New Zealand Breakers prepares to leave Melbourne

The NBL’s South East Melbourne clubs Phoenix and New Zealand Breakers will temporarily relocate to Hobart on Friday following a new Covid-19 outbreak in Victoria.

The Breakers had moved to Victoria in preparation for the season, but they, along with the Phoenix, will now relocate to Hobart to ensure they don’t get stranded.

Melbourne United are in Cairns ahead of two preseason games against the Taipans.

The Sydney Kings and Hawks recently moved to the border town of Albury in New South Wales, but they too will be relocated due to the worsening situation.

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The NBL has yet to announce where those two teams will relocate.

The Kings will play the Perth Wildcats in a grand final rematch in Perth on January 15.

But with WA closing its borders to both NSW and Victoria, that game will almost certainly be rescheduled, along with many others.

“Given the current situation in Melbourne, we have decided that it is prudent for both clubs [Phoenix and Breakers] to relocate to Hobart and they will be accommodated and trained there under strict Covid protocols, “said NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger:

“This will give us time to evaluate and work on the next necessary steps as we prepare for the upcoming NBL season.

“We hope that the current restrictions and the resulting border closures will be eased as quickly as possible, but we will have to be flexible in our approach and continue to be guided by the advice of the relevant state health authorities.”

The NBL had planned to host a center in Melbourne from February 20 for a 36-game blitz for a month, but that is now in jeopardy.