Basketball: Trans-Tasman Throwdown series launched with game in Hamilton

Tall Black guard Taylor Britt (left) with Tall Fern guard Bailey Flavell, at the Trans-Tasman Throwdown series launch in Hamilton. Photo / Malisha Kumar

After several years without a match, the Tall Blacks will go head-to-head with the Australian Boomers again in a new competition.

The three-match Trans-Tasman Throwdown series will take place in May, with games in Adelaide, Sunshine Coast and Hamilton, where the 2degrees Tall Ferns will take on the Opals as well, Basketball New Zealand announced this week.

Talking to the Waikato Herald at the announcement in Hamilton, Tall Ferns assistant coach Leanne Walker said she was looking forward to being back in her hometown Hamilton and seeing the team play on New Zealand soil again.

“I think the last time New Zealand played an international game here was back in 2003 ... so to come back to Kirikiriroa and play against our arch-rivals is massive.

“Just this opportunity to play and have our team again exposed to a quality calibre international team ... we don’t get enough of these opportunities so whenever it does come around it’s huge for us.”

Former Tall Black and current head coach Judd Flavell, with his Tall Ferns daughter Bailey. Photo / Malisha Kumar

Tall Black head coach Judd Flavell, a former player, said he expected the series to provide “great competition” as both countries were “proud of their sporting”.

Flavell said he previously “had the privilege” of playing against Australia in 2015.

“We’ve had some fierce battles over the years ... but now ... to lead the Tall Blacks into this, is exciting. We’re getting the opportunity to relive and re-establish that rivalry between New Zealand and Australia.”

To Flavell, it was an extra special announcement, as his daughter Bailey will play in the Trans-Tasman series as a Tall Fern.

Bailey said it would be an “awesome experience” and it would be great to return to New Zealand soil as the Tall Ferns haven’t had a home game since 2019.

Basketball New Zealand chief executive Dillon Boucher said the rivalry between Australia and New Zealand was “unmatched” and the three games promised to be “action-packed”.

“Hosting the New Zealand teams at home, in front of a home crowd is huge for us.

“The Tall Blacks have not played Australia in Aotearoa for nearly 10 years, and the 2dgrees Tall Ferns have not played at home for over five. We cannot wait to host Australia in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton.”

The first game of the Trans-Tasman Throwdown series is in Adelaide on May 7, followed by a match on Sunshine Coast in Queensland on May 9, before concluding in Hamilton at the Globox Arena in Claudelands, on May 11.

Tickets are available online via Ticketek.

Malisha Kumar is a multimedia journalist based in Hamilton. She joined the Waikato Herald in 2023 after working for Radio 1XX in Whakatāne.