [1]

=== Auckland Paintball Cup 2016 ===

Expendables competed at the Auckland Paintball Cup on 16 and 17 April 2016.

The team entered Division 2 X-Ball and finished second out of eight teams.

The result is recorded in PBLeagues. [1]

=== Asylum Paintball Cup 2016 ===

Expendables also participated in the Asylum Paintball Cup on 3 and 4 September 2016.

The team entered Division 2 X-Ball.

Its final result has not been established from the available historical registration record. [1]

=== New Zealand Race Series 2023 ===

Expendables competed in the 2023 New Zealand Race Series.

The team included international guest players during the season, including Tahitian player [[Ralph Tsing]], who represented Expendables during the first two rounds.

Tsing's appearances were documented in contemporary reports published by Tahiti Nui Télévision and Air Tahiti Nui. [4]

The final round was held at Arena Paintball in Feilding in October 2023.

Expendables defeated Ballistics Unit 3-0 in the championship final, winning the event.

According to Air Tahiti Nui's contemporary tournament report, Expendables also won the overall 2023 New Zealand Race Series championship. [4]

== Australian competition ==

=== Super 7's Paintball Series ===

Expendables established an international presence through Australia's Super 7's Paintball Series.

The team competed in the professional division against established Australian squads and regularly incorporated international players.

A contemporary report by DYE Paintball documents Expendables competing in an Australian Super 7's event with American professional players Ryan Greenspan and Blake Yarber. [5]

In his June 2017 account, Greenspan described the team's success in the Australian circuit and its development through international coaching and competition. [3]

=== 2017 Australian campaign ===

By April 2017, Expendables was competing in both Australia and Europe.

The team's fundraising campaign for its European programme reported that Expendables had won the opening round of each series. [2]

The campaign provides contemporary evidence of an Australian tournament victory during the 2017 season.

The exact Australian event classification and complete final standings have not yet been independently recovered.

=== Super 7's 2019 season ===

Expendables competed in the professional division of the 2019 Australian Super 7's Paintball Series.

The official historical standings record the following round scores:

* Round 1: 24 ranking points
* Round 2: 24 ranking points
* Round 3: 24 ranking points
* Round 4: 28 ranking points

Expendables finished second in the 2019 professional season standings with 100 points.

Eastside Raw won the championship with 110 points, while Perth Crisis finished third with 98 points. [6]

== European competition ==

=== Millennium Series 2017 ===

Expendables entered the 2017 Millennium Series in the Semi-Professional division.

The championship consisted of four European tournaments:

* Mediterranean Cup, Puget-sur-Argens, France
* European Masters, Bitburg, Germany
* Campaign Cup, London-Gatwick, United Kingdom
* World Cup, Paris-Chantilly, France

The team competed under the name Expendables Feilding in the official Millennium Series records.

==== Mediterranean Cup ====

Expendables won the Semi-Professional division at the Mediterranean Cup in March 2017.

The result is recorded in contemporary tournament reporting, including coverage published by Paintball Ruined My Life on 26 March 2017. [7]

The victory represented a successful opening to the team's European campaign.

==== European Masters ====

Expendables continued its European season at the European Masters in Bitburg, Germany, in May 2017.

The squad included American professional players Ryan Greenspan, Yosh Rau and Marcello Margott.

Expendables won the event, recording its second consecutive Millennium Series Semi-Professional tournament victory.

Greenspan confirmed the result in his account published on 16 June 2017. [3]

He described the New Zealand team as having won the opening French event before adding another victory in Germany.

==== Campaign Cup and World Cup ====

Expendables continued competing in the Millennium Series at the London-Gatwick Campaign Cup and the Paris-Chantilly World Cup.

Historical Millennium Series match records document Expendables competing against European teams throughout the season.

The team defeated Ranger Warsaw 4-0 in the quarterfinals at both the Mediterranean Cup and European Masters. [8]

By September 2017, Expendables led the overall Semi-Professional championship standings.

The official Millennium Series final rankings confirmed Expendables Feilding as the 2017 Semi-Professional season champion. [9]

The team finished ahead of Cologne Hurricanes and Bad Boys Oss.

The championship represented an important international achievement for a New Zealand paintball team.

=== NXL Europe 2018 ===

Expendables entered the professional division of NXL Europe in 2018.

The team competed against established international professional squads, including Edmonton Impact, Houston Heat, Toulouse TonTons and Moscow Red Legion.

Its tournament results included:

* Chartres Open: 4th of 18
* Prague Open: 1st of 18
* Basildon-London Open: 9th of 18
* Paris-Chantilly Open: 15th of 18

Expendables finished eighth in the overall 2018 NXL Europe Pro X-Ball season rankings, according to PBLeagues. [1][10]

==== Chartres Open ====

Expendables began the 2018 season at the Chartres Open in France, held from 13 to 15 April.

The team finished fourth among 18 professional teams.

A contemporary report by Finnish paintball journalist Kimmo Kainulainen confirmed Expendables' fourth-place finish. [11]

==== Prague Open ====

Expendables won the professional division of the NXL Europe Prague Open, held in the Czech Republic from 25 to 27 May 2018.

The competition featured 18 professional teams.

The registered Expendables roster was:

* Ivan Christison (New Zealand)
* Ryan Greenspan (United States)
* Tyler Harmon (United States)
* Thomas Hopkins (New Zealand)
* Matthew Kling (Australia)
* Marcello Margott (United States)
* Yosh Rau (United States)
* Blake Yarber (United States)

Rusty Glaze was registered as team staff. [12]

The team completed the preliminary stage with two victories and two defeats.

In the elimination rounds, Expendables defeated:

* PPArena Pilsen, 6-3
* Moscow Red Legion, 6-5
* Toulouse TonTons, 6-1

Expendables faced Edmonton Impact in the championship final.

The New Zealand-registered team won the final 5-4, securing the Prague Open professional title.

The victory was independently reported by Kimmo Kainulainen on 27 May 2018. [13]

The tournament's leading professional teams were:

* Champion: Expendables Feilding
* First runner-up: Edmonton Impact
* Third: Toulouse TonTons
* Fourth: Houston Heat

The victory was notable for a New Zealand-registered team competing in European professional paintball with a multinational roster.

==== Remaining 2018 season ====

Expendables continued its European campaign at the Basildon-London Open and Paris-Chantilly Open.

The team finished ninth in London and fifteenth in Paris.

Its four-event campaign resulted in eighth place in the overall NXL Europe professional season rankings. [10]

== United States competition ==

=== NXL World Cup 2025 ===

Expendables returned to international competition in the United States at the 2025 NXL World Cup, held in Kissimmee, Florida.

The team entered the Open 3v3 X-Ball competition.

The division featured four teams.

Expendables completed the preliminary stage with two victories and one defeat.

The team advanced to the semifinals against BLK, winning the match 3-2.

Expendables faced Wyldside Distortion in the championship final.

Wyldside Distortion won the final 3-0, with Expendables finishing second overall. [14]

The result marked another documented World Cup podium under the Expendables name.

== Arena Paintball and domestic development ==

Expendables has maintained connections with the competitive paintball community in Feilding.

Arena Paintball, located at 558 Kimbolton Road, provides tournament-standard airball facilities and hosts New Zealand Race-format competitions.

The facility is associated with players from both Expendables and [[Manawatu Titans]].

Expendables has continued entering domestic tournaments alongside other New Zealand and Australian teams.

In the 2026 Arena Race Series, Expendables was listed separately from Manawatu Titans.

After the second round, Expendables was fourth in the provisional standings with 303 points.

Manawatu Titans led the same standings with 386 points. [15]

The separate entries demonstrate that both names have continued to be used in tournament competition.

== Relationship with Manawatu Titans ==

Expendables and [[Manawatu Titans]] are closely associated with competitive paintball in the Manawatū region.

Historical records document Expendables competing internationally under its own name from at least 2015.

Manawatu Titans subsequently appeared as a separate team identity in American and Australian tournament records.

Both teams have been associated with David Hopkins and Arena Paintball.

However, the exact organisational relationship between Expendables and Manawatu Titans, including whether they are independently administered teams or separate squads within a shared organisation, has not been established.

Both team names remain independently documented in tournament registrations and results.

== Selected tournament results ==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Tournament
! Country
! Division
! Result
|-
| 2015
| Auckland Paintball Cup
| New Zealand
| Open X-Ball
| 3rd of 7
|-
| 2016
| Auckland Paintball Cup
| New Zealand
| Division 2 X-Ball
| 2nd of 8
|-
| 2017
| Millennium Mediterranean Cup
| France
| Semi-Pro
| 1st
|-
| 2017
| Millennium European Masters
| Germany
| Semi-Pro
| 1st
|-
| 2017
| Millennium Series overall
| Europe
| Semi-Pro
| Season champion
|-
| 2018
| NXL Europe Chartres Open
| France
| Pro X-Ball
| 4th of 18
|-
| 2018
| NXL Europe Prague Open
| Czech Republic
| Pro X-Ball
| 1st of 18
|-
| 2018
| NXL Europe Basildon-London Open
| United Kingdom
| Pro X-Ball
| 9th of 18
|-
| 2018
| NXL Europe Paris-Chantilly Open
| France
| Pro X-Ball
| 15th of 18
|-
| 2018
| NXL Europe overall
| Europe
| Pro X-Ball
| 8th
|-
| 2019
| Super 7's overall
| Australia
| Professional
| 2nd
|-
| 2023
| New Zealand Race Series, final round
| New Zealand
| Race format
| 1st
|-
| 2025
| NXL World Cup
| United States
| Open 3v3 X-Ball
| 2nd of 4
|}

The table contains selected documented results and is not intended as a complete record of every tournament entered by Expendables.

== Significance ==

Expendables Feilding has achieved international results across several major competitive paintball circuits.

The team's 2017 Millennium Series Semi-Professional season championship and 2018 NXL Europe Prague Open professional title are among its most significant documented achievements.

The team also participated extensively in Australia's professional tournament circuit and continued competing in New Zealand and the United States.

Expendables' activities have involved cooperation between New Zealand players and internationally established professional competitors, including members of San Diego Dynasty.

The team's history demonstrates the ability of New Zealand-based organisations to compete successfully in international professional paintball.

== See also ==

* [[Manawatu Titans]]
* [[Ralph Tsing]]
* [[Arena Paintball]]
* [[Paintball in New Zealand]]
* [[Paintball in Australia]]
* [[Millennium Series]]
* [[NXL Europe]]
* [[National Xball League]]
* [[Super 7's Paintball Series]]
* [[New Zealand Race Series]]

== References ==

# [https://pbleagues.com/team/uBhjWTkMvslWprl3 PBLeagues: Expendables]. Historical team registration and results, 2015–2018.
# [https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/expendables4europe Givealittle: Expendables Europe Trip]. Fundraising campaign established by David and Diane Hopkins, April 2017.
# [https://www.ryangreenspan.com/whirlwind399bc4a4 Greenspan, Ryan. "A Whirlwind Adventure." 16 June 2017.] Firsthand account of playing with Expendables during the 2017 Millennium Series.
# [https://pf.airtahitinui.com/actualites/ambassador/paintball-ralph-tsing-enchaine-les-bons-resultats Air Tahiti Nui. "Paintball : Ralph Tsing enchaine les bons résultats." 31 October 2023.]
# [https://shop.dyepaintball.com/blogs/news/mcdonnell-super-7s-round-one-recap DYE Paintball: Macca Super 7's Round One Recap]. Contemporary report of an Australian Super 7's event featuring NZ Expendables.
# [https://super7spaintball.com/results/ Super 7's Paintball: Historical season results]. Official Australian professional rankings, including 2019.
# [https://paintballruinedmylife.com/category/events/tournaments/millennium/ Paintball Ruined My Life: Millennium Series tournament reporting]. Mediterranean Cup Semi-Pro results, March 2017.
# [https://millennium-series.epbf.info/team_profile.php?Team=Ranger+Warsaw Millennium Series 2017: Ranger Warsaw team profile]. Original match results documenting encounters with Expendables Feilding.
# [https://millennium-series.epbf.info/ Millennium Series 2017 official rankings]. Final Semi-Professional championship standings.
# [https://pbleagues.com/league/403/seasonRankings/2018 PBLeagues: NXL Europe 2018 season rankings]. Professional division.
# [https://paintball.fi/kimmo-kainulainen/uutiset/1110/nxl-europen-chartresin-avausturnauksen-tulokset-2018 Kainulainen, Kimmo. "NXL Europen Chartresin avausturnauksen tulokset 2018." Paintball.fi.]
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/roster/fLUGa2sqQVFB2tQd PBLeagues: Expendables Prague Open 2018 roster and schedule]. Official player registration and match results.
# [https://paintball.fi/kimmo-kainulainen/uutiset/1120/expendables-prahan-nxl-turnauksen-voittoon-2018 Kainulainen, Kimmo. "Expendables Prahan NXL-turnauksen voittoon 2018." Paintball.fi, 27 May 2018.]
# [https://pbleagues.com/scores/L316/E8928/scores/finalsScores.html PBLeagues: NXL World Cup 2025 final results]. Open 3v3 X-Ball championship.
# [https://www.findglocal.com/NZ/Feilding/102027051785091/Arena-Paintball Arena Paintball: 2026 Arena Race Series standings]. Published 12 July 2026.

== External links ==

* [https://www.facebook.com/expendablesnz/ Expendables Paintball on Facebook]
* [https://pbleagues.com/team/uBhjWTkMvslWprl3 Expendables on PBLeagues]
* [https://www.arenapaintball.co.nz/ Arena Paintball]

[[Category:Paintball teams]]
[[Category:Paintball in New Zealand]]