Super Netball 2020: Firebirds defender says `Super Shot’ has changed the game

Queensland Firebirds defender Kim Jenner prefers ‘traditional’ netball rather than a game involving a ‘Super Shot’.

Firebirds defender Kim Jenner has been a dominant player for her struggling team. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

QUEENSLAND Firebirds star Kim Jenner says the fundamentals of defending have been throw out the window following the introduction of the controversial Super Netball two-goal rule.

Jenner has been a standout in a struggling Firebirds side still chasing its first win of the season.

The Townsville product is the highest-ranked Firebird on the “Nissan Net Points” player-metric ranking, having been particularly strong with deflections and intercepts.

However, Jenner admits she’s still working hard to improve her overall defensive duties to deal with the long-distance “Super Shot” worth two goals.

The final minute of the craziest game of netball that we've ever seen!

If you missed all of the drama from last night's match, you can see the full replay on the Netball Live app. pic.twitter.com/FVtBsiRkGU

— Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) August 20, 2020

“Personally I like the traditional way netball’s played and I like just the one-pointers,” Jenner said.

“It’s now different to normal netball. It’s pretty much the opposite of what you’re taught.

“In a one-pointer you want to try to push the shooters away from the post as much as possible but in the two-pointers they want to be away from the posts, so it’s just about making sure you’re coming around the front cleanly and just pushing them towards the post.

“Each game we’re learning a bit more about it. It’s in the rules now and we’ve got to make the most of it.”

Jenner admits the once mighty Firebirds are running out of time if they want to play finals netball this season.

Last year’s wooden spooners have won just one of their past 20 matches, with their most recent victory coming in August last year.

“After last year we were very motivated to come out and really smash it this year,” said Jenner ahead of the Firebirds’ clash with West Coast Fever on Saturday at Nissan Arena.

“But we haven’t had the best start to the season but there’s been so much promise from every single game.

“We definitely do need to start winning. We’re not going to make the top four if we’re not winning.

“We have the faith that we can win ... we really want to win and we believe that we can win.”