NBL1 East, formerly the Waratah League, is a semi-professional basketball league in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, comprising both a men's and women's competition. In 2021, Basketball New South Wales partnered with the National Basketball League (NBL) to bring NBL1 to New South Wales in 2022. NBL1 replaced the former Waratah League to create more professional pathways and opportunities for males and females playing basketball in New South Wales. As a result, the Waratah League became the east conference of NBL1. The league was previously a member of the Australian Basketball Association (ABA) from 2001 to 2008.

NBL1 East
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024 NBL1 season
FormerlyPremier Division
1991–2000
Waratah League
2001–2021
SportBasketball
Founded1991
First season1991
No. of teamsM: 16
W: 16
CountryAustralia
ContinentFIBA Oceania (Oceania)
Most recent
champion(s)
M: Maitland Mustangs (1st title)
W: Newcastle Falcons (4th title)
Most titlesM: Sydney Comets (5 titles)
W: Bankstown Bruins (10 titles)
Official websiteNBL1.com.au/East

History

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In 1991, the New South Wales Premier Division was established.[1] In 2001, the league was rebranded as Waratah League[1] when the league entered the Australian Basketball Association (ABA).[2]

In 2021, Basketball New South Wales and the National Basketball League (NBL) announced a new partnership to bring NBL1 to New South Wales in 2022, with NBL1 replacing the Waratah League. The Waratah League was officially renamed NBL1 East and became the east conference of NBL1.[3][4]

Current clubs

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Club City State Arena Joined NBL1 NBL1 National Championships Most recent
Albury Wodonga Bandits** Albury   New South Wales Lauren Jackson Sports Centre 2019 0 N/A
BA Centre of Excellence** Canberra   Australian Capital Territory Australian Institute of Sport 2019 0 N/A
Bankstown Bruins* Sydney   New South Wales Bankstown Basketball Stadium 2022 0 N/A
Canberra Gunners/Canberra Nationals* Canberra   Australian Capital Territory Belconnen Stadium 2022 0 N/A
Central Coast Crusaders* Central Coast   New South Wales Breakers Indoor Sports Stadium 2022 0 N/A
Hills Hornets* Sydney   New South Wales Hills Sports Stadium 2022 0 N/A
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Spiders Sydney   New South Wales Barker College
Thornleigh Brickpit Basketball Sports Stadium
2023 0 N/A
Illawarra Hawks* Wollongong   New South Wales Snakepit Stadium 2022 0 N/A
Inner West Bulls* Sydney   New South Wales ELS Hall Park 2022 0 N/A
Maitland Mustangs* Maitland   New South Wales Maitland Federation Centre 2022 0 N/A
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles* Sydney   New South Wales Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre 2022 0 N/A
Newcastle Falcons* Newcastle   New South Wales Newcastle Basketball Stadium 2022 0 N/A
Norths Bears* Sydney   New South Wales North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre 2022 0 N/A
Penrith Panthers Sydney   New South Wales Penrith Valley Indoor Sports Centre 2023 0 N/A
Sutherland Sharks* Sydney   New South Wales Sutherland Basketball Stadium 2022 0 N/A
Sydney Comets Sydney   New South Wales Comets Stadium 2023 0 N/A

* Teams that transferred from the Waratah League.
** Teams that transferred from other NBL1 conference.

List of Champions

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Men Women
Teams   Year(s) won Teams   Year(s) won
Sydney Comets 5 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2015 Bankstown Bruins 10 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2015
Bankstown Bruins 4 1993, 1996, 1997, 2016 Newcastle Hunters/Falcons 4 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024
Illawarra Hawks 4 1998, 1999, 2001, 2011 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 3 1991, 1992, 2017
Sutherland Sharks 4 2006, 2007, 2008, 2023 Sutherland Sharks 3 1993, 1995, 2021
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 4 2010, 2013, 2020, 2021 ACT Academy 3 2000, 2001, 2002
Norths Bears 3 2012, 2014, 2017 Hornsby Spiders 3 2007, 2009, 2014
Parramatta Wildcats 2 1994, 2009 Norths Bears 3 2018, 2020, 2023
Newcastle Hunters 2 2000, 2018 Wagga Wolves 1 1994
Goulburn Bears 1 1991 Parramatta Wildcats 1 1996
Sydney Sonics 1 1992 Sydney Comets 1 2008
ACT 1 1995 Canberra Nationals 1 2011
Central Coast Crusaders 1 2019 Illawarra Hawks 1 2013
BA Centre of Excellence 1 2021 Albury Wodonga Bandits 1 2022
Canberra Gunners 1 2022
Maitland Mustangs 1 2024

References

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  1. ^ a b "History". Waratah Basketball League. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Annual Report 2001" (PDF). Basketball Australia. p. 25 (27). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2012.
  3. ^ "NBL1 East to tip off in 2022". NBL1.com.au. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  4. ^ "NBL1 East teams unveiled". NBL1.com.au. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
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