NBL1 North, formerly the Queensland Basketball League (QBL), is a semi-professional basketball league in Queensland, Australia, comprising both a men's and women's competition. In 2020, Basketball Queensland partnered with the National Basketball League (NBL) to bring NBL1 to Queensland. NBL1 replaced the former QBL to create more professional pathways and opportunities for men and women playing basketball in Queensland. As a result, the QBL became the north conference of NBL1.
In 2022, the league expanded into the Northern Territory with the addition of a club from Darwin.
History The league was formed in 1986 as the State Basketball League with eight inaugural clubs. In 1994, the Queensland league joined the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) to become the competition's North Conference. The CBA was restructured as the Australian Basketball Association (ABA) in 1999.
In 2002, the league became known as the Queensland Australian Basketball League (QABL). Around this time, the QABL set up a division system to separate the north and south teams within the state: the Sunstate (North Queensland) and Southern Cross (South Queensland) divisions. Following the 2006 season, the QABL restructured the competition, which saw the two divisions combining to have a statewide league of only one division for the 2007 season. The ABA was abandoned following the 2008 season, resulting in the QABL becoming an independent league again. The QABL was rebranded as the QBL for the 2009 season.
In October 2019, Basketball Queensland and the National Basketball League (NBL) announced a new partnership to bring NBL1 to Queensland in 2020, with NBL1 replacing the QBL. On 15 January 2020, the QBL was officially renamed NBL1 North and became the north conference of NBL1. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was cancelled.
For the 2022 season, the NBL1 North had a club from Darwin – the Darwin Salties – represented for the first time under the joint management of Darwin Basketball Association (DBA) and Basketball Northern Territory (BNT). It saw the NBL1 become the first Australian sport league to have clubs based in and playing out of every state and territory in Australia. Following the 2024 season, the Salties withdrew from the NBL1 North after three seasons due to financial difficulties.
Current clubs ClubCityStateArenaJoined NBL1 NorthBrisbane CapitalsBrisbane QueenslandAuchenflower Stadium2020Cairns Dolphins/Cairns MarlinsCairns QueenslandTrinity Ford Stadium2020Gold Coast RollersGold Coast QueenslandCarrara Indoor Stadium2020Ipswich ForceIpswich QueenslandIpswich Basketball Stadium2020Logan ThunderLogan QueenslandCornubia Park Sports Centre2020Mackay Meteorettes/Mackay MeteorsMackay QueenslandMackay Basketball Stadium2020North Gold Coast SeahawksGold Coast QueenslandRunaway Bay Indoor Stadium2022Northside WizardsBrisbane QueenslandNorthside Indoor Sports Centre2021Rockhampton Cyclones/Rockhampton RocketsRockhampton QueenslandBravus Arena2020South West Metro PiratesBrisbane QueenslandHibiscus Stadium2020Southern Districts SpartansBrisbane QueenslandRowland Cowan Stadium2020Sunshine Coast PhoenixSunshine Coast QueenslandMaroochydore Stadium2020Townsville Flames/Townsville HeatTownsville QueenslandCarmichael Ford Stadium2020
List of Champions
TeamTotal TitlesMen'sWomen'sNotesTitlesWinning seasonsTitlesWinning seasonsBrisbane Spartans/Southern Districts Spartans1861992, 1995, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2025121995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2017, 2018, 2019Brisbane Brewers/Brisbane Capitals1022002, 201981986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2001, 2002Won the women's inaugural title in 1986.Cairns Dolphins/Cairns Marlins1091993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2009, 201611994Townsville Flames/Townsville Heat/Townsville Sunbirds/Townsville Suns1051986, 1989, 2000, 2017, 201851993, 1997, 2007, 2008, 2022Won the men's inaugural title in 1986.Mackay Meteorettes/Mackay Meteors1052011, 2012, 2015, 2021, 202451987, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2026Rockhampton Cyclones/Rockhampton Rockets851996, 2008, 2010, 2013, 201432015, 2016, 2024Gold Coast Cougars/Gold Coast Rollers441987, 1988, 2022, 20260Gladstone Port City Power3032009, 2010, 2011Toowoomba Mountaineers221990, 19910Logan Thunder2022021, 2025South West Metro Pirates1120030Northside Wizards1012023Ipswich Force1120230
References
External links
QBL Champions 1986–2009 QBL Award Winners 2001–2009 2018 QBL Season Review – ladders and recap, men and women 2018 QBL Game Previews – Grand Finals 2018 QBL Award Winners