Northern Tasmania has a new basketball identity – and a new name to cheer for.
The Northern Force will take the court in March as the region’s sole NBL1 South representative, following months of boardroom battles over who would hold the licence.
The Northern Tasmania Basketball Club launched its brand on Tuesday, revealing the Force name, logo and team colours ahead of their season opener on March 27.
“This is an exciting time for basketball in our end of the state,” NTBC chairman Craig Gibson said.
“We are representing the whole basketball-loving region from Smithton to St Helens and we recognise the tradition of the Northwest Thunder and the Launceston Tornadoes.”
The Force replaces the shared licence arrangement between the Thunder and Tornadoes, which operated from 2020 until the end of last season.
Basketball Victoria mandated that a single entity field both men’s and women’s teams from 2026, triggering a tense bidding process.
Basketball Tasmania awarded the licence to a Tornadoes-backed entity in September, leaving the Thunder’s bid unsuccessful.
The Thunder board criticised the process as ‘questionable’ and accused Basketball Tasmania of pursuing a predetermined merger agenda.
The new club will split home games between Ulverstone Basketball Stadium and Elphin Stadium in Launceston.
Zoe Mesman has been appointed women’s coach after her debut season with the Tornadoes, while New Zealander Jayden Smith will lead the men’s program.
“I’m really excited to see the club get up and going and the energy in our team is fantastic,” Mesman said.
“We have a lot of work to do before opening night and we are giving it our all.”
Sport Minister Nick Duigan backed the new venture, pointing to the Tasmania JackJumpers’ NBL success as proof of the sport’s growth.
“We expect the Force to have a similar impact on basketball and I know people in the north and north-west will embrace them,” he said.
The Force open against Frankston in Ulverstone before hosting Nunawading at Elphin the following night.
Founding membership details will be announced in coming days.
