Super Netball 2023 round one: Sunshine Coast Lightning strike with win over depleted GIANTS
Last year’s wooden spooners have struck early with a win over an undermanned Giants. Catch up with all the round one Super Netball action.
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The Lightning struck with a win over the Giants, Collingwood put in a strong performance to beat the Swifts, while the Fever beat the Vixens in the grand final rematch.
Catch up with all the action from round one.
Lightning strike with win over depleted Giants
– Georgia Doyle
2022 Suncorp Super Netball wooden spooners, Sunshine Coast Lightning, started the year with a bang, dominating a depleted GIANTS Netball team by 15 goals, who were unable to secure a win for head coach Julie Fitzgerald as she enters her 25th season as an elite coach. Conversely, it was a dream start for new head coach Belinda Reynolds, despite the recent devastation of losing fresh Diamond debutante Tara Hinchliffe to her second ACL injury in three years. Helped by the fact that GIANTS were missing Jo Harten and Maddie Hay from their usual starting line up, Lightning pounced on the opportunity to get a fast start to their season, as they attempt to improve on their forgettable eighth place finish last year.
Stepping up as captain in Harten’s absence, Jamie-Lee Price was visibly and audibly frustrated for much of the match. From pleading with her players at time outs, to letting her trademark physicality get out of control at times, she attempted to claw back a lead spiralling further out of reach. This physicality was not exclusive to Price, across the court, GIANTS had a massive 64 penalties, compared to Lightning who were the cleanest of the season so far with just 34.
Defensive statistics were dominated by Lightning goal keeper and MVP Kadie-Ann Dehaney with four intercepts, nine deflections and three rebounds. Her attackers rewarded the efforts, converting 77% of the defensive ball she won them. This went a long way in seeing them steam roll the GIANTS who only converted 60% of defensive wins.
After a slump in their 2022 domestic form, Cara Koenen and Steph Wood continued their scintillating performances from the international season to tear apart the GIANTS defenders. In contrast, the NSW based team were forced to attack the super shot every quarter. Desperately trying to give the scoreline some dignity, unfortunately the radar was patchy for Matisse Letherbarrow and Sophie Dwyer who were unable to bring GIANTS back into the game.
JULIE’S JUBILEE
Julie Fitzgerald has – almost – achieved it all in her 25 seasons as a national league coach. Five time premiership coach with the NSW Swifts, a stint across the ditch guiding Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic to three consecutive finals appearances, but after seven years with GIANTS she will be hoping 2023 is the year they steal their maiden premiership, after falling short in two previous grand finals.
GLORIOUS PRETORIUS RETURNS
Karla Pretorius made her Suncorp Super Netball return for Sunshine Coast Lightning, following the birth of her daughter last year. Not missing a beat, she wreaked havoc through the GIANTS attack end seemingly appearing out of thin air to win back ball she had no right to be anywhere near.
GIANTS MISSING THEIR HARTEN SOUL
Injured captain Jo Harten missed her first match for the GIANTS since the club’s inception seven years ago. Despite her heroics during pre-season, rookie Matisse Letherbarrow was unable to replicate this tantalising form when it really mattered.
Fever hang on against injury-ravaged Vixens
– Jenny Sinclair
Missing the services of star defender Jo Weston, and long bomb specialist Rahni Samason, an injury-plagued Melbourne Vixens came agonisingly close to upsetting reigning premiers West Coast Fever.
Thirsting to avenge last year’s grand final defeat, and reward coach Simone McKinnis’ 150th game in charge, the Vixens stayed in touch with Suncorp Super Netball’s heavyweights, but couldn’t quite get the job done.
A war of attrition unfolded as neither side were able to string together a run of goals. Both teams went to their bench in an attempt to shift momentum, and it was Vixens’ energetic keeper Liv Lewis who struck first. Whenever Fever snuck out to a small lead, Lewis managed to get up to a high ball into match MVP Jhaniele Fowler, sending her team into attack.
With Fever leading by the narrowest of margins during the third term, Fever’s newest recruit Kim Jenner was inserted at goal defence. Instructed by coach Dan Ryan to add some physicality and disrupt play, she forced a turnover immediately.
With players scrapping for the ball, a head knock to Vixens’ defender Em Mannix saw her briefly taken off court. Wiradjuri woman Gabby Coffey made a debut cameo in her stead, but fortunately Mannix was cleared to play on, and returned to the match shortly afterwards.
With the game hanging in the balance, Ryan called a brief time out, telling his troops, “The harder we work, the more opportunities we get!” The Vixens weren’t listening however, as two supershots from Kiera Austin levelled the game. A Fowler goal almost on the death knock finally put the game beyond reach.
Goal percentage was the main difference between the two sides – despite more scoring opportunities, Vixens’ 85% accuracy couldn’t compete with the Fever’s 95%.
Speaking after the match, Vixens’ coach Simone McKinnis praised her team’s pressure and ability to claw back a lead, but said, “I’m disappointed, I hate losing and the opportunity was there.”
INJURY STRIKES TWICE
In a double blow for the Vixens, both long range shooter Rahni Samason, and star defender Jo Weston, were ruled out of the game with injury. Samason will miss a chunk of the season with an unspecified leg injury, but Weston is hoping to be back on court soon. The Diamonds’ star goal defender has had minimal court time since last year’s Commonwealth Games, as she continues to recover from a calf injury.
There was some good news however, as Weston said of her injury, “This is the first Vixens’ game that I’ve ever missed which is quite a good track record. All is going according to plan, and I’m hoping to be back out there soon.”
MCKINNIS MAGIC
Despite it being a night to forget on court, Simone McKinnis racked up her 150th game in charge of the Vixens. Along the way, the straight-talking former Diamond has led the club to two premierships and four minor premierships, becoming one of the modern era’s most successful domestic coaches.
Magpies swoop to claim round one win over the Swifts
– Georgia Doyle
Hot off a Commonwealth Games silver medal, Jamaican import Shimona Nelson spearheaded the Collingwood Magpies to a comprehensive opening round victory in Suncorp Super Netball, beating NSW Swifts 71 to 63.
Nailing a perfect 53/53 goals, Nelson had ample opportunity at goal thanks to the defensive efforts of her compatriot and MVP Jodi-Ann Ward who was hauling in balls at every opportunity.
With four intercepts, seven deflections and four pick ups throughout the game, Ward forced changes in the Swifts attacking end, with legend Romelda Aiken-George spending some time on the bench.
With Nelson and Aiken-George fighting for the second goal shooter spot on the Jamaican World Cup team, Nelson’s showing against Australian goal keeper Sarah Klau will likely skyrocket her to the top of the list.
On the back foot from the first whistle, Swifts rotated through their entire bench before halftime desperately trying to stop the Collingwood onslaught. Despite having international players aplenty, nothing that head coach Briony Akle put on court was good enough to combat the dominant Magpies. A shining light was youngster Teigan O’Shannassy, injected during the second quarter with her height disrupting the aerial game that Collingwood had been playing with ease.
Despite her dominance at goal shooter for Australia across the international season, Magpie Sophie Garbin was pushed out to goal attack where she has historically struggled. With two early turnovers, she had trouble connecting with her teammates after missing a chunk of pre-season through injury but once settled into the game she contributed 12/16 goals, including 6/7 super shots against her former side.
Collingwood head coach was quick to sing Garbin’s praises saying “Sophie was great for us at goal attack, there’s a lot of external noise about playing her at goal shooter but when you’ve got someone like Nelson putting in the game she did today [why would you shift her]. Sophie’s come a long way from Round 1 last year … and it’s great to see her shoot at range. We’ve done a lot of work in that space, and to see her get the rewards of that is pleasing to see”
While the Swifts were able to better match Collingwood in the second half, the damage was already done after an uncharacteristic slow start, leaving the Swifts in chase mode for the whole match.
ROMELDA RETURNS
Romela Aiken-George made her Suncorp Super Netball return following the birth of her first child last year.
While not a performance she will be adding to the highlight reel, her accuracy was an improvement to what we’ve seen in the past and she will be hoping to return to her former dominance over the coming weeks.
MAGPIES MID-COURT MAGIC
Magpies Kelsey Browne and Molly Jovic were running rings around Diamonds duo Paige Hadley and Maddy Proud in the mid-court.
Their speed and smarts left their opposition in the dust, giving them the time and space to find their shooters with ease.
MENTOR OF OLD
Entering her 21st season of elite netball, English international Geva Mentor showed why she has become a household name.
After a disappointing domestic and international campaign in 2022, Mentor means business in 2023.
Originally published as Super Netball 2023 round one: Sunshine Coast Lightning strike with win over depleted GIANTS
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