Adelaide sink Firebirds, title defence back on track
The Adelaide Thunderbirds' bid for a Super Netball title three-peat is back on track, moving into the top four with a gritty 65-58 victory over the Queensland Firebirds.
The two-time reigning champions were made to sweat at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday night, the result not sealed until the final two minutes.
Star defender Latanya Wilson was the standout for the Thunderbirds with 10 deflections and nine gains, while fellow Jamaican Romelda Aiken-George nailed 50 goals at the other end to inflict Queensland's eighth successive defeat.
"We weren't good last weekend (home loss to the bottom-placed Giants)," Wilson said.
"I'm happy that my team went back to the drawing board.
"I said to myself that my team needed (me) and if I can go out there and bring the fire, especially in that second quarter, our guys were going to fight."
Wilson on fire 🔥Watch every game live on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and Binge. pic.twitter.com/iQJeFiY5GM
— Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) June 14, 2025
The Firebirds had threatened to pull away early with Tongan centre Hulita Veve bossing the midcourt and Abigail Latu-Meafou subbing in and duly sinking a pair of two-pointers.
But thanks to the brilliance of Wilson, who amassed a whopping five gains for the term, Adelaide edged in front 17-15 at quarter-time.
Thunderbirds captain Hanny Petty's sixth turnover then saw Queensland creep ahead 26-22 before Adelaide coach Tania Obst called a time-out, swung Georgie Horjus into goal attack, Tayla Williams to wing attack and demanded better energy and skills.
During the huddle, Wilson was particularly vocal, pointedly telling her teammates "this is not good enough".
Wilson led by example, continuing to rack up the deflections and intercepts as she spearheaded a 7-0 surge to give the T'birds back control.
Outscored 12-10 in a scrappy second term, the Firebirds looked far more dangerous in the third.
Macy Gardner, Mary Cholhok and Latu-Meafou combined well in attack as Queensland won the quarter 20-17 to slice the deficit to one goal.
Veve's hot early start came crashing down with a swag of fourth-quarter cough-ups and the Firebirds looked like they were wilting, but Latu-Meafou's long-range brilliance - she finished with 6-of-7 super-shots - had the visitors back within a point.
But just as a boilover was brewing, Queensland turnovers mounted again, allowing Adelaide to finish with a 6-0 spree.
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