Territory basketball takes next big step with a Darwin based team set to join NBL1 in 2022.

Basketball NT’s Rod Tremlett hopes to inspire the Territory’s aspiring stars after being named the coach of the Darwin/BNT NBL1 women’s side.

BASKETBALL NT’s Rod Tremlett hopes to inspire the Territory’s aspiring stars after being named the coach of the Darwin/BNT NBL1 women’s side.

The Basketball NT high performance manager has been one of the driving forces behind bringing an NBL1 side to the Top End.

And now he will be at the helm of the women’s side bringing with him plenty of coaching and mentoring experience.

Tremlett is a level 2 coach who has had plenty of success working with Ipswich in the NBL1 and previously coaching both the senior men and women NT Pro Hustle teams.

On the back of that work in 2019 he was appointed by Basketball Australia to lead an Australian under-18s men’s team in Malaysia winning a bronze medal.

Rod Tremlett has been named the coach of the soon to be NBL1 women’s side.

Now he will hope to bring similar success to the Darwin women’s side in the NBL1 North competition.

“It’s very pleasing, a real proud moment for me. I’ve been working towards this for a long time and it’s an exciting opportunity to have,” Tremlett said.

“It’s hugely satisfying for the sport in general to have this new team and it’s something that we’ve been screaming out for in the Territory.

“There are plenty of great prospects to come from this as it gives our aspiring young athletes something tangible to see what the sport is like at the next level.”

Tremlett hopes the team will have a massive impact on the aspiring stars of the Darwin basketball.

Prior to the NBL1 side the highest honour Territory players could aim for were annual youth championships.

That meant to find success players such as Abby Cubillo, Claire Maree Hunt, April Rummery Lamb and Dom Carbone had to move interstate. But now with the team Territory players can stay at home without having to sacrifice the sport they love.

“There’s plenty of developing young talent here and also some strong senior women who have been displaying talent for some time,” he said.

“We’re excited that we can now provide a pathway for these young players of ours so that they can pursue the sport they love without having to move away. They can go to university here or take up a trade here without having to sacrifice their sport.”

The coach of the NBL1 men’s side is expected to be named in the coming weeks.

Darwin-based team to join the NBL1 in 2022

TERRITORY basketball has taken the next big step with a Darwin-based NBL1 side set to play in 2022, providing a platform for local juniors to aspire to in their home state.

The team is a collaborated venture by Darwin Basketball Association and Basketball NT and is one of two new teams to enter the Queensland run NBL1 North.

It means that the DBA Stadium will now play host to a number of home matches giving Darwin juniors and up close and personal view and insight into how a professional team is run.

In the past Territorians such as Freddy Webb, Joel De Barros, Abby Cubillo and April Rummery Lamb have had to move interstate to pursue their dreams.

But this new team means that future juniors will have a direct pathway at home.

Basketball NT high performance and basketball development officer Rod Tremlett said it was a fantastic opportunity for the Territory’s young guns to have something to aspire towards.

“It’s going to be amazing for our sport going forward as something our young athletes can look at and aspire towards,” Tremlett said.

“We’re really excited about the aspirational piece it will provide our basketball followers now but also the whole network that will be introduced to the sport through this opportunity.

“We’re keen to be a part of the national landscape, it’s been on the backburner for some time and we’ve worked on the boxes we needed to tick to get ourselves a team.

“We’ve had kids like Abby Cubillo and Joel De Barros have to leave to pursue their dreams interstate but to have this is a whole new ball game for our young kids.

“They can come and play here and see that next level right in front of them not having to worry about where they will move for school to compliment the sport they love.”

Tracy Village Jets junior Clayton Jewell, 17, is one of those juniors who was originally weighing up the possibility of heading interstate before the Darwin team was announced.

But now the pathway into NBL1 is apparent at home he has made the decision to stay in the NT to try his luck at getting into his home side.

Darwin is set to have its own NBL1 team North in 2022. Basketball player Claire Maree Hunt, Co-General Manager NBL North Kerry Savidge and 17-year-old Clayton Jewell are all excited for what the team will mean for Darwin. Picture: Julianne Osborne

“It’s a great opportunity for me. I can stay in school here without having to look at opportunities down south,” Jewell said.

“Having something right at home and having the chance to potentially play for the city that I love is great.

“I was originally planning to go down south, looking at other NBL1 teams but this changes that.”

Lightning star Claire Maree Hunt is one Territorian that has already had a taste of professional basketball action having played for the Sunshine Coast in the formally named Queensland Basketball League

“This is the most exciting thing to have happened to Territory basketball in a while,” O’Bryan said.

“It’s just an amazing springboard for Territory juniors looking to play at the next level.

“It’s a great way for them to see what the next level is and also to see the amount of work and effort they need to put in to get to that level.”