The key takeaways from round one

By Erin Lyons

The new season of Suncorp Super Netball is finally in full swing and boy did round one deliver.

The Jamaican imports stood tall during a blockbuster weekend of netball, proving they’ll be a force at the July Netball World Cup.

A number of fresh faces also stepped out on court, while a new duo solidified itself as a one to watch this year.

Here’s what went down during round one of Suncorp Super Netball.

SUNSHINE GIRLS SUPERB

Coming off the back of a Commonwealth Games silver media, a cohort of Jamaican internationals really set the tone for what could be another standout season from the Sunshine Girls.

Collingwood goal shooter Shimona Nelson got the weekend of netball underway and helped spearhead the Pies to a convincing win over the NSW Swifts (71-63).

Nelson finished with a perfect record, shooting 53/53 at 100 per cent.

But it was her Sunshine Girls teammate Jodi-Ann Ward who claimed the MVP accolade. Ward had nine gains, four intercepts and a staggering seven deflections, finishing the match with 125.5 Nissan Net Points.

Over in the west it was six-time SSN player of the year Jhaniele Fowler who once again proved why she is the best in the business.

She too shot at 100 per cent accuracy, slotting 55/55 and sunk the match winner on the siren to help the West Coast Fever defeat the Melbourne Vixens by a solitary goal (62-61), earning her the match MVP.

Up on the sunny state it was Sunshine Coast Lightning goal keeper Kadie-Ann Dehaney who really made a pest of herself in defence.

The Lightning went into round one with a big void to fill after Tara Hinchliffe was ruled out with an ACL injury, but Dehaney rose to the challenge.

She started slow but continued to build as the game progressed, finishing with eight gains, 10 deflections and four intercepts – enough to be crowned the match MVP.

While last year’s cellar dwellers the Adelaide Thunderbirds put the foot down after the first half during their match with the Queensland Firebirds.

The Thunderbirds’ impressive (59-44) victory was spearheaded by goal keeper Shamera Sterling.

Match MVP Sterling caused disruption at every chance she could, finishing the game with 11 gains, five intercepts and 12 deflections.

DANGEROUS DUOS

There were a number of combinations which really cemented themselves as ones to watch this Suncorp Super Netball season, but there were two duos who were absolute standouts.

While it may not come as a surprise to many that the Sunshine Coast Lightning duo and Origin Diamonds teammates Cara Koenen and Steph Wood got the better of their GIANTS opponents, they helped their team produce one of the most convincing wins of the weekend.

Koenen’s slick baseline work was on full show. She finished with 51/57 while Wood scored 13/16. She also finished with a whooping 31 feeds – 29 of those were goal assists.

It’s encouraging to see the Lightning goaling pair produce such a stellar round one performance after the disappointment of their sides’ 2022 season.

A second standout pairing came from the Thunderbirds outfit.

English import Eleanor Cardwell had a ripping match on Suncorp Super Netball debut.

While she struggled to find her groove during the first quarter out at goal attack, she looked at home once shifted back to goal shooter.

Tippah Dwan was injected into the game out at goal attack, and it didn’t take long for that duo to prove they might cause some problems for their opposition defence.

The pair looked like they had been playing together for years and it showed on the stats sheet.

Cardwell finished with 28 goals while Dwan slotted 16 and had 22 feeds.

DEBUTANTS AND RETURNEES

One of the best parts about the weekend of netball was seeing new talent introduced onto the court.

Other than England Rose Cardwell who made her Suncorp Super Netball debut after a career spent in the UK’s Vitality Super League, two Queensland Firebirds were also blooded.

Remi Kamo and Emily Moore became Firebirds #106 and #107 when they stepped on court for their match against the Thunderbirds.

Kamo, who was in the team’s starting seven back at goal keeper, still had an impressive debut despite Cardwell’s dominance.

The 29-year-old had six gains, four of those were deflections. She combined well with Ruby Bakewell-Doran having spent years playing together in the Brisbane premier league.

Moore was injected onto the court late in the game and was able to sink her first two goals to put the nerves at ease.

Gabby Coffey also made her SSN debut for the Melbourne Vixens in the absence of Jo Weston.

Other notable moments included the return of South African defender Karla Pretorius and Jamaican shooter Romelda Aiken-George, who both returned to the court after giving birth.

Aiken-George, who is now a training partner at the NSW Swifts, made her red dress debut.

Pretorius, who was badly missed by the Lightning squad last year, had a solid first game back picking up four gains and seven deflections.

MATCH REPORTS

If you want to read more about each individual match follow the links below.

Magpies v Swifts

Fever v Vixens

Lightning v GIANTS

Firebirds v Thunderbirds