Sunshine Coast Lightning captain Steph Fretwell relates 2025 start to premiership winning years

Sunshine Coast captain Steph Fretwell has likened her side’s on-court performances to the Lightning’s 2017 and 2018 premierships while also reflecting on her 150th Super Netball milestone.

Steph Fretwell of the Lightning (L) and Liz Watson. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images.

Sunshine Coast Lightning captain Steph Fretwell has compared her side’s on court performances, and start to the 2025 season, to the Lightning’s Super Netball premiership-winning runs in 2017 and 2018.

Fretwell, who is in her fourth consecutive year as Lightning captain, will lead the club into battle once again on Saturday when they host the top of the table NSW Swifts.

“The way that we’re playing this season, with the amount of ball that we’re able to win and with how clinical we can be with our attack, it gives us a really great spot this year to take on the Swifts,” she said.

“The thing that I’ve probably found for us this year is sometimes in our attack we’re not the prettiest, but we’re able to keep the ball, which for our first two years when we got those first two premierships, that was a really big part of our game.

Steph Fretwell passes the ball as Jo Weston of the Melbourne Vixens attempts to block. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images.

“Even though it might not be super clinical in terms of going bang, bang, bang to shot, we’re able to keep possession of the ball and against a Swifts team who build a lot of pressure, that will be really important for us this year.”

The Swifts are yet to lose a game this season, with key wins over third-placed West Coast Fever and fourth-placed Adelaide Thunderbirds in the opening rounds.

“I think I’m really proud of our performances so far but the Swifts have set the benchmark this season as they’re unbeaten so far so it would be really good to knock them off on our home turf,” Lightning head coach Belinda Reynolds said.

Head Coach Belinda Reynolds of the Lightning speaks to her players. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

“We’re really confident walking into this match, confident in the form that we’ve been putting out there but also the match-ups that we have against the Swifts.

“Historically we have lined up really well against them and I think it will be a very good match again this week.”

The Lightning were able to stamp a 12-point victory over the Melbourne Vixens last round as rising star Reilley Batcheldor finished 48 from 52 in front of goal, including two super shots.

The round six win was Batcheldor’s first start at goal shooter for the season with Cara Koenen resting on the bench with a slight foot injury.

“We often speak about the depth that we have and you’ve been able to see Reilley last week stand up and shoot a large volume of goals,” Fretwell said.

Reilley Batcheldor of the Sunshine Coast Lightning shoots the ball during the round six Super Netball. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images.

“This season she’s absolutely thriving with the court time that she is getting and even in our defensive end we have the ability to swing Ash (Ervin) on to the court, Kristiana (Manu’a) brings good mongrel and so on so the ability for us to have different options is something we haven't had consistently over a few years.

“Teams have to look at multiple different line-ups instead of thinking that there’s only seven people that are going to be out on that court.”

Those standout player performances have also included Diamonds skipper Liz Watson, who leads the competition in centre pass receives (129) and is second for goal assists (120).

“Liz is very consistent, she’s been consistent pretty much her whole career so needing those players to stand up is great,” Fretwell said.

Liz Watson of the Sunshine Coast Lightning (Right) passes the ball to Steph Fretwell. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

“What I’ve also been really impressed with is that it’s not necessarily our Diamonds that are the ones that are getting the big numbers.

“I think Tara (Hinchliffe) is probably having the best season I’ve seen her play and the numbers that she’s pulling in.

“You want your spine to be executing but it’s also the players around and that are the ones who might not get the limelight but when we go and look at footage they’re doing all the grind and the work.

“To see them getting the rewards like Mahalia (Cassidy) this year who is probably getting more ball than she’s been able to in previous years but they are the players you need in the team if you want to be successful.”

Fretwell, the club’s 2023 and 2024 Players’ Player of the Year, will run out for her 150th Super Netball game in round 7, against the team where she started her glistening career.

Steph Fretwell in action. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images.

“For a period there I didn’t think I’d even get a contract,” Fretwell said.

“To play one National League game is pretty special, but to go on to also represent Australia and then to play 150 games is something that I’ll definitely look back on when I retire and be very proud of.

“I don’t play for milestones or anything like that, but to reach 150 is pretty special and to do it against the team that gave me an opportunity when no one else would.

“It will still be rivals on game day but there’s some players there that I played with and the Swifts do hold a little special place in my heart because they are the team that gave me an opportunity and without them I wouldn’t be here.”