Tasmania’s prospective NBL team will hit the court next in New Zealand’s premier competition

The Southern Huskies are almost certain to have a team on the floor next year but it won’t be in Australia.

The Southern Huskies could be lining up in the New Zealand National Basketball League next year and play home games in both the north and south of Tasmania.

THE Southern Huskies are almost certain to have a team on the floor next year when they become the first organisation from Australia to join the New Zealand NBL.

The Mercury can reveal the Huskies consortium, led by Justin Hickey and business partner Mike Sutton, are deep in negotiations with Basketball New Zealand about featuring in the 2019 season.

It is understood a verbal agreement is in place between the two parties, with a formal announcement expected in the coming weeks once minor details are finalised.

Huskies co-owner Justin Hickey. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

The move would be a huge step forward in the Huskies’ plan to join the Australian NBL in the coming years as the 10th franchise.

Last weekend the NBL’s newest side revealed its branding, with the South East Melbourne Phoenix to hit the court next year.

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The New Zealand NBL currently has eight teams based in Auckland, Christchurch, Invercargill, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Wellington, with the fixture starting in April and running until the end of July.

It is considered a stronger competition than the recently disbanded SEABL, with a number of locals and Australian players earning NBL contracts on the back of strong performances in the league.

The likes of Tom Abercrombie, Alex Pledger, Corey Webster, Dillon Boucher, Tai Wesley and Reuben Te Rangi have all become household names in basketball after winning season and finals MVP awards in the past 15 years.

Tom Abercrombie, of the New Zealand Breakers, charges to the basket in a match against the Brisbane Bullets this month. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

The NZ NBL this year had an 18-game home and away roster. It is believed the Huskies would have eight home games in Tasmania, split evenly between the north and the south.

The Silverdome would host matches in Launceston, while the Derwent Entertainment Centre — owned by the Glenorchy City Council, which recently rejected an offer from Hickey’s HydraPlay consortium to purchase the venue — would be the logical choice in the south. However it is unsure how an arrangement would work given the bitter end to negotiations between the two parties.

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To reduce travel costs it is likely the Huskies would play double headers in New Zealand.

The move is also likely to have a considerable impact on the Hobart Chargers, both on and off the floor.

Chargers coach Anthony Stewart, who guided the club to the SEABL championship, has openly declared his ambitions to coach at a higher level and would be a front runner to take the reins, while star trio Craig Moller, Tre Nichols and Mathiang Muo would all likely favour signing with the Huskies rather than playing in the newly formed Victorian Elite league with Hobart.

When contacted by the Mercury, chief executive of Basketball New Zealand Iain Potter declined to comment other than to say the league was in discussions with another team, while Hickey is overseas and unavailable.