Adelaide Thunderbirds on verge of signing replacement for England international Beth Cobden
Adelaide Thunderbirds were forced to find a replacement for injured English star Beth Cobden and the club is close to securing a new player.
Thunderbirds
Don't miss out on the headlines from Thunderbirds. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Adelaide Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst is on the verge of confirming a replacement for injured England star Beth Cobden.
The Thunderbirds are extremely optimistic a deal will be finalised this weekend and the player be available to face Giants Netball in Sydney on June 2.
Cobden has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing her ACL in the second quarter of the loss to Melbourne Vixens in round three. The wing defence specialist will also miss the World Cup in England in July.
Trainer partner Maisie Nankivell was summoned into the side beaten by Collingwood in Melbourne last week and the youngster has been retained for the must-win game against Queensland Firebirds in Mile End on Sunday.
Nankivell was introduced into the contest at wing defence at quarter-time and held her spot for the final three quarters.
“Maisie did a good job coming on in a hostile environment against a current Diamond (Kelsey Browne) on an interstate court,” Obst said.
The Thunderbirds are coming off a lack-lustre performance against the Magpies, losing by 18 goals for a third successive loss.
Obst said the players took the defeat personally and are desperate to make amends for a performance they were far from happy with.
“We did not put out a performance we want to be known for as a team,” she said. “In the first three rounds we were quite competitive and there have been moments.
“But the decision making errors we made last Friday night is not the way we want to play. We have had a lot of work on the gameplan, as well as video analysis, this week and we are ready to go for Sunday.”
The Thunderbirds’ bid for their second victory this season has been aided by the absence of Firebirds’ gun shooter Romelda Aiken because of injury.
Analysis: The 10 primed candidates for Vixens’ top job
There are just eight head coach jobs in Super Netball and with Simone McKinnis leaving the Melbourne Vixens, Code Sports identifies 10 potential candidates for the prized job.
Swifts’ shooting spree tops TOTW: Cast your vote!
Round six saw a spectacular battle of the goal shooters, with fans treated to career bests and high class scoring. But only one shooter could make Code Sports’ Team of the Week. Have your say.