Buoyed by the return of captain Hulita Veve from Suncorp Super Netball duties, the Jets were flying from before the first whistle of the highly anticipated round seven clash.
“We had a good vibe in the changeroom from the start,” Jets coach Paula Stuart said, when comparing her side’s performance to last week’s loss to the Carina Leagues Club Tigers.
“Hulita boosts up any team, even in the changeroom everyone was pumped. We were pretty flat in the changeroom last week, losing so many (players). This time I walked in and they were already lifted, I didn't have to say anything. It’s just that confidence of having Hulita back.”
With defender Lily Gribble sidelined for another few weeks due to injury, Stuart made the calculated risk to recruit sight unseen from south of the border.
“We flew in a girl from New South Wales who I met today,” Stuart said.
“We needed a GK and I called up a friend who coaches down there. I had no footage but I trust that coach.”
Stuart was pleased with Kara Styles’ seamless introduction, while being quick to emphasize specific limitations in place on the availability of the Jets’ Queensland Ruby Series players.
The often unrecognised work of the defenders out the front was also applauded.
“Probably the standout was Chloe Litherland,” Stuart said.
“Wing defence doesn’t get much praise sometimes but she helped bring the ball down, her intercepts were amazing and her role at keeping Keisha (Grant) under control. Everything was on point for us. We had a great game and they were just a bit on the backfoot.”
The Titans were without the guidance and court smarts of former Silver Fern goal shooter Kat Tuivaiti.
“She brings in that experience,” Stuart said.
“They’ll need a game or two to adjust”.
The ACU Brisbane North Cougars have returned to the winners circle after a timely bye, with a 55-49 victory over the improving Brisbane South Wildcats.
The Cougars’ first home game of the season, at South Pine Indoor Sports Complex, saw the hosts off to a sluggish start which forced coach Liz White to call a time-out eight minutes in.
“That would have to be the strongest start we’ve had to a game, which is awesome,” Wildcats coach Megan Lynch said.
The experience of the Cougars forced the Wildcats to drop a halftime lead, according to Lynch, who was left frustrated but encouraged by the result.
“We got a bit tired, because we were running at high intensity, and became a bit fatigued,” Lynch said.
“It’s frustrating because we know we can do it. These girls, for the last two years before this year, had an average scoreline loss every game of 15-20 goals, now it’s an average of six to 10.”
The Cougars were again without captain Leesa Mi Mi, who impressed in the Queensland Firebirds’ 18-point Suncorp Super Netball win over Giants Netball at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena.
