Super Netball 2024: Liz Watson to make Sunshine Coast Lightning debut
For the first time in more than 130 national league matches, Liz Watson will step out in colours other than those of the Melbourne Vixens but she couldn’t be more comfortable about the change.
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Liz Watson says she’s so comfortable in her new Super Netball surrounds she feels completely at ease about running out in new colours after 134 national league appearances over a decade at the only club she’d ever previously known.
In an unprecedented off-season of player movement, the Diamonds captain’s move from her former home at the Melbourne Vixens to the Sunshine Coast Lightning, was a seismic shift.
But having turned out in the Lightning’s yellow strip - ironically close to the gold of the Diamonds - several times in the pre-season, Watson is comfortable in her new skin and raring to go in full competition.
“I think that’s why I feel so at ease about this game - because I feel like a part of the club and the team already,” Watson said.
“I guess watching the games it’s probably going to feel a lot more real that the season is starting.”
The Lightning, who added Australia’s no.1 car website carsales to their sponsorship ranks on match eve, take on the NSW Swifts in the last match of round 1, so by the opening centre pass, Watson is likely to have white line fever and be totally ready to go.
Certainly, she knows there can’t be a false start - in the match against the Swifts, or for the season given the relatively short 14-round period before playoffs.
“The season’s so quick you’ve got to start getting wins ASAP, you cannot wait at all,” she said.
It’s unlikely to be a huge problem for a team pegged by most as a contender at least, if not an outright title favourite, this season.
They not only recruited Watson but former West Coast Fever captain Courtney Bruce, the reigning Liz Ellis Diamond winner who was named defender of the tournament at the World Cup last year.
With Diamonds shooter Cara Koenen and former Australian vice-captain Steph Fretwell - who has retired from international competition to concentrate on her club role - also in their ranks, the club has set themselves up for generational success, with the quartet to mentor a host of up and comers as well as mid-career players such as returning Diamonds defender Tara Hinchliffe.
The clash with last year’s grand finalists the Swifts - whose only two list changes in the off-season were to return injured shooter Sam Wallace-Joseph to the line-up and promote former development player Lilli Gorman-Brown to a full-time contract - shapes as the match of the round.
Regardless of that result though, the Lightning are embracing their role as competition favourites, knowing they have a target on their backs this season.
“There’s been a lot of talk out there - even at media day it was all about who’s going to win and lots of captains said it was Lightning, so obviously (that belief) is there,” Watson said.
“But I do think in this competition, every team is very, very good and there’s not really a gap from the top four to the bottom four.
“The Swifts are quite similar but with all the changes - the Thunderbirds, Mavericks, everyone’s changed, everyone’s new, in a sense.
“I feel like it’s the year where we’ve seen the most change apart from when SSN (Super Netball) started, so to be honest, it just feels like such an unknown.”
Until there was some form on the board, Watson said it was important for the Lightning to focus on themselves and address the way they wanted to play.
“If people say we’re going to win, then good on them - because that’s what we’re trying to do, as is everybody.”
The Lightning received good news off the court in the lead-up to the opening match of the season as well, with news Australia’s no.1 car website carsales had extended its sponsorship with the Storm Group and Watson welcomed the support.
“They’re obviously a major partner with Storm but to know that they want to actually support us as well and have a significant role with us too is, I think, super important,” Watson said.
“For a sponsor to come on and be a part of the Storm Group is awesome - to have an interest in the netball too, it’s great.”
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Originally published as Super Netball 2024: Liz Watson to make Sunshine Coast Lightning debut
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