Darwin Salties leave NBL1 North after three years

The Darwin Salties are searching for a new competition to play in after withdrawing from the NBL1 North over financial disputes. Read what’s happened.

The Darwin Salties ahead of their first ever NBL1 North home semi-final. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Tamboran Darwin Salties have decided not to continue in the NBL1 North Division citing financial unsustainability with the current agreement.

The club met with Basketball Queensland to discuss an improved cost-sharing model, with the club having to pay all interstate travel costs for itself and visiting North teams.

The Salties board decided post season 2024 that the current model was not financially sustainable for the club’s long term future.

Basketball Queensland could not reach an agreement with the club, despite the Salties having strong on-court results with the men finishing second on the ladder.

The Salties boast the highest home crowd spectator numbers of any club in the NBL1 North League.

The club has been a part of the Queensland competition for the past three years.

“These costs are excessive at a time when air travel from Darwin is at an all-time high,” a Darwin Salties spokesman said.

“No other NBL1 club has this arrangement.”

Darwin Salties women’s side in 2024. Picture: Jack Riddiford.

The Salties have begun early discussions to join another league namely the South Australian based NBL1 Central, which would keep them on track to push for their NBL ambitions.

The Central Zone has been marked as the preferred option as it would allow the possibility of playing some Salties home games in Alice Springs.

However, discussions and day to day operational ability have slowed due to the recent resignation of Salties general manager Matt Nason, one year into his tenure.

The Bridge Toyota Salties NWBL team will not be impacted by the decision, as the wheelchair competition is part of a separate league.

“The club is currently conducting its annual end-of-season review,” a spokesman said.

“The Bridge Toyota Salties NBL1 Wheelchair team become back-to-back national champions and had 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.”

It comes at a time where junior basketball participation in Darwin has never been higher with growth of almost 16 per cent.

The Salties aren’t the only NBL1 North side leaving after the 2024 season with the North Gold Coast Seahawks also bowing out as the club undergoes a “re-prioritisation” of its resources.

Originally published as Darwin Salties leave NBL1 North after three years