In 2018, the league welcomed back the Manawatu Jets after a two-season hiatus.
The regular season commenced on Thursday 26 April in Napier with the Hawke's Bay Hawks hosting the Southland Sharks at Pettigrew Green Arena.
[1] The season contained 14 weeks of regular season games followed by a Final Four weekend in August.
The competition included a one-week international break, from 25 June to 1 July, and started later than normal due to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
[2] Stats as of the end of the regular season[16]