Sunshine Coast Lightning eager for 2025 Super Netball campaign

Sunshine Coast Lightning head coach Belinda Reynolds says her side needs to lose its ‘nice guy’ reputation and step up in physicality to have any chance of matching the Super Netball best in 2025.

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

The Sunshine Coast Lightning have returned to the court in preparation of the 2025 Super Netball Season with a key focus on becoming a physical force at both ends of the court.

The Lightning scraped into fourth spot last season before ending their campaign with a semi-final loss to the West Coast Fever.

Lightning head coach Belinda Reynolds, who will enter her third straight season at the helm, is eager for her side to improve on their regular season results.

“We’ve always been that nice team and we haven’t had that level of physicality so we’ve focused on being more defensively physical, being in the contest more and finishing off those pressure sets,” she said.

“Sometimes training at the moment isn’t always pretty but that’s what it’s for to help get our conversion levels right up there.”

Mahalia Cassidy, Cara Koenen, Liz Watson of the Lightning react after their 2024 semi final loss. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images.

In a competition of just 14 rounds, where every result weighs on regular season placings, six of the Lightning’s eight defeats in 2024 were by four points or less.

It’s a statistic Reynolds and her side want to see flipped in the ‘wins’ column.

“We had so many losses within five goals last season so we are focused on those finishes,” she said.

“We’ve had a bit of extra physicality in training this year with the bags out and using our male training partners.

“We’re really upping the environment to create those pressure sets and help us finish off games.”

Midcourter Leesa Mi Mi, who is recovering from a foot injury, echoed Reynold’s statements.

“Like Belinda said, we are known as a nice team but we want to bring more flair and physicality to our game play,” she said.

Leesa Mi Mi of the Lightning passes the ball down the court. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images.

“You look at the Thunderbirds and the Vixens, they are so hard one-on-one, they’re in your face and physical.

“We still have some rookies that are getting used to the gameplay of SSN but hopefully this season we can step up to those big leagues and make teams a bit more worried.”

A Brisbane product who debuted for rival Queensland club the Firebirds in 2023, Mi Mi enters her second season in the purple and gold dress.

Australian Diamonds squad members Kara Coenen, Liz Watson, Courtney Bruce and Ashleigh Ervin will rejoin the Lightning this week as their attention turns to a pre-season clash against the NSW Swifts at home on February 28, followed by the annual Suncorp Spirit Cup on the Gold Coast and Team Girls Cup tournament recently announced to be in Adelaide.