Super Netball grand final 2017: teams, times latest news

The inaugural Super Netball grand final promises to be a thriller. Here’s what to watch for, and how it will be won.

The Lightning’s Geva Mentor, right, will be one of the keys to the Lightning’s hopes. Picture: Getty

WHAT TO WATCH FOR IN THE INAUGURAL SUPER NETBALL GRAND FINAL

Sunshine Coast Lightning v Giants Netball Where: Brisbane Entertainment Centre When: Saturday, June 17, 7pm (AEST).

Head to head results during season: 1-1 Round 4 - Giants bt Lightning 55-54, USC Stadium, Sippy Downs. Round 14 - Lightning bt Giants 56-55, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney.

SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING

Coach: Noeline Taurua Regular-season ladder position: Second Regular-season record (wins, draws, losses): 11-1-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Geva Mentor: The English linchpin of the Lightning defence, she leads the league in deflections and defensive rebounds and is second in intercepts. Laura Langman: Vastly experienced and versatile New Zealander who can fill any of the mid-court positions and is a ferocious competitor.

Caitlin Bassett: Arguably the world’s best shooter, scores masses of goals at a high percentage and looks set to finish as the season’s leading scorer.

GIANTS NETBALL

Coach: Julie Fitzgerald Regular-season ladder position: Third Regular-season record: 10-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Rebecca Bulley: Coaxed out of retirement by Julie Fitzgerald, the veteran defender is a competitive and calming presence down back.

Susan Pettitt: An accomplished goal attack and shooter for most of her career, she has successfully transitioned to wing attack in the second half of the season.

Kristina Brice: A young shooter and prolific scorer who has become increasingly influential as the season has progressed.

Match Preview

All signs point to Saturday’s inaugural Super Netball grand final between Sunshine Coast Lightning and the Giants serving up another thrilling season decider.

The competition and the two teams are new, but the states they represent and the grand final venue are the same as the last two years, when Queensland Firebirds and NSW Swifts produced two epic encounters.

Susan Pettitt and Karla Mostert during the Giants-Lightning round 14 clash. Picture: Getty

The Firebirds came from behind to beat the Swifts by one goal in 2015 and vanquished them in a double extra-time marathon last year in the trans-Tasman competition.

Toss in the fact that the two regular-season fixtures between the Giants and Lightning were each decided by one goal and it seems highly likely the Brisbane Entertainment Centre will host a grand final thriller for a third straight year. Lightning shooter Caitlin Bassett said her team had broached the subject of potentially playing extra-time.

“I’ve played in a few extra-time games (for Australia) and it is a little bit stressful,” Bassett said.

“No doubt it might come down to that because we’ve got two really tight teams.” The prolific shooter declared the Lightning were “ready to rock and roll” after having a week off following their major semi-final win.

“We’ve likened it to a simmering pot and we’ve put it down on low,” Bassett said.

“But come game day we’re going to turn it back up to boil.” The Giants had to play an extra finals game with coach Julie Fitzgerald not changing her starting seven at any stage of either match.

“It’s been an enormous effort from the Giants’ seven players on court,” Diamonds’ coach Lisa Alexander told AAP.

“So players will have to be really well recovered to take on the Lightning, who have had the advantage of the rest.” While Bassett, midcourter Laura Langman and defender Geva Mentor are the stars of the Sunshine Coast side, Fitzgerald was wary of their lesser-known teammates. “What’s made them successful is the way (the three stars) have been supported by the players around them,” Fitzgerald said.

‘Some of them are quite inexperienced, but they’ve really stepped up to play along with those superstars.” Alexander was particularly looking forward to seeing how Lightning’s defence handled the Giants’ attacking trio of Jo Harten, Susan Pettitt and Kristina Brice.

Both teams are affiliated to major football clubs - the Lightning to perennial NRL contender Melbourne Storm and the Giants to emerging AFL power Greater Western Sydney..

The match is being played in Brisbane as the Lightning’s stadium isn’t big enough to host a grand final Fitzgerald wasn’t worried about playing in front of what will still be a pro- Lightning crowd, pointing to the Giants’ 6-1 record outside NSW this year.

AAP