The Gold Coast Rollers have confirmed their intentions to field a stacked side in the Queensland State League

The Gold Coast Rollers have confirmed their intentions to field a strengthened side in the Queensland State League after the NBL1 season was cancelled in March.

THE Gold Coast Rollers have confirmed their intentions to field a strengthened side in the Queensland State League after the NBL1 season was cancelled in March.

The Rollers were set to be one of 13 teams to compete in the new league after NBL1 replaced the now-defunct Queensland Basketball League this season.

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The NBL’s winter competition, which promised greater exposure, playing pathways and the chance to become national champions, launched in Victoria last year and was set to spread its wings throughout Australia in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a nationwide sporting shutdown.

Action from the Gold Coast Rollers men's QBL basketball 2019 grand final series game one match against the Brisbane Capitals. Picture: QBL

NBL1 calibre players initially faced the prospect of playing no basketball this year but as restrictions begin to ease and the QSL looks increasingly likely to tip off later in the season, Gold Coast Basketball General Manager Joel McInnes said that the Rollers will feature prominently in any revised season.

“We had already nominated for the second tier of the QSL but we’re expecting the league will be reformatted,” he said.

“I think the QSL will be a stronger league than what it was initially going to be.

“I would say a lot of the bigger associations will have strong teams in the QSL in whatever format the league returns in.”

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Unlike NBL1, the QSL can tip off later in the year and even run in conjunction with the NBL competition as state players don’t have to contend with national league commitments.

McInnes was confident some basketball would be played this year however, drastic changes may be necessary to ensure player and staff safety.

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“Once basketball returns, there may only be 10 people allowed on the court at once which may increase to 20 but it might also start with no spectators at all,” he said.

“If QSL returns, we’ll live stream games regardless so fans can be a part of it.”

A revised 2020 QSL season may also create an even playing field for local clubs – a national travel ban preventing teams from recruiting big name, foreign imports.