New Zealand Silver Ferns legend Temepara Bailey will coach a strong Gold Coast Titans outfit headlined by new recruit and former Silver Ferns goal shooter Cathrine Tuivaiti against the Bond University Bull Sharks in Saturday afternoon’s cross-town clash at Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium.
The match is expected to draw a massive crowd in support of a Titans team lining up in its first game of 2023 after a first-round bye.
“I think it’s really exciting, firstly for the community, that there’s two teams that players can aspire to represent the Gold Coast in,” Bailey said.
“I’m a little bit nervous about the weekend … and if it’s a sell-out like we have had in the past it’s going to be a massive game.”
Bull Sharks coach Rebecca Stower said off-court hype wouldn’t be a distraction as her side aims to bounce back from a first-up 70-52 loss to the ACU Brisbane North Cougars.
“I’m making sure the girls are prepared to block out white noise and be focused on what they need to do on court,” Stower said.
“There’s no point in trying to shut one player down and throw our own game plan out the window. We’ll do due diligence and look at the best defensive strategies we have to apply, and really focus on what we control in our game.”
Stower was relatively pleased with the Bull Sharks’ performance in round one but will be looking for improvements in turnover conversion rate and transition into defence.
The Cougars hit the road on Sunday to play away to the Sunshine Coast Thunder at UniSC Arena in what will be a showcase of elite local talent as both teams enter the game having recorded convincing opening round victories.
Cougars coach Liz White said she had little idea of what to expect from the hosts, being so early in the 2023 season.
“I have no avenue to see Thunder play, so have no idea what to expect because we all played at the same time (first round),” White said.
“We’ll be concentrating on us and being the best we can be.”
Sunday afternoon’s game, starting at 4.30pm, is just one of the Thunder’s two home games this season and will be played off the back of the Lightning-Fever Suncorp Super Netball clash.
“It’s a nice opportunity to play on the Coast, and is special as it’s the curtain-closer,” Thunder coach Simone Nalatu said.
“We know the Cougars will be in the contest for the whole 60 minutes. We know Liz will have them well-organised, prepared and it will be another contest which we need to see where we’re at and be tested.”
Round two of the HART Sapphire Series wraps up at Nissan Arena on Sunday night with the Brisbane South Wildcats and Carina Leagues Club Tigers both searching for a first win.
Wildcats coach Megan Lynch said they have some idea of what the Tigers can deliver, having already met in the competition lead-up.
“We played the Tigers in the pre-season so I’m really excited to see what we can do,” Lynch said.
“We absolutely have the potential to win it.”
It’s the TAE Aerospace Ipswich Jets’ turn for a bye, which coach Paula Stuart said couldn’t have come at a better time as she’s lost four players to this week’s PacificAus Sports Netball Series.
News Corp’s KommunityTV is streaming a weekly double-header featuring one Sapphire Division and one Ruby Division - the league’s second tier - game, which is exclusive for News Corp subscribers.
The full fixture for the 2023 Sapphire Series is available here.
