TAE Aerospace Ipswich Jets vs ACU Brisbane North Cougars
A new-look Jets, minus Abigail Latu-Meafou (injured) and Hulita Veve (Firebirds), and with Chloe Litherland still sidelined from the knee injury suffered in last year's Grand Final, made a winning start to the year with a 49-47 win over reigning premiers ACU Brisbane North Cougars.
The Jets were well-marshalled at the back with Lily Gribble and Danielle Taylor defending against a Cougars attacking line that included Queensland Firebird Emily Moore and training partner Rylee Burns.
In a come-from-behind win Naomi Solomona slotted into the goal attack bib well alongside shooter Elsa Sif Sandholt - had a thrilling battle with another Firebirds training partner in Lillyana Rennie - as the Jets gained some revenge for last year's last second grand final defeat with a two-point win.
Despite the opening day defeat, Cougars Head Coach Liz White looks to have built another strong-looking squad for 2024 with Jemma Seymour (nee Mi Mi) adding to her midcourt options along with Queensland 19 and Under vice-captain Ellie Brice.
Brisbane South Wildcats vs Gold Coast Titans
Queensland Firebirds recruit Ali Miller led the way as the Wildcats narrowly missed out on upsetting the Titans at Nissan Arena.
Miller and Kydan Tuapou used their impressive long-range ability to make the most of the introduction of the two-point Super Shot to this year's HART Sapphire Series, cutting a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to just three before succumbing to a 61-58 loss.
The Wildcats' performance suggests a team which finished sixth in last year's competition is poised to make further strides in 2024, particularly if Miller continues to play long minutes.
A hard-fought win for the Titans will give Temepara Bailey plenty to take into this weekend's highly-anticipated Gold Coast derby clash with Bond University Bull Sharks at Carrara, especially with midcouter Peta Coles out for the season with a knee injury and Queensland 19U shooter Tia Crombie recovering from an ankle sprain picked up at the National Netball Championships in Victoria earlier this month.
Sunshine Coast Thunder vs Carina Leagues Club Tigers
A serious-looking injury to Thunder midcourter Brianna Martyn was a sour note to Sunshine Coast's impressive 57-49 win over the Tigers on Nissan Arena's Court 1.
Martyn went down in the third quarter of a match the Thunder led at every turn with Sunshine Coast Lightning training partners Annie Miller, Tara Hinchliffe and Jada Delaney all taking the court for Simone Nalatu's team.
Nalatu will be hoping Martyn's injury wasn't as bad as it looked ahead of the Round 2 clash with the Cougars at Nissan Arena.
The Tigers were boosted by the availability of Queensland Firebird Isabelle Shearer, drafted to her old club last month, but couldn't avoid slipping to an opening round defeat on a day where Tigers Ruby Assistant coach Justin Wise celebrated his 50th game milestone.
The 2024 HART Sapphire Series is streamed exclusively live on KommunityTV. For more details on how to watch click here.
