Darling Downs Panthers set for return to the court after welcome Ruby Series news

Here’s the latest on the Darling Downs Panthers and the immediate future of Ruby Series netball.

Jane Herrick of Darling Downs Panthers. Picture: Kevin Farmer

NETBALL: It’s been a month in the making, but the Panthers will finally get their first taste of finals action.

With southeast Queensland lockdown restrictions set to ease, the Ruby Series has been given the green light to return this weekend.

It sets up a semi final showdown with the USQ Jets in Brisbane on Sunday evening, in what will be the first ever post-season appearance for the Darling Downs side.

It will mark four weeks since the end of the regular season, and captain Jane Herrick said the team has been able to push through despite the uncertainty of their season.

“We were definitely a bit disappointed in having the semi postponed,” she said.

“We had a really good training session on the Saturday before and we were in really high spirits.

“We’ve spent the last two weeks still training, keeping our fitness and working on our combinations and different plays.

“It was hard (to focus) when everything was up in the air. We didn’t know what was happening. It was hard for everyone to stay motivated, but we kept working well as a team.”

While the rest of their finals opponents have been subjected to lockdown restrictions, the Panthers have been relatively unscathed, although have had a couple of players in impacted areas.

They now have a clear target in sight after the unknowns of weeks past, and Herrick said there’s a belief among the playing group that they can finish on a high.

“Even this Saturday when we had morning training our spirits were definitely lifted, even though there was still that unknown,” she said.
“We’ll be pumped and ready to go for our next session. It will be difficult not having that physicality of match play, but we’ve maintained a positive mindset.

“We can definitely win the whole competition. We’ve got the ability but it depends on how we play on the day.”

After a boisterous sell out crowd in their last outing, a home win over USC Thunder, the Panthers will be restricted in their support, with travelling numbers capped.

The Panthers will take on the Jets at Nissan Arena at 5.30pm on Sunday.

Should they advance, they’ll book their spot in the preliminary final on Thursday 26 August, with the hope of going on to the grand final on Tuesday 31 August.