Tornadoes star launches tirade at Thunder as battle for NBL1 licence intensifies
Launceston Tornadoes and Australian Opals star Keely Froling has launched a social media spray at North West Thunder, accusing the club of “bully behaviour” as the battle for north Tasmania’s sole NBL1 licence intensifies. Get the latest here.
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Launceston Tornadoes captain Keely Froling has launced a scathing tirade at North-West Thunder, accusing the fellow NBL1 South club of “bully behaviour” as the battle for a sole future licence intensifies.
Basketball Victoria has reaffirmed the league’s men’s and women’s licences in the state’s north must be held by a single club after this season, with the Thunder and Tornadoes currently the only stand-alone men’s and women’s teams.
The Tornadoes released a statement on Saturday confirming the Thunder had declined to work with them on a combined licence, and the two clubs will go head to head for it in coming weeks.
Froling, an Australian Opals representative and long-time Tornadoes player, didn’t mince words expressing her disappointment via social media on Sunday.
“Could not be more disappointed in the Thunder not being willing to cooperate and work together with this incredible club,” she wrote on Instagram.
“(It’s) bully behaviour from the men who ‘don’t want to drive to Launceston’. This club has been around for over 30 years and they’re OK with losing that.
“I’d like to know what and how they expect to pay a women’s team, given they’ve had an unsuccessful men’s team for the last few years. Sick of women being second best to men who don’t want to cooperate and think they know everything.”
Froling launched a battle cry to Tornado fans to show up to their final home game of the season this Saturday, where they will celebrate their 1995 CBA national championship-winning team.
“Our last home game is next weekend. We need your support Launceston, let’s make sure it’s not the last ever!!”
Tasmanian member for Bass Janie Finlay also threw her public support behind the Tornadoes’ quest for survival.
“I stand firmly with the Torns,” she wrote on Facebook.
“I call on Basketball Tasmania to stand up for the broader basketball community and require a single application be submitted from our state (north) that acknowledges and respects the role both the Launceston Tornadoes and North West Thunder have and continue to playing in advancing basketball in our state.
“There is no way our Tornadoes can be sidelined in this process. Once a Torn, always a Torn.”
Earlier: Tornadoes express dismay after confirming battle with Thunder for NBL1 licences
The Launceston Tornadoes have expressed disappointment they will be forced to compete with North West Thunder for northern Tasmania’s NBL1 men’s and women’s licences, adamant joining forces is the best answer.
The Tornadoes released a statement on Saturday saying they “wholeheartedly disagree with the Thunder’s position” and confirmed they would go head-to-head with the Thunder for the licences
The statement said “the Thunder have made it clear they do not believe it is financially or operationally viable to run a dual program across both Launceston and the North West, despite not engaging in any material discussions with us to explore potential ways to make it work.”
The Tornadoes and Thunder are the only clubs in the league with stand-alone female and male teams respectively.
They were given an exemption by Basketball Victoria to run as separate entities when the league began in 2018, but were advised that would cease after 2025.
In April this year, Basketball Victoria released a statement reaffirming that “when renewing a two year license to all NBL1 South club for the 2023-24 seasons (Thunder, Tornadoes considered one club), both organisations were notified that by the end of 2025, there would be one licence in northern Tasmania from the same organisation required to enter both a men’s and women’s team.
Basketball Victoria also stated they have “encouraged the two organisations to work together under one license to represent the broader northern Tasmania region in NBL1 South, rather than losing one or the other.”
However the clubs are set to go head-to-head for the men’s and women’s licenses, with submissions due on July 18 and a decision by Basketball Victoria set for August 6.
“Despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach a shared vision with the Thunder,” the Tornadoes’ statement said.
“The Thunder have made it clear that they do not believe it is financially or operationally viable to run a dual program across both Launceston and the North West, despite not engaging in any material discussions with us to explore potential ways to make it work.
“Their board has said they will be making their own application for the licence to run both a men’s and women’s team out of the North West.
“Our club now has no choice but to submit a licence application to Basketball Victoria to operate our own men’s and women’s program.
“We intend to submit an application that pays tribute to the histories and legacies of each existing club, delivered across the North and North-West.”
In April, Tornadoes chair Lauren Faulkner told this masthead she hoped both clubs could find a solution where they could maintain their current identities.
“We want basketball at that level to continue to have a genuine presence in all three regions across the state. That has been our preferred position from the start and we’re not moving away from that,” Faulkner said.
“If we realise it’s not going to be plausible because of the positions of the relevant parties involved, then we might have to change tune, but that’s what we’ll be pushing for.
“We think that is achievable because both clubs could theoretically continue to operate with their current branding, maintain their separate identities and share the hosting of games.
“We feel that approach makes the most sense. We think it’s the best outcome for the state but there are hurdles, it needs a framework and structure in place.
“The ultimate decision will be left in the hands of Basketball Victoria, because they’re the administrator of the league.”
However, Thunder chair James Leslie said in April he doesn’t believe two clubs sharing home games is a viable option long term.
“We currently have that (some double headers) model in play, and it’s far from ideal,” Leslie said.
“From what you can offer sponsors, to game day ticket income and the extra costs associated with the travel up and down the highway, it’s extremely difficult for both clubs.
“Having two clubs sharing 11 games just doesn’t work in it’s entirety, and the lost revenue at both ends isn’t a long term option.
“The NBL1 have openly said that they wanted two licences in the state that housed a men’s and women’s program under the same roof, so this time was always coming.”
The Tornadoes are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their 1995 CBA national championship next week. Their captain Liz Dixon said on Wednesday she would back the club’s fight to keep its identity.
“Preserving that integrity is so important,” Dixon said.
“Over 30 years on we’re still the only stand-alone women’s team, and we don’t want to lose that at all.
“I’ll be out there fighting tooth and nail for that to be preserved. That’s part of our legacy, and we want that to keep going.”
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