The Townsville Heat and Flames have secured the services of Matt Rees, Ethan Betts, Richard Peachey, Aliza Fabbro, Stephanie Reid and Courtney Woods.
Veteran player Rees heads the list of returnees when this season will see him become the most capped player ever in a Heat uniform.
"Matt has been a cornerstone for the Heat for over a decade and it was only fitting to announce him as the first player for the team this season," Townsville Heat General Manager Mark Wrobel said.
"His experience and leadership will be key to the team this year after the retirements of other long-term Heat players Keegan Tudehope and Peter Crawford as we reshape the roster and give some of our up-and-coming players more opportunity."
Betts will be one of those players who will also be called on by the program to step up into a more senior role.
This will be Betts' sixth season for the Heat and one that will see him take on more leadership as well as continuing to control the playmaking duties as the point guard.
"'Bettsy' has improved year after year in the Heat team and we expect further improvement this year," Wrobel said.
"That development and maturity we hope will be reflected both in his play and how he helps lead the team which is a challenge that he is ready to embrace."
Peachey will again line up for the Heat after a great debut season in 2021.
"Richard is primed to grab the opportunity for more minutes this year in his second season in the program," Wrobel said.
"His ability to shoot the three-ball, get out in transition and use his length on the defensive end will be key to our success in 2022."
Reid is in scintillating form for the Townsville Fire in the WNBL and is ready to back up her MVP season for the Flames from 2021.
"It really was a no-brainer for us to get Steph to commit as a top priority for us in 2022," Wrobel said.
"She was our 2021 MVP, is in sensational touch in the WNBL and is now also employed by us helping develop our next generation of juniors reach their goals.
"It will be great for us to see her in blue and gold again during this NBL1 season."
Fabbro will also return for her fourth season in Flames colours after spending another season as a development player with the Townsville Fire.
"Aliza has lofty goals for this season which include putting herself into the position of securing a full roster spot in the WNBL for season 2022/23," Wrobel said.
"Coach Seebohm has spoken to me numerous times about her development and expects her to have a breakout season in NBL1 2022."
Woods will now call Townsville home for the full year and spend her winter in the tropics after being the team MVP for the Northside Wizards in 2021.
"I thought about what my goals were and the main one was to get a lot better so I thought the best place to do that was in Townsville," Woods said.
"Staying here and working out with Shannon every day and also with Steph and the other Fire girls is such a great situation and environment to be in.
"I think it will be great on the court because we already have some built-in chemistry and it is also going to be great off the court, I have developed some really great friendships with some of these girls so I am excited to be able to spend more time with them as well."
Townsville Flames Head Coach Shannon Seebohm was naturally delighted with Woods' decision to stay in Townsville and is looking forward to working with her in the NBL1.
"Courtney is coming off the back of a great NBL1 season last year and I get to see her every day with the Fire as well," he said.
"She's someone that I think really highly off and I think she has a really bright future in our game.
"To add someone like that to stick around here in the offseason and bolster our NBL1 roster is great for us."
View the 2022 NBL1 roster tracker here.
Feature image taken by Clix Pix
