National league stars, Opals and Tall Ferns lead new recruits to join NBL1 North in 2022
It’s the second year of the NBL1 North competition and the crop of talent continues to rise. We name the most exciting new recruits to the Queensland league. SEE WHO MADE IT
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They say the sequel is rarely better than the original but this year nothing could be further from the truth for the NBL1 North basketball competition as the talent across the league continues to rise.
Whether it’s Australian Boomers or Opals players, New Zealand representatives or NBL and WNBL stars – the NBL1 North has welcomed a whole crop of new and exciting recruits for its second season in 2022.
Led by the likes of Shyla Heal, Penina Davidson, Todd Blanchfield and more, we put together a list of the top 34 recruits playing in the NBL1 North for the first time.
See the full list below:
MEN
MAKUACH MALUACH – DARWIN SALTIES
An athletic forward who already made his mark on the league after just one game after throwing down what is expected to be the dunk of the year in the season opener against the RedCity Roar. Maluach climbed over RedCity import Jarett Croff for the highlight, which has gone global, even being shown on ESPN’s SportsCenter.
TODD BLANCHFIELD – ROCKHAMPTON ROCKETS
The last time Todd Blanchfield played in the Queensland state league, it was bad news for everyone else as the veteran NBL guard/forward won MVP when he was with the Mackay Meteors. This year, the Perth Wildcat joins nearby rivals, the Rockhampton Rockets, as Neil Tweedy’s side looks to bounce back from a tough 2021 season. Blanchfield was back to his dominant self in his first game with the Rockets, scoring 30 points.
MASON BRAGG – SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX
The former Perth Wildcat, who won an NBL championship with the storeyed franchise, has made the move north after playing most of his senior career both in the SEABL and NBL1 South with the North West Tasmania Thunder. The talented point guard joins an exciting Phoenix side alongside the likes of Jamaal and Darnell Robateau as well as Nelson Kahler and Jonathan Janssen.
JONATHAN JANSSEN – SUNSHINE COAST PHOENIX
The Noosa junior returns to the Phoenix after several seasons overseas, including in the NZNBL as well as Luxembourg, but 2022 is his first year in the NBL1 North after playing for the Sunshine Coast in the QSL in 2020. An athletic big man who also has the ability to light it up from the perimeter will be a key for the Phoenix’s playoff hopes this season.
KYRIN & JAYLIN GALLOWAY – MACKAY METEORS
Adding to the high-flyers joining the NBL1 North this season is the brother combination of Kyrin and Jaylin Galloway. Kyrin, a 203cm forward, joins the defending champions on the back of two seasons in the NBL with the New Zealand Breakers while Jaylin signed with Mackay after being a development player for the Sydney Kings. Both brothers are known for their athletic ability and tendency to play above the rim.
TAINE WATTIE – TOWNSVILLE HEAT
A versatile guard, who is comfortable knocking down the outside shot and also attacking the basket, Wattie is expected to be a big piece for the Heat this season after making the switch from NBL1 West. The New Zealand product, Strong defender who has great vision off the ball helping force opposition turnover and steals.
ATEM BIOR – BRISBANE CAPITALS
A mobile big man, who comes to the Capitals after an impressive 2021 season in the NBL1 West with Rockingham, Bior will be looking to have a major impact for Brisbane this year. Having last played in Queensland in the QSL for the Logan Thunder in 2020, Bior joins Ben Volkman in the frontcourt for the Capitals, who are undefeated after two games to tip-off the season.
BENJAMIN AYRE – CAIRNS MARLINS
After bursting onto the scene with several impressive performances to end the NBL season with the Cairns Taipans, Ayre will lead the Marlins hopes of going one step further than they did last year. The point guard has already made a mark for Cairns in his first season of NBL1 North, averaging almost 30 points per game across their first three games.
MAX MACKINNON – BRISBANE CAPITALS
Returning to his junior club after spending time at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, Mackinnon comes into the NBL1 North after back-to-back Under-20 National Championships with Queensland. The Brisbane Bullets development player and versatile guard, who can play multiple positions, has helped the Capitals start their season with two consecutive victories.
RASMUS BACH – LOGAN THUNDER
Another NBL player returning to his junior club, Rasmus Bach will be one to watch this NBL1 North season. After two seasons in the NBL with the New Zealand Breakers, Bach helps form one of the best backcourts in the league with last year’s MVP, Jeremy Kendle. The athletic guard, who can play above the rim, shoot the three and is a known perimeter defender, impressed in his first game for the Thunder, scoring 26 points in a win over Southern Districts.
TAD DUFELMEIER – DARWIN SALTIES
Tad Dufelmeier makes the move from the NBL1 South, where he played for the Hobart Chargers, to the NBL1 North to lead the Darwin Salties in their inaugural year in the competition. The lightning-fast guard is coming off his best NBL season with the Adelaide 36ers and is a massive addition for Matthew Flynn’s side as they shoot for the playoffs in their first year.
ALEX MUDRONJA – NORTH GOLD COAST SEAHAWKS
The South Australian product has joined the North Gold Coast Seahawks to form an exciting and young backcourt for the Seahawks in their first season in the NBL1 North alongside Brisbane Bullets guard, Tamuri Wigness. Mudronja, who is averaging 21.5 points and seven rebounds across North Gold Coast’s first two games, comes to the club after three NBL seasons and his first with the Illawarra Hawks.
LUAL DIING – NORTHSIDE WIZARDS
One of the most exciting talents to sign in the NBL1 North this season is Lual Diing for the Northside Wizards with the high-flying forward arriving at the club from Central Districts in the NBL1 Central. After missing Northside’s first game of the season against Brisbane, Diing showed what he could do against the USC Rip, recording an impressive stat line of 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
ANTHONY DRMIC – NORTHSIDE WIZARDS
What a way to make his NBL1 North debut, the NBL veteran for the Adelaide 36ers and Brisbane Bullets helped the Wizards score a big win over the USC Rip, scoring 33 points while also dishing out nine assists and grabbing seven rebounds. Drmic was a late addition to a now star-studded Wizards side featuring Mitch McCarron, Keanu Pinder and Lual Diing.
KEANU PINDER – NORTHSIDE WIZARDS
Another new addition this NBL1 North season for the Wizards, Pinder arrives at Northside after a breakout NBL season with the Cairns Taipans, where he claimed the league’s Most Improved Player after moving from the Adelaide 36ers. The athletic forward forms an exciting frontline at the Wizards alongside Lual Diing.
MARIAL MADING – SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SPARTANS
An athletic and versatile 208cm forward who has played in Europe after a successful college career in the US, Mading is a welcome addition for the Spartans. The exciting talent will look to form a combination with veteran guard, Chris Cedar, as Southern Districts aim to build on their quarterfinals appearance from last year.
KOUAT NOI – USC RIP CITY
One of the most pure scorers to sign in the NBL1 North this season is USC Rip City addition, Kouat Noi. The Cairns Taipans NBL forward joins the likes of Isaih Tueta, Verle Williams Jr, Eric McAlister and fellow NBL player Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, who will join the team after the grand final series with the Sydney Kings. Noi is off to an impressive start with USC, averaging more than 30 points and 13 rebounds per game.
WANI SWAKA LO BULUK – USC RIP CITY
A defensive stopper, who is coming off his best NBL season, starting for the Sydney Kings – Swaka Lo Buluk will be a massive addition for Rip City, adding some much-needed defensive prowess next to the likes of Kouat Noi and Isaih Tueta as the Sunshine Coast team look to be title contenders in 2022.
JAYDEN HODGSON - REDCITY ROAR
Set to join the RedCity Roar after the Sydney Kings finish the NBL grand final series is development player and promising young point guard, Jayden Hodgson. Hodgson will provide a big boost for the Roar alongside Nelson Larkins, Spencer Parker and Jarrett Croff as they aim for the playoffs in 2022.
WOMEN
LULU TWIDALE – SD SPARTANS
A talented youngster, who joins an experienced core at the Southern Districts Spartans, Lulu Twidale comes into the NBL1 North season playing a big role for her team after an impressive juniors season, where she helped Queensland South to a national silver medal. A shooter who can get hot from the perimeter but also attack the basket, Twidale adds another threat to a Spartans backcourt featuring Maddy Allen and Lil Dart.
LIL DART – SD SPARTANS
Returning to the court after a year off, Lil Dart has made a huge impression in her first two senior games. The former South West Metro Pirates and North Gold Coast Seahawks junior couldn’t have had a better start to her senior career, scoring 28 points, including six three-pointers in a win over the USC Rip and also hitting several big shots in the team’s close loss to Logan at the weekend.
KATIE DEEBLE – NORTH GOLD COAST SEAHAWKS
Continuing the trend of national league stars returning to their junior club is exciting young point guard Katie Deeble. Deeble returns to the Seahawks after several years at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence and also on the back of her rookie WNBL season with the Sydney Uni Flames. The Australian junior representative is averaging 15 points per game as the Seahawks have started the season with two consecutive wins.
KATELYN DONOVAN – NORTH GOLD COAST SEAHAWKS
Another member of the Queensland South team to win silver at the Under-18 National Championships last month, Donovan made the most to the Seahawks from the Gold Coast Rollers and has been a key in their two victories so far. The versatile guard/forward had 31 points and 12 rebounds in her debut in Round 1.
SHANEICE SWAIN – MACKAY METEORETTES
An Australian junior representative who is coming off her rookie WNBL season with the University of Canberra Capitals, Shaneice Swain will be one of the most exciting talents to watch in the NBL1 North this season. A professional scorer, Swain is averaging 21 points per game after Mackay’s first two games with the Meteorettes winning both contests.
MIELA GOODCHILD – MACKAY METEORETTES
Joining the list of young guns to join the Mackay Meteorettes is sharpshooter Miela Goodchild. Goodchild was a development player in the WNBL for the Townsville Fire before having a successful US college career at Duke University, whee she broke several three-point records during her time at the powerhouse school. Goodchild joins Swain and under-18s star Monique Bobongie in a star backcourt for Mackay.
MONIQUE BOBONGIE - MACKAY METEORETTES
In her debut senior season in the NBL1 North, Bobongie will be able to showcase what has made her one of the most promising juniors in Australia over the past few seasons. The young guard who can do it all has already been impressive for Mackay in their first two games this season, scoring 17 points in an overtime win over Cairns.
ABBY CUBILLO – BRISBANE CAPITALS
The WNBL championship winner with the University of Canberra Capitals comes to the NBL1 North looking to lead the Brisbane Capitals further than the quarterfinals spot they reached last year. Cubillo has already made a huge mark on the Brisbane side with her leadership and skill on both ends of the floor, hitting the game-winner against Ipswich to grab her team’s first win of the season in Round 2.
SHYLA HEAL – NORTHSIDE WIZARDS
The biggest new signing of the NBL1 North season would easily be the addition of Shyla Heal to the Northside Wizards. Heal joining Northside has helped form the best backcourt in the league alongside fellow point guard Tiana Mangakahia with the two stars leading the Wizards to an undefeated start. The Australian Opals player is sure to put up some massive numbers this season.
BRONTE CORKE – BRISBANE CAPITALS
Making the switch from the University of Canberra Capitals WNBL side to the Brisbane Capitals, just like her teammate Abby Cubillo, is young forward Bronte Corke. Corke was a development player for Canberra and is one of many new talents for Brisbane this NBL1 season.
PENINA DAVIDSON – CAIRNS DOLPHINS
Helping form arguably the best frontcourt in the NBL1 North is Penina Davidson with the centre joining her Melbourne Boomers WNBL teammate, Cayla George, at the Dolphins. After a tough season last year, the Dolphins are looking like title contenders after the addition of George and Davidson, who was recently named the New Zealand Women’s Player of the Year along with the Tall Ferns MVP.
ERIN RILEY – NORTH GOLD COAST SEAHAWKS
Another player making the move from the NBL1 South to North competition is forward/centre Erin Riley for the North Gold Coast Seahawks. The former Kilsyth player has been impressive in the Seahawks’ first two games, averaging 18.6 points and 11.3 rebounds as North Gold Coast sit undefeated to start the year.
TEYLA EVANS – DARWIN SALTIES
A journeyman across different state leagues across Australia, Teyla Evans has joined the Salties in their inaugural season to provide Rod Tremlett’s team with much-needed experience and firepower. The versatile forward comes to the club from the NBL1 South competition and also has spent time in Queensland playing in the previous competition, the QBL.
TAYLOR LEE – GC ROLLERS
After relocating from Victoria to the Gold Coast, Taylor Lee is a welcome addition to a stacked guard line-up for the Gold Coast Rollers. Joining the likes of WNBL star Lauren Mansfield as well as young gun Lily Rotunno, Siarn Woods, Susannah Walmsley and more, the former Casey Cavaliers and Frankston NBL1 South player adds athleticism and the ability to score to the Rollers side.
COURTENAY WRAGG – IPSWICH FORCE
An accomplished and dynamic playmaker, who has spent time with Bendigo Spirit and Melbourne Boomers in the WNBL, Wragg relocated to Ipswich after playing for the Sunbury Jets in the Big V last season. Wragg has already made an impact for the Force, averaging more than 12 points per game for Ipswich.
***This list only includes Australian and New Zealand players, excluding imports***
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