By Stephanie Smarrelli
In the seven seasons of Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) there's been more than enough tantalising match ups between the world's best.
From fiery battles between national teammates to the more understated wearing down of opponents there's been plenty of battle that will go down in SSN history.
Here's some of the head-to-head's fans haven't been able to turn away from.
Sharni Norder vs Caitlin Bassett
An absolute clash of netball titans, these Origin Diamonds teammates were always fierce competitors when they came across each other on the court. Two of the best to take to the SSN court, fans were kept on the edge of their seats whenever the duo lined up against each other.
Nothing about Sharni Norder was understated. Using her booming voice to direct play and make sure her teammates didn’t go too long without encouragement, Norder was not one to go under the radar.
Norder was more than just a strong voice on court though, she stood out for all the right reasons, coupling her ability to read the play with an undercurrent of physicality to ensure she had all the right ingredients to turn matches on their head.
Bassett and Norder always put on a show for fans. Lucky for us Caitlin Bassett wasn’t one to shy away from a scrap. One of the sharpest shooters to ever grace the SSN branded hardwood, Bassett was lethal under the post and would do anything in her power to get that ball in her hands, mixing her height advantage with ample netball nous.
Bassett averaged a shooting percentage of 97 per cent against Norder throughout their SSN careers while Norder averaged seven gains a match against Bassett, highlighting the ebb and flow of their tussles.
Unfortunately for Norder, Bassett's Sunshine Coast Lightning always had the last laugh, winning all four clashes featuring the two titans.
Verity Simmons vs Laura Langman
These two midcourt superstars tore up the SSN court against each other in the first few seasons of the competition before Langman's retirement.
Langman, regarded by many as one of the best midcourters in recent history, was known for her defensive style of play while Simmon's ability to hit the circle edge to feed into the goal circle was of the highest quality.
Langman was a no fuss player who went about her business shutting down opponents and hunting down the ball with ease, the perfect antidote to a player like Simmons. The New Zealand great often covering her fellow SSN veteran like a blanket.
The competition between Langman and Simmons was highly competitive. Simmons' boundless energy means she was never completely nullified however, having the edge in attack over Langman with 58 feeds to 45 when the two went head-to-head over the years.
Both players have been lucky enough to taste ultimate success in the league, with Langman a key cog in the Sunshine Coast Lightning’s 2017 premiership whilst Simmons was a major player for the Fever during their landmark 2022 campaign.
Shamera Sterling vs Jhaniele Fowler
Jamaican teammates Fowler and Sterling know each other's games well, but that doesn’t make their match ups any less exciting.
They put on a spectacle whenever they come up against each other, two of international netball's best fighting for dominance in the SSN goal circle.
Fowler is very much in the conversation to be one of the best Suncorp Super Netball players of all time, having won the SSN Player of the Year award five times. Fowler’s height gives her a leg up when it comes to dominating the goal circle, but her ability to maneuvre her body to move defenders at her will and create space for both herself and her shooting partner is second to none.
She rarely misses from close range and has shown us on several occasions she can go to post from long range, knocking down super shots when her team requires.
Two of the world's best athletes continuously ignite the court. Fowler is almost unstoppable at her best but Shamera Sterling doesn’t have the word unstoppable in her vocabulary.
Sterling could be the most exciting player in netball, approaching every aspect with boundless energy, wowing crowds with her eagerness to come off the body to pick off intercepts along with her ability to wreak havoc over the shot and beat anyone and anything for a loose ball.
Her speed, long reach, fearlessness and netball smarts make her one of the most dangerous defenders in the world to come up against for any opponent and the great Jhaniele Fowler is no different, with Sterling averaging five gains per game when coming up against Fowler.
The best part about this rivalry?
Their best may still be yet to come.
Kate Moloney vs Jamie-Lee Price
Another set of Origin Diamonds who give their all every time they step onto the court, the fight between Moloney and Price is not to be missed.
Hard working midcourters with a defensive flair, both players have made the centre position their own at SSN level but have showcased their flexibility by also donning the wing defence bib.
Both play with a fierce determination to win, and an underlying attitude that no obstacle is too hard to overcome. Mix into that the growing rivalry between the GIANTS and the Vixens – headlined by the Vixens last gasp 2022 preliminary final victory – and you’ve got a match up for the ages.
Price has the slight edge on Moloney stats wise with Price averaging 26 feeds a match while Moloney averages 24 whenever the two come across each other, with both players approaching their game differently.
Moloney works hard to shut down Price’s drives through the midcourt while Price is more likely to give Moloney some breathing room to chase down an intercept. Price has tallied 20 intercepts and 26 gains when she's competed against Moloney compared to Moloney's nine intercepts and 10 gains.
Still well and truly in the prime of their careers, fans cannot miss when these two superstars go head-to-head.
