Headline trio Romelda Aiken, Gretel Bueta and Kim Ravaillion turned back the clock as the Queensland Firebirds posted a 68-57 win over the Adelaide Thunderbirds at Brisbane's Nissan Arena.
Queensland's Megan Anderson had much to be happy about in her first win as a Head Coach, including fierce defence and the ongoing development of livewire goal attack Tippah Dwan.
Reuniting Aiken, Bueta and Ravaillion, the old firm who helped the Firebirds to the 2015 and 2016 titles may prove to be her defining act.
All three have been on wildly different journeys in recent years.
Bueta is barely four months postpartum, Ravaillion has experienced parenthood and a frustrating stint with Collingwood while Aiken roared back to her best last season after dipping below her best in 2019.
Together again, they were all smiles as Aiken sank her 2000th Super Netball goal on her way to 34 goals at 91% accuracy.
And former housemates Bueta (18/22) and Ravaillion (35 feeds) clicked like they had never been apart.
"It's very seamless," Aiken said.
"Rav and I played together for a while and we're always talking together as to how she can pass me the ball and how I can position better.
"We do have our little tiffs on court but it's all in the nature of the game.
"We've got to find that thing that jells us together and whenever we do that she's unstoppable."
Thunderbird Lenize Potgieter shot accurately for 30 points but finished on the bench as the Firebirds clinically put away their opponents in the last quarter.
Defence is often a thankless task but both teams would have been appreciative of the efforts of their goal keepers.
The Firebirds' swarming all-court defence was relentless in the first half and often it was keeper Tara Hinchliffe who swooped to seize loose passes or dropped ball from the Thunderbirds.
At the other end, the determination and athleticism from Shamera Sterling was inspiring.
The Thunderbirds' Jamaican import's three first half gains did not fully reflect the energy she pumped into the defence, with two deflections coming in the same passage.
After falling behind by as much as 13 goals in the third term, the Thunderbirds showed some grit to remain in the hunt at three-quarter time.
Maisie Nankivell's shift from wing defence into centre sparked a fightback as Adelaide finally capitalised on the pressure exerted by Sterling.
