Former SEQ Stars players Rachel Jarry and Erin Phillips key to Australian Opals’ Rio hopes

A WELL-RESPECTED southeast Queensland coach believes former SEQ Stars players Rachel Jarry and Erin Phillips will play a key role in the Australian Opals’ Olympic medal hopes.

Rachel Jarry of the SEQ Stars during a 2015-16 WNBL match between the Stars and the Adelaide Lightning. Picture: DARREN ENGLAND

FORMER SEQ Stars WNBL coach Megan Thompson believes ex-contracted players Rachel Jarry and Erin Phillips will play major roles in the Australian Opals’ charge for gold in Rio.

Thompson replaced four-time Olympian Shane Heal as coach of the now defunct Logan-based Stars midway through their only season in 2015-16.

Jarry captained the side, while Phillips was hailed as the marquee recruit for the franchise but never played a game for them due to a knee injury.

“They’ll both have a huge impact on the team’s (medal) chances,” Thompson said.

“The experience of both is second to none — Rachel is a dual Olympian now. They’re both great leaders — Rachel captained the Stars and Erin has been a captain before.”

While the US go into the tournament as heavy favourites, Thompson firmly believed they were beatable.

“The European teams are getting stronger ... but the USA are definitely the team to beat,” she said.

“The Opals just need to beat the other teams they face, get to the final and then anything can happen.

“Especially with the number of Australians playing in the WNBA. For Australia it’s about scouting and preparing well with gameplans because they’ve got the talent there.”

SEQ Stars marquee recruits Bec Allen, Erin Phillips and Rachel Jarry pictured last year. Former Stars coach Megan Thompson believes Phillips and Jarry will be key to the Opals’ Olympic hopes. Picture: JACK TRAN

Thompson was able to gain a sneak preview into the Opals while they were on the Gold Coast preparing for the Games and said she liked what she saw.

“I was fortunate enough to go along to their camp for a couple of days,” Thompson, who lead the Stars to a WNBL preliminary final despite them going into liquidation with more than five games left in the regular season, said.

“The preparation looked excellent.

“Rachel was just full steam ahead and Erin is just so valuable.

“You can’t not have her in the squad, and she knows how valuable she is so she’s been very smart in looking after her body.”

The Opals begin their campaign against Brazil at 6.30am Sunday morning.