Must-Watch games for 2023 NBL1 North season

With the start of the 2023 NBL1 North around the corner, let’s look at some of the must-watch games!

Get a pen or open your digital calendar to mark these key games down for the 2023 North season.

Women 

March 25, Round 1: Brisbane Capitals vs Northside Wizards 

Starting with an NBL1 North Finals rematch, the Brisbane Capitals will host the new-look Northside Wizards. 

After the Capitals dominated the Wizards in the first round 81-66, the Capitals then fell short to the Logan Thunder in the second round. 

However, Round 1 will be different this season as the Wizards have significantly retooled. While they retained NBL1 North MVP Tiana Mangakahia, they have also added NBL1 North champion Courtney Woods and two Coles Express NBL1 National Finalists in Nadeen Payne and Lil Dart.  

The @Nbl1North tips off Friday night! ?

The absolutely must-watch game this weekend will be two #NBL1North All-Star Five members in a Finals rematch ??

Check out all the must-watch games this season here: https://t.co/qpJEGp1VYv pic.twitter.com/5RBdfQ2leD

— NBL1 (@NBL1) March 21, 2023

The Capitals have secured their core alongside NBL1 North All-Star Five member Abby Cubillo, so this Round 1 match-up should be fiery. 

Watch the game from 5:00pm AEST via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.

April 23, Round 4: Logan Thunder vs Townsville Flames 

The NBL1 North women’s Grand Finals series was a fantastic match-up of stories, the defeated Thunder came into the series against the Flames who added Opal Alanna Smith midseason for the title run. 

The Flames handily took care of the Thunder in two games but the Flames come into this season with a new coach, Alanna Smith headed back to the WNBA and the aforementioned Courtney Woods.

However, Steph Reid only continues to get better. Currently having a career WNBL season and leading the Townville Fire into game two of the WNBL Grand Final Series tomorrow night. 

The Thunder have maintained their core, re-signing NBL1 North All-Star Five member Mikeula Ruef, Mikhaela Cann and Chev Paalvast to name a few. 

Watch the game from 1:00pm AEST via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here.

Men

April 16, Round 3: Ipswich Force vs South West Metro Pirates 

The Ipswich Force will be one of the must-watch teams this NBL1 North season, with Boomers star Nathan Sobey and the Galloway brothers, the Force will likely rampage through the conference. 

In Round three they will face the South West Metro Pirates, who have a strange concoction of high-risk high-reward talent. 

It all starts with the high school phenomenon Roman Siulepa. Projected as a top prospect in Australia, the 16-year-old will be a must-watch player this season to see if he can compete and develop against NBL talent and veterans of the NBL1 North. 

The other wildcard is Archie Smith, the former Brisbane Lions will return to his junior sport of basketball. 

“I'm a basketball fanatic and have been my entire life. And now I'm looking forward to putting it into action,” Smith told NBL1 Media. 

The safer bets for the Pirates on being key pieces to a Finals run will be Brendan Teys and NBL1 North champion Lamar Patterson. Will the Pirates’ potential create an unstoppable mix of talent? Or will Ipswich's NBL stars overwhelm them? 

Watch the game from 3:00pm AEST via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here. 

June 3, Round 10: USC Rip City vs Gold Coast Rollers

The NBL1 North men’s Grand Final rematch will have some spiciness to it. The Rollers fans came out in force after the NBL1 North MVP talked the talk throughout the Finals. 

The Rollers may have lost Patterson and DJ Mitchell (Northside Wizards) but they have retained Finals MVP Jason Cadee and Tanner Krebs. 

Watch the game from 7:30pm AEST Live & Free on Kayo Freebies here. 

Conference Expert Picks

NBL1 North expert Jon Guarna gave his picks for some must-watch games this season.

April 23, Round 4: (women’s) Logan Thunder vs Townsville Flames 

Who doesn't love a Grand Finals rematch? After rolling through the regular season, and Finals, undefeated, Logan was swept in the Grand Finals series as the Flames lifted the NBL1 North championship trophy.

You think the Thunder would like to get some revenge? I'm betting that they wouldn't mind a little bit of payback in this one.

But outside of the revenge factor, how about Mikaela Ruef going up against her WNBL teammate Steph Reid? Speaking of Reid, how about her matchup with former NBL1 North Grand Finals MVP Mikaela Cann? Did I mention Kate Gaze will be back in Queensland, this time suiting up for Townsville against her former team in Logan?

Neither club has announced their full squads yet, but I imagine there will be some familiar faces returning for both teams which will only add to the spice in this matchup! 

Saturday 24, Round 13: (men's) Darwin Salties vs Northside Wizards.

I'm calling this now, and it's not that bold of a statement; the Darwin Salties have the best home-court advantage in all of the NBL1 competitions!

Why do I mention this now, when I am talking about my most anticipated games? Because I think this matchup between the Wizards and Salties could go a long way towards deciding who has home-court advantage throughout the NBL1 North Finals.

Darwin was successful in making Finals in their inaugural NBL1 North season, but there was some disappointment amongst the Salties when they were unable to secure a home Final. They've gone out and done some excellent recruitment bringing in Tasmania JackJumper revelation Sean MacDonald along with former Mackay Meteor Viliami Foketi to complement the returning Makuach Maluach, Jerron Jamerson and Nathan Jawai. This team is full of talent and championship-winning experience.

Northside has a new coach and also brought in some new faces after sneaking into the Finals last season. Coach Jamie Petty tapped into the Brisbane Bullets to bring in DJ Mitchell, Andrew White III, and a returning Lual Diing, as well as heading out west to bring Kyle Zunic back to NBL1 North from the Perth Wildcats. That is a very strong foursome, and if the Wizards can build a strong bench to support them, they should be right up there as one of the top teams in the comp.

The NBL1 North season starts Friday on March 24, see the full fixture here.