Netball

Lightning strikes perfect blend for success

THE licence to thrill and the experience to chill. It’s the double-barrelled key that can deliver Gold Coast the title in the club’s inaugural year.

Giants to stick with winning combo

THE new-look attack for Giants Netball will likely stay for the preliminary final after the shooting combination of Kristina Brice and Jo Harten shone against the Collingwood defence.

Giants come back to squeeze past Magpies

THERE is plenty of pressure in a sudden death semi-final and Giants Netball had said they’d been preparing for this all year – and it came to the fore when it mattered most.

Wage wars: sport’s new battleground

IT’S the biggest issue in sport. Boycotts have been threatened, strikes called for, but there’s more money than ever and players of all codes want a slice of the pie.

Vixens must take long route to GF

MINOR premiers Melbourne Vixens had the home advantage and were the championship favourites entering the final series. But they now must hit the road to try to make the Grand Final.

Lightning through to grand final after thriller

THE Sunshine Coast will host the inaugural Suncorp Super Netball grand final after a thrilling 56-55 major semi-final victory over the Melbourne Vixens.

Milestone Madi just focused on the win

MAGPIES captain Madi Robinson admits her first year leading the new franchise has been a challenge, but is excited to see what the team can do on the big stage.

Lightning jolt for Vixens

SUNSHINE Coast captain Geva Mentor says the Lightning have the blueprint to dismantle the near indestructible Melbourne Vixens.

Super Netball’s most dangerous duo

PROPELLED by the Kumwenda-Philip attack, the Vixens are the highest scoring team this season. And they have no intention of slowing down in their elimination final.

Giants ready to give it the full 60

THERE will be no lapses in concentration this week for Giants Netball in their sudden death semi-final on Saturday.

Lightning star’s final frontier

SUNSHINE Coast Lightning star Caitlin Bassett has done it all in netball – almost. There is just one hole in the towering 29-year-old’s glittering resume.

Magpies coach reveals challenges

MAGPIES mentor Kristy Keppich-Birrell says she underestimated the challenges of bringing a new group of players together in a fledging netball team.

Layton just another player to Giants

IT’S do or die for Giants Netball and they’re not about to let a team of superstars stop them, including one of the biggest personalities in the game in Sharni Layton.

Mentor to show Vixens no mercy

THERE’LL be no room for sentiment when former Vixen Geva Mentor lines up against her old team in Saturday’s major Super Netball semi-final.

Poolman prepared to battle with the best

SAM Poolman has faced two of the three best goal shooters in the past two weeks, now she can add the third to her list of formidable opponents.

‘It really sucks going into finals’

ARMED with two “new” knees after suffering two ACL injuries in 13 months, Magpies star Cody Lange is putting the pain of missing the finals behind her to concentrate on next year.

Borrego set to return to Adelaide

GUN goal shooter Carla Borrego is set to make a return to Adelaide to play netball after a stint in the English Superleague.

Thunderbirds to chase big guns

Adelaide Thunderbirds coach Dan Ryan is hoping to recruit big names to lift the club next season after finishing bottom in the inaugural Super Netball season.

Captain calls out Lightning’s biggest threat

VIDEO: With the Sunshine Coast closing in on the Super Netball grand final in their debut season, Lightning captain Geva Mentor answers your questions.

Vixens ready to make most of finishing first

MELBOURNE Vixens have put themselves in prime position for the Super Netball finals after claiming the minor premiership and booking a home semi-final.

No fairytale but Renae goes out a champ

IT wasn’t the fairytale ending of Adelaide Thunderbirds superstar Renae Ingles’ career she’d hoped for — but she still went out with fight, fire and passion.

No fairytale finish for Renae

RENAE Ingles’ final match as a Thunderbird reflected the team’s season — bright moments and opportunity drowned in a sea of cheap turnovers. It wasn’t the finale she wanted — or deserved.

Swift action for Wallace

SHE may look fierce on the court, but don’t be misled with the NSW Swifts shooter Sam Wallace. There is much more than meets the eye.

Vixens claim Super Netball minor premiership

MELBOURNE Vixens have claimed the inaugural Super Netball minor premiership with a 68-42 thrashing of West Coast Fever at Perth Arena.

Lightning strikes Giants in electric clash

THE last time the Giants and Sunshine Coast met it was a one-goal nailbiter, and they didn’t disappoint again as Lightning snuck home by the same margin.

Firebirds score consolation win over Swifts

THE Queensland Firebirds were too good for old rivals the NSW Swifts, only this time there was no trophy waiting them.

Another huge challenge for T-Birds defender

ADELAIDE Thunderbirds defender Ama Agbeze is facing one of Super Netball’s biggest tasks — standing Collingwood Magpies gun Caitlin Thwaites. Then again, she is no stranger to challenges.

Our best is yet to come: Magpies

AHEAD of their final regular-season game of the season, Magpies netball coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell is focusing solely on the areas where her team can improve.

Vixens shooting for the top

THE Melbourne Vixens weren’t rated as serious title contenders at the start of the season and now they’re one win away from the minor premiership.

How Renae showed way for netball mums

AS Renae Ingles walks out for her final match as a Thunderbird, she should be proud of her inspirational success in combining motherhood and a top-level netball career, says Natalie von Bertouch.

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Contract drama Bulldogs’ ‘positive’ talks with Klemmer

CANTERBURY have moved a step closer to resolving the contract drama with David Klemmer after a positive meeting with the prop’s manager on Monday.

Kane Cornes Make AFL players’ salaries public

THE fastest way to end the hysteria and speculation around an individual AFL player’s worth is to make his salary public, says former Port Adelaide premiership star Kane Cornes.

Shock defeat Sam stumped by mystery hand ailment

DENIED her twin strengths — serve and forehand — by a hand injury, Samantha Stosur bowed out of the French Open, and is now in doubt for Wimbledon.

Uncertainty Club cull not distracting Wallabies stars

VETERAN prop Sekope Kepu insists Super Rugby's club axing saga won't derail the Wallabies' June Test window.

Extension Tigers young gun extends deal

WESTS Tigers recruitment and retention drive has continued with young gun hooker Jacob Liddle inking a new deal.

Support Coaches should leave Maroons alone

GORDEN Tallis has slammed Paul Green for his stance on Maroons hopeful Coen Hess, claiming it is time for NRL coaches to stay out of Origin selection talk.

Port Adelaide Respect a Power-ful theme

PORT Adelaide is on the edge of a top-four ranking in the AFL premiership race - and hungry to achieve more than just praise for a solid first half to the season.

Crisis Bulldogs facing fan revolt

DES Hasler’s decision to miss a planned fan forum has Canterbury fans contemplating a boycott as the Bulldogs face a full-blown crisis.

Redbacks Sayers wants Rhino to return

CHADD Sayers says idol Ryan Harris could make a dream homecoming as South Australian bowling guru a decade after leaving Adelaide Oval.

Fitness Frizell relief for Daley’s Blues

NSW coach Laurie Daley has welcomed the news that star forward Tyson Frizell should be fit for Origin II in Sydney on June 21.

Qualifier Plenty at stake for Socceroos

THE last time the Socceroos went to Adelaide, they strolled to a 7-0 win. This time the stakes, and the tension, could scarcely be higher.

NBA Cavs’ pay $26m to fund horror show

CLEVELAND are being crushed by Golden State in the NBA finals - and they’re paying the man responsible for their demise.

Out of form Can Jack save his AFL career?

KIEREN Jack is back from injury but he returns to the Swans’ fold as a man under immense pressure.

NRL Sharks veteran to decide playing future

TWO-TIME premiership winner Chris Heighington has spoken about his NRL future and whether he’ll play on next season or retire.

He’s here ’Excited’ Messi gets taste for Melbourne

IT would have been among Lionel Messi’s lowest key training sessions but the Argentina star looked to loving life Down Under ahead of Friday night’s friendly with Brazil. PICTURES

Power Could Bolton be the bolter?

SCOTT Bolton says he’s given up hope of playing State of Origin football, but the stats show he might be just the man the Maroons need.

Star talks ‘We’re going to have to leave NBA players out’

MELBOURNE United jet Chris Goulding says he’d love to be part of the Boomers Olympic campaign in 2020, but knows he’ll be competing with a raft of NBA talent.