Super Netball scoring farce in match between Giants and Lightning is a step backwards for ‘world’s best league’
Round five of the Super Netball season had it all, embarrassing controversies, strange selection decisions, a sensational debut and more. EMMA GREENWOOD breaks it all down in NET GAINS.
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Ah netball, just when you think it’s got its act together it goes and shoots itself in the foot - again.
Heading into the weekend, there was the sniff of a fresh start for a sport that has an outstanding product on the court but just keeps making staggering blunders off it.
On Friday, Netball Australia announced its new chief executive, who outlined a bright future and time of healing after two poisonous years of infighting.
The game then announced it would be a leader in the fight against violence towards women - a sport designed by women for women taking a leading stand on an important national issue.
Blue skies, birds chirping.
Then in comes Super Netball on Saturday: hold my beer.
The league paints itself as the best in the world. Given its playing personnel, it definitely is.
But a score dispute in the clash between the Giants and Sunshine Coast Lightning at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena - a thrilling encounter between two teams desperate for victory - was ineptitude at its best.
Heading into the final minute, the score on screen on the Fox Netball telecast read 71-71 but the on-court scoreboard showed the Lightning ahead by a single goal.
We are aware of a scoreboard error at the end of tonight's match. After a score review, the game between Lightning and GIANTS has been declared a draw (71-71). The players are on court warming up and we are heading into extra time.
— Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) May 11, 2024
Holding possession in the final seconds, the Lightning decided against going for goal, not wanting to hand the Giants a chance to score from the following centre pass which was their possession.
At the final whistle, the Lightning were informed they had won, only for the broadcast team and the Giants, to be left believing the match was a draw.
The officials left the court.
The Lightning, having been informed they had won, left the court.
Many fans left.
The Giants remained as bench officials desperately reviewed the scores from the final quarter.
An official draw was declared. There can’t be a draw - extra time must be played.
It was an absolute debacle.
That there can be such an error is understandable, there will always be human error.
But the fact that it took 20 minutes to check and that extra time was not declared until 35 minutes after the final whistle was an embarrassment for the game.
Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald has coached at this level for 27 years. She’s never seen anything like it.
Lightning mentor Belinda Reynolds was seething. Politely and calmly - but ropeable nonetheless.
Her team would have played the final seconds of regular time differently had they known the correct score - their shooter was standing underneath the post.
The players had 10 minutes to warm up. In a team with several players who have had ACL injuries and had removed strapping following the match and cooled down, Reynolds, correctly, warned the players were “at risk”.
The Giants came back to win the match 86-80 to take their first win of the season.
It was a thrilling scenario for them and young goaler Matisse Letherbarrow, who was injected in extra time and shone.
But again, it’s a self-inflicted wound for netball when the game should be celebrating.
It’s time for the best league in the world, to be better.
FEVER’S SISTER ACT
Saturday night’s debacle took the spotlight off a spectacular sister act on Friday night, with Ruth Aryang making a sensational debut for West Coast Fever in Perth.
The Fever’s nominated athlete, Aryang - the younger sister of Diamonds defender Sunday - came into the side for midcourter Kelsey Browne, who was rested for the clash against the Firebirds.
In 22 minutes on court, Aryang finished with three gains and a spectacular intercept, as well as no turnovers, in the Fever’s 94-58 demolition of the Queenslanders.
While Sunday Aryang was pushed up court to wing defence to accommodate her sister’s debut at goalkeeper, the pair did defend in the circle together in the final quarter, achieving their long-held goal of playing Super Netball together.
It was stunning league debut for Ruth, who has worked hard to return to the elite level after rupturing her ACL at the national U19 championships almost exactly two years ago when vice-captaining Western Australia.
The Fever have an embarrassment of riches at the defensive end, with Jamaican, England and Australian internationals in Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Fran Williams and Aryang and in Ruth Aryang, have their future sewn up as well.
As the nominated player, she is available for selection should Ryan choose to make a change to his nominated squad of 10 each week without having to worry about injury or illness.
After a strong start to the season, Browne is likely to return for the round 6 clash against the Adelaide Thunderbirds on Saturday but Ryan’s management of the 32-year-old may have been a masterstroke.
With just a five-day turnaround between their round 4 and round 5 games, extended travel and Browne playing at centre - a position which carries a massive workload - resting the former Diamond will have given her more time for recovery for what will be a big clash against the in-form T-Birds.
The Aryang sisters join the Lightning’s Hinchliffe twins Tara and Maddie in playing together this season.
WATSON RETURNS TO MELBOURNE
Like the Fever, the Vixens remain unbeaten after the first five rounds ahead of a reunion with former co-captain Liz Watson on Saturday afternoon.
Watson’s recruitment by the Lightning in the off-season, along with Diamonds defender Courtney Bruce, had the Sunshine Coast pegged as competition favourites by most captains surveyed by Code Sports just over a month ago.
And many expected the Vixens could struggle following the loss of the Diamonds captain.
The reverse has been true though, with the Vixens flying high, while Watson and the Lightning will head to Melbourne this weekend with just one win from their first five games after the weekend’s controversial loss to the Giants.
While Watson faced her former teammates at the pre-season Team Girls Cup, she expects a few more nerves on Saturday when she heads to John Cain Arena for the first time as an opposition player.
RIGHT CALL FOR MAVS?
The late withdrawal of Eleanor Cardwell from the Mavericks’ side on Saturday left many expecting development player Uneeq Palavi could make her debut for Super Netball’s newest side.
But expecting the unexpected has become the norm for the Mavs, who announced the surprise selection of veteran goaler Nat Butler (nee Medhurst) to replace the England star.
Butler, now 40, finished with four-of-seven shooting and three turnovers in 16 minutes on court in what many felt was a puzzling selection.
There’s no doubt Butler brings vast experience - she’s the third-most capped national league player of all time and a former Diamond - but does a new club have a duty to foster its young talent?
The move surprised Diamonds captain Liz Watson and ex Fever and England Roses defender Stacey Francis-Bayman, who discussed the move on Fox Netball’s Pivot program.
“What I would have liked to see from a club that’s new and establishing itself in the league is really utilising its training partners, bringing in Uneeq Palavi or even going to look at the VNL (Victorian Netball League) which is really well known for being a fantastic regional competition,” she said while noting the Mavericks’ heavy injury toll.
Watson agreed.
“We don’t know what’s happening at training with Uneeq … but I’m surprised that across the whole VNL there wasn’t a shooter that could be in their training environment, get to know the girls a little bit and be put into this match.”
Butler thanked the club for welcoming her “into your inner sanctum under crazy circumstances”.
“Still bloody hate losing but loved being a ‘Mav’ for a brief moment,” she said on social media.
“I am genuinely excited to see what this club is capable of not only this year but the years to come.”
Butler, who is based in Western Australia, has stayed in Melbourne this week as cover for Cardwell.
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