Under the guidance of super coach Liz White, the Cougars were the standout team in the Premier Division at Nissan Arena over the weekend as Netball Queensland celebrated the successful first edition of this new addition to the netball calendar.
With four wins and one defeat each, the Cougars and fellow HART Premier Netball League outfit Gold Coast Titans qualified for Sunday's grand final ahead of a field that included South Australian duo Contax and South Adelaide.
The interstate visitors provided one of the highlights of the weekend when they faced off for the first time since their dramatic 2024 Hospital Research Foundation Group Premier League Grand Final, with South Adelaide claiming a slice of revenge over their rivals with a come-from-behind 42-41 win on Saturday.
Contax meanwhile were the only team to get the better of Cougars, claiming a 34-30 win in their opening match of the tournament.
The Cougars recovered from that start however and always had an element of control in Sunday's decider against the Titans, securing a 47-42 victory to claim the $5000 winner's prize and get their season off to a great start.
Goal shooter Nalani Mukande capped the weekend for the Cougars with the Grand Final MVP award.
In the community divisions, there was double delight for Goodna Netball Association, who claimed the Open Women's and Men's titles.
In the Men's division, a dominant Goodna Kyanite team went through the entire weekend undefeated as they claimed the title with a 53-20 grand final triumph over Cornubia Park Netball Association, with Goodna's Ezra Tia Tia named Grand Final MVP.
The final match of the tournament on the Nissan Arena Show Court was a tantalising affair between two undefeated sides as the Firebirds Masters faced off against Goodna Sapphires and it was the Sapphires who proved too strong with a 36-31 win.
There was some consolation for the Firebirds Masters though with Firebird No.38 Alissa Castrisos claiming the Open Women's Grand Final MVP prize.
Wrapping up the prize winners was Rochedale Rockstars, who defeated Hinterland District 37-27 in the Under 18 division with Rochedale's Megan Fowler named Grand Final MVP.
The 2025 Sunshine Challenge Netball Invitational featured a total of 24 teams playing 64 matches across the weekend with the Super Shot (two-point) scoring system in place throughout.
As well as the exciting action on court, SCNI participants had the chance to witness the Queensland Firebirds compete in two pre-season trial matches against the Melbourne Mavericks and NSW Swifts - a priceless opportunity to experience elite netball up close.
Full results from the event can be found here.
