Super Netball 2022 round 1 team news: Stars defy the odds to be set for opening clashes

When Tara Hinchliffe slumped to the court with a torn ACL late last season, she thought 2022 was no chance. Her recovery story is almost unbelievable.

When Tara Hinchliffe slumped to the court with a torn ACL late last season, she thought she’d have to wave goodbye to netball for the next year.

But after an off-season of toil has the defender is ready for a shock Round 1 comeback for new club Sunshine Coast Lightning in Perth on Sunday.

The elite talk about finding comfort in the uncomfortable. Hinchliffe not only found her comfort zone, she revelled in it.

Change may be daunting for most but Hinchliffe has taken to it like a duck to water.

“I loved rehab,” said no one, ever - apart from Hinchliffe, who found her happy place concentrating on devoting herself single-mindedly to the task of returning to the court fitter and stronger than even.

She’s also doing it for a new club, having made the move up the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast, where she’s made such an impact she was named in the club’s leadership group recently.

“I guess it is pretty crazy to think back on it now,” she said of her rapid recovery.

“I think early on the club probably a Round 1 (pencilled in for my return) in their heads but they didn’t tell me for a long time, which is probably a good thing.

“I actually found I really loved rehab, so I was very lucky to enjoy it and make the most of that time to focus on myself and what I needed to work on.

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Tara Hinchliffe has made an incredible return from an ACL injury

“I think you’re so used in a team sport to everything being about the team. And I think for me, change was nice to just refresh and spend lots of time in the gym and getting fit and just stripping back to basics.

“After a few seasons, you get caught up in all the details and how do you play on court and the strategy and the tactics and I lost sight a bit of what I wanted to work on technically, and this was the perfect chance to try and get fitter, faster and stronger.”

Hinchliffe will return as part of a new-look defensive end for the Lightning, who released South African goalkeeper Phumza Maweni at the end of last year and lost captain Karla Pretorius for the season to maternity leave.

Sunshine Coast recruited aggressively though, adding Hinchliffe and former Melbourne Vixen Kadie-Ann Dehaney to the group, with the pair already forming strong bonds on and off the court.

The other exciting factor for Hinchliffe is the addition of twin Maddie to the main squad of 10 as a temporary replacement player for the pregnant Pretorius.

“It’s been a lifelong dream to play netball together and to do it on the (Super Netball) stage is obviously incredible,” Hinchliffe said.

“We do so much so many things side-by-side, we’re always together, but my favourite time is when we’re on court together.

“It’s fun to have that experience and it’s super special. We know that so many people would kill to be on that court. So to be out there with my twin sister is really incredible.”

The Lightning head to Perth to take on West Coast Fever in the latest chapter of their great rivalry at RAC Arena on Sunday.

OUTHOUSE TO PENTHOUSE FOR VIXENS?

Diamonds captain Liz Watson says the Melbourne Vixens do not see themselves as wooden spooners as the club makes an audacious bid to bounce from the Super Netball outhouse to the penthouse in a single season.

Watson, one of the best midcourt players in world netball, missed the entire Super Netball season last year after undergoing surgery on her foot.

In her absence, a team that also lost international goalers Caitlin Thwaites and Tegan Philip from its premiership side struggled to compete, winning just two games all year.

But some astute recruiting and the return of Watson had the Vixens rated serious contenders for the 2022 title – even before they snared the pre-season Team Girls Cup last month.

Watson said it was a little weird to hear people rating the Vixens as championship material already but said there was no hesitation within the squad about their chances.

“We have got some really good recruits in Kiera (Austin) and Liv (Lewis) and Rahni (Samason) joining the team, we are training really well and feeling really good,” Watson said.

“So of course, we don’t see ourselves as wooden spooners right now.

“It’s nice to know that we are going to be up there and challenging at the end of the season.”

Coach Simone McKinnis said having Watson back in the squad was “huge”.

“She did such an amazing job last year in terms of her rehab, she is a total professional and has returned tot he court as if she hasn’t been away from the game,” McKinnis said.

“She is a crucial player for us, not just because of her skills but because of her composure and smarts.

“It gives extra confidence to the rest of the group, especially when it comes to believing we can find a way out of challenging situations.”

Fox Netball commentator and former Diamond Cath Cox believes Watson’s influence cannot be underestimated.

“Liz is about three players’ worth, so to have her back in the mix and fit is really important for them,” Cox said of Watson, who returned to the court in January to lead the Diamonds to a win in the Quad Series against England, New Zealand and South Africa.

“The Vixens, from wooden spooners, can potentially win it again.”

In a scary proposition for opponents, Watson may even have returned a better player after a season riding the pine on the sidelines next to coach McKinnis and seeing the game from a different perspective.

“I did learn about reading the game a bit more and seeing it from the sideline and being able to do that when I’m out there on court not necessarily having to step to the side to see it,” Watson said.

“I learned to be very patient in rehab as well. Training away from the team is something I really struggled with the start because I love doing everything that the team is doing and being a part of it.

“That part was hard just to get my head around. So it has been really nice to be back and everything’s going well, so the hard work has paid off.”

Watson is convinced of the Vixens’ prospects.

But she also believes the defending champions and last year’s grand finalists will be hard to beat.

“I think the Swifts will definitely be a team up there,” Watson said.

“They haven’t really changed many of their players. They’re such a strong team, they’ve always been strong, very passionate.

“And I also think the Giants will be right up there as well.

“They’ve got a pretty similar line-up to last year and after making the grand final, they’re definitely going to be a team to beat.”

The Vixens head to Brisbane this weekend to take on the Firebirds on Sunday at Nissan Arena.

‘REALLY BIG RISK’ PAYS OFF FOR SUPER NETBALL’S NEWEST SIGNING

Donnell Wallam’s risk to move across the country to accept a six-week training deal with the Queensland Firebirds has paid off in spades with the rising star winning a season-long Super Netball contract as a temporary replacement player for Romelda Aiken-George.

Aiken-George, who confirmed her pregnancy earlier this month, announced earlier this week she would take immediate maternity leave and Wallam will move into the contracted list of players for Sunday’s season-opener against the Melbourne Vixens, becoming just the second First Nations player in the league.

“It was a bit of a surprise, I didn’t know Romelda was pregnant when I came over, I expected to just come over on the six-week temporary contract,” Wallam said.

Offered a position as a training partner with the West Coast Fever, Wallam took a risk in moving across the country but backed herself to make the most of her opportunity.

“It was a really big risk — I just thought I could get my foot in the door with another Suncorp (Super Netball) team and so I just thought it was the right thing to do to come over on the temporary contract and see where it goes from there.”

Wallam headed to England to play with Leeds Rhinos last season in an indication she is willing to make big moves to chase her dreams.

Romelda Aiken-George has taken maternity leave. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

“It’s pretty scary, I’m someone who is a bit scared of change, so the last couple of years — going overseas by myself to live and play netball and coming over here — were big decisions,” she said.

“But I want to play netball and I want to play at the highest level possible so I just need to do what I need to do to get there and that was move countries and move states in the end.

“I’m willing to risk it for a contract.

“It’s only in the last few years that I’ve started to really believe that I can do this and I can play at the highest level and since then it has become a dream of mine so I am willing to do what it takes to get there.”

Wallam played basketball as a junior and did not come through the elite pathway system but she hopes her journey, to play her first Super Netball season at 28, can provide inspiration for others.

Donnell Wallam replaces Romelda Aiken-George. Picture: Joanna Margiolis

“My whole journey is completely different, I didn’t do the netball pathways or anything, I was into basketball at the time and I was a bit of a latecomer to the sport,” she said.

“But I’ve loved the journey and learned along the way to take every opportunity.

“I think that’s a great message, that if you do fail to follow those pathways, not to give up on your dreams because there is other ways to go about it.

“I’m an example of it, so if it inspires young girls, then that’s awesome.”

A Noongar woman, Wallam is proud to become just the second First Nations player in the league.

“That does make me really proud and I just hope it inspires young Indigenous girls and boys to see my story and know that they can make it,” she said.

“I hope I can inspire them just like Jem (Jemma Mi Mi) has inspired me.”

Wallam will line up alongside Wakka Wakka woman Mi Mi in the Firebirds’ season opener against the Vixens at Nissan Arena on Sunday.

“She’s been a huge support system here for me, she gives me great advice and she’s been through it all,” she said of her now-housemate.

“She’s been through the pathway so she’s got a lot of knowledge and she’s just like a sisterly role over here which is quite nice as well.”

But she has another guiding light at the Firebirds, with Aiken-George playing a background role.

“I’ve got a bit of a similar style to Romelda as well, so having her around the club as a bit of a mentor role and a coaching role as well has been really helpful.”

SWIFTS STAR’S SECRET INJURY BATTLE

Swifts superstar shooter Sam Wallace’s pre-season has been hampered by injury but she says there is no reason the reigning champs can’t start their 2022 season the way they finished it – with a win against rivals the Giants.

Wallace, 28, took to the court in the grand final after spending a week out of training, nursing a calf strain. She is set to pull off a similar feat for the season opener after missing the entire pre-season with a knee injury.

The shooter said she wasn’t sure how she managed to pick up the tear in her left knee but suspected it was due to overload.

“I have no idea where it started, last year I did much more running and change of direction than I would usually do, I do not know if it is just too much loading on the knee.”

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While Wallace’s knees might not have enjoyed the change in her style of play – the team and fans certainly benefited.

Wallace had a 93 per cent shot accuracy in 2021 – netting 585 goals.

The injury caused Wallace a great deal of pain – even simple movements caused the joint to swell and fill with fluid.

So instead of joining the side in what would have been her sixth pre-season Wallace was put through a rigorous rehab program which included muscle strengthening, pool work and conditioning.

“Rehab sucks, it is harder than training,” Wallace said.

“It is hard even just sitting on the bench, I’ve never been out of netball for so long in my entire life.

Sam Wallace of the Swifts in action

“I never want to get injured again.”

Wallace has had just one full game on court this pre-season, a friendly against the Firebirds almost two weeks ago.

“I played the full sixty minutes which was really good to get the nerves out,” she said.

The combination of rehab and a cortisone injection means Wallace is fit and ready to go for a grand final rematch with Giants on Saturday night.

“I’m confident, I know how to play netball, it is more of the fitness side, but I’m ready and eager and excited,” she said.

“We haven’t played in front of a home crowd for two years, so bring on Saturday.”

Swifts beat the Giants 63-55 in the grand final and Wallace said there was always pressure on the reigning champions to go back to back – especially as the only change to the squad is the introduction of Vixens wing defence Allie Smith.

Wallace said her side had the skill and ability to take the title again but it would all come down to how they approached the season.

“We just have to keep our composure and keep to the process and not worry about the outcome,” she said.

“Each team will be hard to stop this year. It is just a matter of who can grind it out for 60 minutes.

“The Thunderbirds and Vixens will be ones to watch this year from what I’ve seen this pre-season, everyone will be hard to beat but I’ll be watching those two teams especially.”

Swifts will play the Giants at Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney, at 7pm on Saturday.

GARBIN ON PATH TO BECOMING ‘WORLD’S BEST’

Diamonds midcourter Paige Hadley has made a bold call on the trajectory of former NSW Swifts teammate Sophie Garbin’s career on the eve of the Super Netball season, predicting she will become “one of the world’s best goal shooters”.

Hadley and Garbin have won two Super Netball premierships in the past three years playing alongside each other at the Swifts.

And while she was “devastated” to lose the West Australian product to Collingwood in the off-season, she believes Garbin will thrive at the Magpies.

The Swifts head into the season among the favourites for the title, although Hadley said there was not a weak team in the league after a fervid post-season trade period during which every player in the league was off contract.

Collingwood shooter Sophie Garbin in action for the Magpies

“Recruitment was very well done in the off-season,” Hadley said.

“Obviously we lost Soph Garbin, who I think is going to be one of the world’s best goal shooters when she gets an opportunity – and I’m just I’m so excited for her.

“I was devastated she’s not at the (Swifts) but as I said, I think every team has done really well and I think it just shows everyone’s even.

“Everyone wants to get court time and people are willing to move now – move interstate – to get those opportunities.”

Garbin sat behind international shooters Sam Wallace (Trinidad and Tobago) and Helen Housby (England) at the Swifts but is a likely starter at the Magpies and will certainly see more court time.

NSW Swifts co-captain Paige Hadley (with right hand on trophy), believes former teammate Sophie Garbin (leaning in behind her with finger raised)

It’s a boon for the 24-year-old, who made her Diamonds debut in last year’s Constellation Cup in New Zealand with a one-game cameo but underlined her improvement with a strong showing in the gold dress at the recent Quad Series in London.

Garbin is a near-certainty to win a spot in Australia’s Commonwealth Games team and her switch to the Magpies means she is collecting inside knowledge as she goes, playing against international defenders – England’s Geva Mentor and Jamaica’s Jodie-Ann Ward – daily in training.

The addition of Garbin and extra miles in the legs of Ash Brazill and Kelsey Browne, who both returned from ACL injuries last season, has undoubtedly raised the level of the Magpies in what is looking to be one of the most even competitions in history.

“I think it’s going to be which team can navigate their line-ups and navigate other people’s lines,” Hadley said of who could dominate the competition this season.

“Some teams play the same seven every week so it’s very predictable and other teams mix it up.

“So yeah, it’s going to be an absolute challenge.”

The Super Netball season kicks off this weekend, with the Magpies heading to Adelaide to take on the Thunderbirds, while the Swifts start their title defence with a grand final rematch against the Giants at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.