Historic round a huge success
The inaugural Indigenous Round was held across the Suncorp Super Netball league to great success this weekend. All teams and venues had welcome addresses, entertainment, special guests and custom designed dresses worn by all the players. The Indigenous Round was held ahead of NAIDOC Week celebrations which run from July 8-15. Renowned Indigenous artist Sarrita King also created the design for the special ball used in all four matches.
Diamonds to be announced
The 2018 Samsung Diamonds squad announcement for the 2018 International Test Series will be made this weekend. Head coach Lisa Alexander will reveal the players who have made the extended squad live on Channel 9 this Sunday, during the Queensland Firebirds v Giants Netball match. The Diamonds will take on their Commonwealth Games foes the England Roses, as well as the South Africa Spar Proteas and New Zealand Silver Ferns over a gruelling series of games this September and October. It will be the last time the team play on home soil ahead of the 2019 World Cup being held in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Tickets are available here.
Firebirds’ Groundhog Day heartbreak
Netball can be a cruel game sometimes. Despite fighting to the final whistle in both games, the Queensland Firebirds have lost two matches on the bounce by a crushing one goal – right on the final siren. Both results could easily have swung either way, but the tale of the tape will still read that the Firebirds are now clinging on to a Rebel Sport ladder top four position by the skin of their teeth. Veteran Laura Geitz, who has just announced her retirement from international netball today, admitted that the side is freezing under pressure at the end of games, when it really counts.
Vixens surging towards finals
The Melbourne Vixens are finding incredible form at the right time of the season. The club now has four straight wins and will fancy their chances of a maximum eight points against the last-placed Adelaide Thunderbirds this weekend. The Vixens have put the league on notice and remain in with a chance of taking the minor premiership. Liz Watson continues to impress and backed up the 40 goal assists she got in Round 9, with another 30 this weekend. Renae Ingles is proving to be an amazing addition to the team, giving reassurance and experience to her mid-court teammates Watson and captain Kate Moloney, allowing them to play their best netball.
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Tuivaiti makes her debut! 
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Welcome return for Thunderbirds
While the Thunderbirds couldn’t get the job done against the Collingwood Magpies at the weekend, there was one silver lining – the appearance off the bench of New Zealand star Cat Tuivaiti. She was supposed to be the marquee recruit for the Thunderbirds when she signed in July 2017 but was cut down by an ACL tear that put her out for nearly 12 months of netball. It was part of a cruel run of pre-season injuries that tipped Thunderbirds’ season on its head. The crowd went wild to see Tuivaiti take the court, in what may offer the promise of a brighter future for the battling club. In further developments, the Adelaide club has today announced that the current Giants Netball Assistant Coach Tania Obst will take over current Head Coach Dan Ryan at the end of the season – to take lead of the team for the next three seasons.
The Giants regain the Carole Sykes Trophy
Giants Netball dominated their cross state rivals the NSW Swifts in front of over 5000 fans at the International Convention Centre in Sydney. They beat them by 10 goals to reclaim the Carole Sykes Memorial Trophy in a head-to-head which is referred to as ‘the Battle of the Waratah’.
