Must-Watch games for 2023 NBL1 West season

With the start of the 2023 NBL1 West 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 West season. 

Women 

June 2, Round 10: Joondalup Wolves vs Perry Lakes Hawks

The Wolves tore through the NBL1 West regular season last year with a 16-game win streak to start the season. However,  their momentum fell short during the Preliminary Final to the Willetton Tigers. 

The Wolves have re-signed their star imports Teige Morrell and Robbi Ryan, while also retaining the NBL1 West Youth Player of the Year Nes’eya Parker-Williams. 

They will go up against Perry Lake Hawks star Emma Clarke, who declared there is “unfinished business” from last season.

"[There is] definitely some unfinished business from last season," said Clarke, after scoring 26 points and losing to the Cockburn Cougars in the first round of the NBL1 West Finals.

This will be a fiery match-up and a must-watch! Tune in from 6:30 pm AWST live via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here.

May 27, Round 9: Willetton Tigers vs Warwick Senators 

Alex Sharp’s Willetton Tigers will host the reigning NBL1 West Champions and inaugural Coles Express NBL1 National Title champions the Warwick Senators in what will be a fantastic Saturday night match-up. 

The Senators have brought back the conference MVP Stacey Barr and their head coach Jonelle Morley could not be more excited about her 2023 season. 

“So players like Stacey, who has dominated over here for such an extended period. She was in the best form she has pretty much been in her life (last season),” she said.

“We all know she's a scoring threat and she's become a leader on the court, a defensive stopper, you know, she was our second highest rebounder for the team. 

“I wouldn't be surprised if she does make a comeback in the WNBL over the next couple of years, I think teams will be crazy not to have a look at her and pick her up.” 

This re-match will be a test of Sharp and Desiree Kelley’s Tigers, tune from 5:00 pm AWST via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here. 

Men

May 6, Round 6: Cockburn Cougars vs Joondalup Wolves 

The Joondalup Wolves have formed a superstar trio. While they re-signing NBL1 West All-Star member CJ Turnage and 20-points-per-game scorer Jonathan Wade – they have also signed Geraldton Buccaneers star Mathiang Muo, who averaged 23 points last season. 

They will go up against the Cockburn Cougars, who have brought in collegiate stars Taj Benning and Courtney Alexander II this season. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NBL1 (@nbl1)

It will be a test of talent vs experience -- while the Wolves are extremely talented, they have plenty of experience in the NBL1 West. While the Cougars’ core has added too hyper-athletic wings to the squad to up their ceiling. 

Who will win? Find out live at 7:30pm AWST on NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here.

May 20, Round 8: Geraldton Buccaneers vs Rockingham Flames 

The runners-up from last season have added Sydney Kings’ development player Isaac Gattorna and retained most of their title-contending core. 

"I’ve always seen the club as competitive and one of the top sides in the NBL1 West competition,” Gattorna said. 

"Outside of the club's track record and professionalism, I wanted to move somewhere with little distraction for myself to work on and develop my game for the next level and Geraldton has the facilities for that."

They will face the NBL1 West champions and inaugural Coles Express NBL1 National Title champions the Rockingham Flames. They have retained almost their entire team, including team captain Ryan Godfrey, conference MVP Devondrick Walker and Marshall Nelson. 

There should be the same bad blood and it should be a cracking re-match, streaming live from 7:00 pm AWST via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here. 

Conference Expert Picks

NBL1 West expert and 2022 Commentator of The Year Ben Pether gave his must-watch picks for the season. 

Round 1, March 31: Rockingham Flames vs Willetton Tigers

Opening night the Willetton Tigers host the NBL1 National Champs Rockingham Flames led by their stars Walker and Nelson. 

What a game to open the season. The Tigers finished 2022 with their tail between their legs not making the playoffs which was disappointing for such a proud club. 

Coach Nener has gone back to the drawing board and made some big changes to his roster and coaching staff. They have added 6'11 big man Gorjok Gak from the Brisbane Bullets to lead the local talent of Scott, Clarke and Vigor. Nener has all added some familiar local faces to his coaching staff in Ben Tautulli and Craig Friday. 

The matchup of League MVP Devondrick Walker and Gorjok Gak will be one to watch. Both human highlight reels who will be regulars on the top 10 NBL1 West plays this season.

Catch this game live and free on Kayo Freebies. The defending champs to get the win on the road in OT.

Round 1, April 1: Joondulap Wolves vs Rockingham Flames

The Minor premiers of 2022 the Joondalup Wolves begin their 2023 campaign on the road at Mike Barnett Sports Complex facing the Rockingham Flames coming off their back-to-back against the Tigers.

Is 2023 the year for the Joondalup Wolves? 2021 they lost the Grand Final and after finishing top in 2022 fell short of making the Grand Final. The return of Coach Wong who in the off-season has been a lead assistant for WNBL champions Townsville Fire along with his star power of Robbi Ryan, Teige Morrell and Neseya Parker-Williams. I'm excited to see Isabelle Miotti return to the court after an ACL injury. 

Turning our attention to the host, the Rockingham Flames' consistency will be the focus for 2023 after last season where in patches showed they could match it with anyone in the league making the second round of the playoffs. Led by the likes of Tayah Burrows, Mehryn Kraker, Christina Boag and some local talent that can provide productive minutes this season. They have added Opal Mader and Marissa Pangalos who both played in the league last year. To the coaching staff, coach Knowles has added NBL Championship Head Coach Rob Beveridge to his bench as a lead assistant who is also overseeing high performance at the club right now. 

Two teams, with plenty of big names for both sides, Saturday night's game will be a blockbuster at "The Hot House!". With the men unveiling their championship banner a little later in the air, I think there will be a buzz in the air and the Flames get over the line in a tight one.