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Sep 10, 2025
'Emotional time': Thunder hit back at 'monumental step back' for basketball
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Story by Emily Clooney The Advocate
The North West Thunder has hit back after the rejection of its NBL1 South licence submission, questioning the governing body's handling of the situation.
Basketball Tasmania (BTas) confirmed on September 4 that it had endorsed the formation of a new entity, which was proposed by the Launceston Tornadoes ahead of the 2026 season.
Speaking on behalf of the Thunder board, chairman James Leslie said in a statement that the decision was a "monumental step backwards" for the sport and that it did not support what is best for the game.
"Basketball Tasmania, unfortunately, has failed to prioritise the most important aspect of this decision - basketball," Leslie said.
"As a whole, basketball is genuinely struggling to take steps forward in Tasmania, which is evident by all the issues being faced by most clubs across the state.
"It's a monumental step backwards for basketball here in the North-West but also for Tasmania."
The need to have one Northern Tasmanian licence comes after Basketball Victoria, who oversee the competition, announced that the men's and women's programs must run under the same organisation.
The Thunder submitted a revised application last month, with support from the eight NWBU clubs, but BTas has endorsed the Tornadoes' proposal.
The newly established Northern Tasmania Basketball Club is set to play 11 home games in 2026, with a 50-50 split between Ulverstone and Launceston.
Leslie described the Thunder's failed application as an "opportunity...lost" and said their submission was "financially sustainable, operationally efficient, and unequivocally supportive of our pathway athletes and coaches".
In the statement, Leslie said that the club could be proud of what it had done for junior development, with recent graduates of the program including Taran and Tre Armstrong, Reyne Smith, Jacob Furphy, Nash Walker, and Kye Savage.
He thanked the NBL1 for the opportunity to be a part of the competition and encouraged Coastal basketball fans to continue supporting the game at any level.
"It's an emotional time for our group and we are shocked to be in this position, but hold great appreciation for the NBL1 and Basketball Victoria for allowing us to be part of the league until this point," he said.
"We urge everyone to continue to support basketball at any level you can, especially your local competitions and clubs, as there is an abundance of junior talent playing our game.
"And at our level, we are keen to impact basketball in a new way moving forward."
When the licence was awarded, BTas said, in a statement, that "submissions were carefully assessed against key criteria relating to governance, financial stability, facilities, game-day delivery, performance, pathways, and alignment with Basketball Tasmania and the Tasmanian state government's expectations."
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