Just like that it was over.
Twelve months ago Super Netball didn't exist. It didn't have a name. It didn't have a sponsor or a broadcaster. Now it has all that, plus a new champion.
![Winning combination: Lightning captain Geva Mentor holds the Super Netball trophy](http://web.archive.org./web/20170622174258im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/t/e/z/i/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gwtf6v.png/1497792827843.jpg)
Sunshine Coast Lightning have taken out the first Super Netball premiership in a remarkable grand final performance where they ruthlessly took apart the feelgood team of the year, GWS Giants.
Led by super coach Julie Fitzgerald, Giants defied all expectations to rebound from a season-ending injury to their captain Kim Green to fight their way to an unlikely grand final appearance. Before the game there was the sense that they had momentum on their side after they snatched victory in the dying moments of their semi-final against Collingwood Magpies and then completely dismantled Melbourne Vixens in last weekend's preliminary final.
Youngster Krissie Brice had stepped up in the goal shooter position, and with usual shooting duo Susan Pettit and Jo Harten shuffled up the court to direct traffic it looked like Giants had found a way to fill the hole left by Green.
That all came to a crashing halt on Saturday night. Lightning were always going to be tough to beat with a spine comprised of three of the world's best players in Caitlin Basset, Laura Langman and Geva Mentor. Add to that that the players around them lifted to another level and "tough to beat" became "impossible to beat".
It was a complete performance from Lightning despite a shaky start. Looking nervous in the opening minutes they surrendered a five-goal lead early in the first quarter, and it was only heroics from captain and goal keeper Mentor that saw them claw back to within two at quarter-time.
Mentor was outstanding, and you got the sense that she was prepared to continue to win back ball until her team started to click. And click they did in the second quarter, building a five-goal lead by half-time that they never relinquished.
![Goal attack Steph Wood gained confidence as the grand final progressed, and would have been in the MVP conversation.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170622174258im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/t/f/d/o/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gwtf6v.png/1497792827843.jpg)
There are plenty of questions to be answered in the wake of the grand final, starting with the Australian squad, which will be announced next Sunday. From that squad teams will be chosen to play in the Constellation Cup against New Zealand, and the Quad series between Australia, the Silver Ferns, England and South Africa. Each of those nations was represented in the grand final, with South African Karla Mostert named MVP.
One of the first names written down should be Lightning goal attack Steph Wood. Wood had the opportunity to win the grand final for the Swifts in the dying moments of last year's decider. She missed, and the Firebirds went on to win in double overtime. It's the sort of thing that can haunt you for the rest of your career.
Wood did looked haunted in the opening quarter when it appeared that nerves had the better of her. She missed her first shot and took a while to take her second. After some encouraging words from her shooting partner Bassett, the shoulders squared and Wood worked her way into the game, and must have been in the mix for MVP. She was masterful, sinking long bombs, making space and getting plenty of possession flowing to Basset.
As a result Wood not only purged the demons, but she pushed her barrow for Diamonds selection. She has formed a strong domestic partnership with Australia's starting goal shooter, and based on Saturday's performance she is starting to breathe down the neck of incumbent goal attack Nat Medhurst.
There are questions to be asked across the Tasman, too. Laura Langman was outstanding on Saturday night, which only seems to make the hole left by Netball New Zealand's decision to bar her from representing them this year even more ludicrous. That decision won't change for 2017, so all eyes are on 2018, and whether Langman will return to play in, and for New Zealand, or whether she will remain in Australia where she is playing the best netball of her career.
She wouldn't be drawn on it after the game, but I suspect that decision won't be an easy one for her. Unless of course Netball New Zealand come to its senses and allows one of its greatest Silver Ferns to play where she is happy.