North Wrap | Men's Round 1

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Sam McDaniel started life at Ipswich Force with 41 points after re-signing with Brisbane Bullets while Kai Woodfall led Brisbane Capitals to huge fightback win while Kody Stattmann, Shaun Bruce and Zac Triplett shone in wins for Cairns Marlins and Logan Thunder.

>> NORTH SPOTLIGHT | BRUCE RETURNS TO LOGAN IN STYLE

>> NORTH SPOTLIGHT | CAPS WIN STUNNING GF REMATCH IN OT

>> NORTH SPOTLIGHT | PHOENIX OPEN NEW SEASON WITH HOME WIN

FRIDAY

Sunshine Coast Phoenix (89) defeated Northside Wizards (81)

The Sunshine Coast Phoenix saw off a fast finish and 33 points from Quinton Dove for the Northside Wizards to open the season with the 89-81 home victory.

All eyes were on Maroochydore Stadium as the lone venue in operation in opening night with the Phoenix at home trying to improve on their second round finals exit of 2025.

The Wizards are also looking for vast improvement on a six-win season in 2026 but it was Sunshine Coast on top most of the evening opening up a 21-point lead and then holding on for the season-opening eight-point victory.

There was a lot to like in the win for Sunshine Coast with Luke Anderson delivering 22 points, six rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks on shooting 8/12 from the field and despite missing all four free-throw attempts.

Darnell Robateau had all 16 points of his points in the first half and also ended up with eight rebounds and three assists with Nelson Kahler contributing 16 points and nine boards, DeShawn Ross-Paiwan 14 points, three rebounds and three assists, and Erik Kafritsas 14 points, five boards and five assists.

It wasn’t the start to the season Wizards coach Darryl McDonald was hoping for after what he had to deal with taking over as head coach midway through NBL26 with the Brisbane Bullets.

There was a bright spark, though, with the performance of Quinton Dove who made his NBL1 North debut in style fresh off what his partner, Nes'eya Parker-Wiliams, did earlier for the women.

Dove finished with 33 points and 10 rebounds while only being a -3 in 38 minutes on a team that was down double figures a lot of the night.

Tyler Williams added 18 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals, Durrell McDonald 13 points, five boards, three assists and three steals, and Jed Richardson 11 points and 10 rebounds.

SATURDAY

Ipswich Force (109) defeated South West Metro Pirates (79)

Both teams missed finals in 2025 and the Ipswich Force started on the right note with the thumping 109-79 win over the South West Metro Pirates with Sam McDaniel unstoppable with 41 points.

McDaniel has made the move to the Force as he shakes off another injury-ravaged NBL season at the Brisbane Bullets. But he has re-signed for NBL27 and with be at Ipswich in preparation and it couldn’t have started better first up.

Ipswich put up 31 points to 22 in the first quarter and another 35 to 20 in the second to already be well in control at 66-42 by half-time.

From there the Force cruised to the season-opening 30-point win with McDaniel delivering 41 points, five rebounds and four steals with 14/28 shooting from the field, 6/14 from downtown and 7/7 at the foul line.

Lachlan Anderson also had 17 points and three rebounds, Will Mahoney 17 points and four steals, and Merrick Small six points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.

Deng Mayot top-scored for South West Metro with 21 points and seven rebounds with Harrison Huber adding 17 points and five boards, and Oliver Amajoyi eight points and seven rebounds.

North Gold Coast Seahawks (72) lost to Sunshine Coast Phoenix (102)

The Sunshine Coast Phoenix backed up their opening night home win by hitting the road 24 hours later and repeating the dose with the 102-72 win over the North Gold Coast Seahawks.

The Phoenix beat the Northside Wizards to open the season while the Seahawks marked their return to the NBL1 North with a home opener at Runaway Bay Indoor Stadium.

Sunshine Coast already opened up a 10-point lead in the first quarter with that getting out to 25 in the second on the way to them leading 51-29 by half-time.

That advantage grew to 31 in the second half with the Phoenix going on to win by 30 and make it 2-0 in the space of 24 hours.

Nelson Kahler delivered 18 points, six rebounds and four blocks on 7/11 shooting with DeShawn Ross-Paiwan adding 17 points, four assists and three boards, and Luke Anderson 15 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Erik Kafritsas also had 15 points, three rebounds and two steals, Darnell Robateau 11 points, seven boards, six assists and four steals, Jackson Birmingham nine points, and Jamaal Robateau eight points, five assists, five steals and four rebounds.

It wasn’t the return to the league the Seahawks were hoping for with Zac Dunmore finishing with 18 points and four rebounds, Sean Murphy 12 points and seven boards, Connor O'Sullivan nine points and three assists, and Jordan Schwalger eight points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Southern Districts Spartans (107) lost to Brisbane Capitals (113)

Tamuri Wigness was on track to start championship defence for Southern Districts Spartans in style before the Brisbane Capitals produced a stunning fightback to end up winning 113-107 in overtime with Kai Woodfall hitting nine triples.

It was the ideal way to start the new season with the Spartans celebrating their championship triumph last year on their home floor at Rowland Cowan Stadium.

They were taking on the team they beat in that series too and Southern Districts were in control for a lot of the contest with Wigness outstanding leading by as much as 13 points and still by seven with just over two minutes to play.

But the Caps didn’t want more pain inflicted on them by the Spartans on the same floor and they kept shooting, and making plays, and eventually were rewarded by taking over in overtime to secure the six-point victory.

Woodfall ended up going 9/12 from behind the arc for 33 points, eight assists and five rebounds even if the rest of the team went 5/31 including Chuatwech Reath 2/11.

However, Reath made a huge one when it counted on his way to 17 points and six rebounds with Geordan Papacostas adding 17 points and 10 boards, Yohana Wal 17 points and 10 rebounds, Jarred Bairstow 15 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists.

Wigness ended up with 33 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and two steals for the Spartans with Ben Hastings adding 18 points on 6/8 shooting with 5/5 at the foul line.

Isaih Tueta also had 14 points and four assists, Max Kerle 13 points, Griffin Biwer 10 points, eight rebounds and four steals, and Andre Ugrinic nine points, five boards and four assists.

Cairns Marlins (100) defeated Townsville Heat (68)

Kody Stattmann is fresh off his best NBL season and brought that form with him to lead the Cairns Marlins to the season-opening 100-68 home win over the Townsville Heat.

Stattmann took his chances in NBL26 with the Cairns Taipans to show that he belongs at the level while staying in town to play with the Marlins again for the NBL1 North season.

He started the season impressively too even though Townsville stuck with his team for the first half with Cairns only leading by three points at quarter-time and then by eight at the half.

The Marlins then put up 25 points to 13 in the third period and 27 to 15 in the fourth to win by 32.

Stattmann delivered 27 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals while his team were +24 in his 35 minutes.

Amarco Doyle also had 22 points and six rebounds for Cairns, Luca Yates 15 points and eight boards, Ky Stattmann 12 points and three assists, and Kobe McDowell-White 11 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

Ethan Betts top-scored for Townsville with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists with Steve Richardson Jr adding 20 points, five rebounds and three steals, and Richard Peachey nine points and five boards.

Mackay Meteors (106) defeated Rockhampton Rockets (91)

The Mackay Meteors are looking to put themselves back in the title hunt in 2026 and started strongly with the 106-91 home win over the Rockhampton Rockets.

Coming off winning the 2024 championship, things never quite clicked for Mackay in 2024 with them losing in the first round of the finals but they were starting the new season hosting the Rockets at Mackay Basketball Stadium.

Rockhampton suffered the same fate last year too and it was an exciting first quarter from both teams with the Meteors leading 28-25 by quarter-time.

It was then 26 points to 17 in the second term from the Meteors and from there they remained in control to secure the 15-point victory.

Jerron Jamerson looks back to his best to start the new season with 23 points and three assists on 8/13 shooting.

Khobie De Haan added 17 points, three rebounds and two steals, Derek Emelifeonwu 15 points, four assists and four steals, Kobey Sager 14 points and seven rebounds, Cameron Goldfinch 13 points and eight boards, Elijah Gray nine points and five rebounds, and Justin Ochaya eight points, six boards and four assists.

Treauhn Williams produced 20 points, four rebounds and two assists for Rockhampton with Jack Tweedy adding 16 points, Isaac Ayoubi 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds, Brayden Huff 11 points and five boards, and Keahn Tuakura nine points, eight rebounds and three assists.

SUNDAY

Gold Coast Rollers (79) lost to Logan Thunder (106)

Shaun Bruce is waiting to see where he plays in NBL27 after departing a three-time Sydney Kings champion and returned to Logan Thunder with seven three-pointers for 32 points in their 106-79 win against the Gold Coast Rollers.

Gold Coast finished top at the end of the 2025 regular season and come into 2026 attempting to make up for their disappointing finals exit beginning hosting Logan at Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium.

The Thunder had a tough 2025 but have loaded up for 2026 and it's the back court that coach Luke Cann has featuring Bruce and Zac Triplett that could take them a long way based on their first up showing.

That pair combined for 55 points, 17 rebounds, 14 assists, five steals and eight three-point makes with Logan winning by 27 in the finish with Bruce especially prominent after winning a third NBL title and now returning to the Thunder where he's previously played in 2021, 2023 and 2024.

Bruce hit 7/9 from downtown for 32 points with nine assists and seven rebounds.

Triplett also showed his continued growth with 23 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals while Cal Dalton delivered 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists on the back of being an injury replacement player once again in NBL26 at the Brisbane Bullets.

Hunter Marks also had 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals, and Tom Howard eight points, six boards and three assists.

It wasn’t the start to the season Gold Coast was hoping for but Jensen Bradtke did show good signs with 18 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

James Whitt also contributed 16 points, six rebounds and four assists, Boston Mazlin 12 points, seven boards and four assists, and Ash McGrath nine points and four assists.