Super Netball Team Girls Cup: Thunderbirds fire, strugglers bounce back in netball’s return
The reigning Super Netball champion Thunderbirds picked up where they left off, while some strugglers from last season appear to be on the road to a bigger and better campaign.
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Super Netball is one step closer to its full return with the first night of the Team Girls Cup in the books.
The reigning champion Thunderbirds picked up where they left off, while some strugglers from last season appear to be on the road to a bigger and better campaign.
Scroll down for your state-by-state wrap, or click the link.
TEAMS ANALYSIS: ADELAIDE | NSW | QLD | VICTORIA
ADELAIDE
Adelaide Thunderbirds have sent their fans home happy with a dominant 42-31 win over Mavericks at the Super Netball Teams Girls Cup.
Not having lost a game at home since Round 13 of 2023, the Adelaide Thunderbirds picked up where they left off from the 2024 season with the reigning premiers looking unlikely to give up their premiership trophy anytime soon.
With only one change from their title winning team, the addition of young attacker Kayla Graham, it was business as usual for the team in pink.
With 2025 Grand Final MVP Romelda Aiken-George sidelined following knee surgery a few weeks ago, it was up to Lucy Austin to stand up in the Thunderbirds goal circle.
And stand up she did, dominating from under the post with 24 goals, before exiting the court to make way for a shorter moving circle with Lauren Frew and Georgie Horjus, which was equally as effective.
In unusual scenes, Thunderbirds opted to rest the competition’s most decorated defender, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, in the third term.
Having already notched six deflections in 20 minutes of play, Sterling-Humphrey had earned the rest but Mavericks saw their opening and seized the opportunity to mount a comeback.
Hometown hero Georgie Horjus relished some time in goal attacking, lighting up the crowd every time she went for goal, finishing the game with nine from nine.
The Thunderbirds took the chance to get their training partners some valuable court time, with young defender Molly Watson particularly impressive in the absence of Sterling-Humphrey. Thunderbirds continued to stretch out the lead as they ran away comfortable victors by 11 goals.
NSW - GIANTS AND SWIFTS
A desperate Giants outfit have fired the first shot that their Super Netball fortunes may change for the better after a one-point win against Sunshine Coast Lightning.
The Giants took home the wooden spoon last year, but a rising star has shown that things might be looking up for the western Sydney side.
Former Silver Ferns captain Gina Crampton was set to be a shining light for the Giants, but will now simply be a sideline supporter as she awaits the arrival of her first child.
Enter Hope White, an exciting young attacking player touted by many Super Netball commentators as one to watch for the year.
In her first outing in orange, White built into the game and seemed to find her goalers with ease.
Youngster Erin O’Brien holds a lot of promise and was instrumental in her side’s 39-38 victory over Sunshine Coast Lightning.
Benefiting from maximum minutes during pre-season matches to-date, and standing at 189cm, O’Brien’s rangy reach has earned her comparison to Diamonds legend, Liz Ellis.
As goal shooters in opposing teams seem to keep getting taller, the added height in the Giants’ defensive circle will be key for them in 2025.
O’Brien’s matchup against Lightning’s experienced shooters was a mouthwatering tussle as she outrebounded them every step.
Her combination with tenacious Jamaican defender Jodi-Ann Ward will give opponents much to think about this season.
Hoping to start the season on the right foot after a disastrous 2024, the NSW Swifts looked to new recruit, Silver Fern Grace Nweke, to lead the charge.
The move across the ditch means Nweke is ineligible to represent New Zealand but her game is set to grow leaps and bounds as she faces the best defenders week in and week out.
Paige Hadley didn’t skip a beat, despite missing her usual partner in crime Maddy Proud, who is expecting her first child in May.
Helen Housby thrived having the strong presence of Nweke in the circle, but still never missed the opportunity to sink a super shot, nailing two from two.
The Swifts will be counting their lucky stars Kiera Austin missed a two point shot on the buzzer, allowing them to sneak away with a one goal victory.
QUEENSLAND - FIREBIRDS AND LIGHTNING
Queensland Firebirds suffered a sobering preseason wake up call on the opening night of the Team Girls Cup in Adelaide, thumped 50-35 by the West Coast Fever in worrying signs for the new-look team.
While the Sunshine Coast Lightning fought back to suffer a narrow 39-38 loss to the Giants in their game, of more concern was the first up performance of the Firebirds under new coach Kiri Wells.
The Firebirds had the most turnover of any club in the off-season, with three new players coming into the fold and it showed as the Fever rattled them early.
New Ugandan shooter Mary Cholhok, who becomes the tallest player in Super Netball history at a towering 201cm, arrived in Australia only four weeks ago but as the match wore on she showed she has the potential to play a key role for the Firebirds moving forward this season.
The Fever were without six-time MVP Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, who is yet to make a decision on playing this year following a heartbreaking miscarriage in February, but with Mwai Kumwenda up front they looked strong.
Playing with a less familiar, and much shorter, moving circled worked well for the Fever who had in the past had been accused of being ‘one trick ponies’ and their extra movement proved too much for the young Queensland defence.
The Lightning head into 2025 hungry for success after their high profile squad fell short of expectations in 2024.
Already having taken a hit, with Ava Black out for the season with an ACL injury, Lightning have welcomed former Maverick and Giants Kristiana Manu’a into the side, fresh off captaining Samoa to victory at the PacificAus Sport Series.
With both Leesa Mi Mi and Courtney Bruce late outs due to injury, Manu’a was a last-minute addition for the weekend.
Diamond squad member Ash Ervin picked up where she left off, wreaking havoc against the Giants attackers, making the most of Bruce’s absence.
The Lightning will play the Mavericks and reigning premiers Adelaide on Saturday while the Firebirds will face grand finalists Melbourne Vixens and the NSW Swifts in their two matches.
VICTORIA - VIXENS AND MAVERICKS
It was heartbreak for Melbourne’s Super Netball sides but the Vixens have benefited from having only one temporary change to their 2024 roster.
Youngster Maggie Caris is in for defender Emily Mannix who welcomed her first child in January, with no announcement yet regarding Mannix’s return.
Recent Australian Diamonds debutant Rudi Ellis now becomes the incumbent goal keeper, pairing up with veteran Jo Weston and they proved a formidable duo. Caris was strong in the air, able to match it with Nweke and was causing her visible frustration.
The Vixens were frantic to start, despite running a familiar line up.
With some strong defensive work they were able to settle and draw back the lead. Kiera Austin stole a monster intercept in the dying moments, Vixens were down by one, she was able to get the ball down to goal but opting for the two point to steal victory rather than take an easy one and settle for a draw - the shot fell short and Swifts narrowly clinched the victory.
Mavericks are set for a total reset in 2025 after being riddled by injury in their inaugural season.
Sasha Glasgow made her long-awaited return from a traumatic leg fracture, while Lauren Parkinson (nee Moore) and Eleanor Cardwell are still progressing back from knee injuries.
Kim Brown (nee Jenner) continues to be a menace in defence, with captain Amy Parmenter dogged as ever.
She also made a cameo at centre, as she looks to put herself higher up the Diamonds selection list by adding some versatility to her game.
Glasgow and Shimona Jok combined well in the circle, with Glasgow’s experience feeding fellow Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard proving vital.
A year away from the game hadn’t changed Glasgow’s effectiveness from range, sinking two from three super shots but it wasn’t enough to claw back the win, going down by 11 goals.
In the end, despite coach Tracey Neville calling for her team to be more controlled, a litany of ball-handling errors saw the game get away from Mavericks as they ended the match with 20 turnovers compared to the Thunderbirds’ much tidier 11.
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