Coming off the back of limited preparation and with injuries in their squad, the Monarchs failed to win a game in Round 1 in Rockhampton in May but went three-from-three in Townsville last month to move within a game of the ladder-leading North Queensland United and Capricorn Claws.
With Mackay hosting Round 3 this Saturday and Sunday, Head Coach Bec Hagenbach is confident her team can continue that winning form on home soil.
"Something that we've talked about right from the beginning is stepping onto that court and connecting with the community and making sure that we do all our family and friends and our young netballers proud," Hagenbach said.
"The girls have certainly seen in the first two clusters what that hometown support is like and they are really looking forward to being in a position where we get to have that now over the weekend."
Hagenbach also believes hosting a round of the Ruby North will have an impact that goes beyond the court.
"For our young netballers in Mackay and Sarina, the Whitsundays and out to Moranbah ... it's really important that our young netballers have something visual and so the weekend will hopefully provide an opportunity for those young netballers to say, 'I want to be on that court one day. I want to make that type of team' and see where they can take their netball."
Having past the halfway point in the inaugural Ruby North campaign, Hagenbach is a firm believer in the opportunity the new competition has provided for regional talent to develop and expose themselves to competing at a higher level.
"I say to our community frequently, there's never been a better time to be a regional athlete," she said.
"We are working so hard to provide pathways for girls that are wanting to be making that step into a career as a netballer.
"But for the girls that don't necessarily want to go down that road, it also provides just a higher level of competition.
"We've got really talented netballers in the region, and for my girls that don't necessarily look to want to move down south but are just incredibly capable athletes, it gives them an opportunity just to test themselves against the best of what north Queensland has to offer, and they are excited about that."
The third round of the Ruby North begins on Saturday at Mackay Multi-Sport Stadium. A full list of fixtures is available here.
Don’t miss any of the action. Catch every match from of Ruby North streamed LIVE AND FREE on netballqtv.com.au.
