20/09/2024
CLUB STATEMENT - SALTIES looking for somewhere new to play 🏀🐊
The Tamboran Darwin SALTIES NBL1 teams are exploring playing options for 2025 after deciding not to play in the NBL1 'North' Division.
The club met with Basketball Queensland (BQ) to discuss an improved cost-sharing model to continue in their 'North' NBL1 division but could not reach agreement.
The Bridge Toyota SALTIES NBL1 Wheelchair team will not be impacted by the decision to leave the NBL1 North League. The Salties Wheelchair team compete in a national league.
The Tamboran Darwin SALTIES enjoyed strong on-court results in 2024, with the Darwin men finishing second on the ladder (leading into the finals) and home crowd spectator numbers remaining the highest in the NBL1 North league.
However the SALTIES Board has decided the current model with BQ is not financially sustainable as it requires the club to pay all its own interstate travels costs AND those of visiting 'North' teams.
These costs are excessive at a time when air travel from Darwin is at an all-time high. No other NBL1 club has this arrangement.
Early discussions have begun about joining another league (such as NBL1 'Central') however, the recent resignation of the SALTIES club CEO is complicating matters and has limited day-to-day operational ability.
NBL1 Central Zone is the preferred option because of the possibility of having some SALTIES games played in Alice Springs.
The club is currently conducting its annual end-of-season review, which saw the Bridge Toyota SALTIES Wheelchair team become back-to-back national champions and have four team members represent Australia at the Paralympics.
The SALTIES are also in the process of mapping its forward plan which includes an exciting junior 'Future Salties' program.
Junior basketball participation in Darwin has never been higher with growth of almost 16 per cent.