Latest news with #HelenHousby
The Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Stumble in Super Netball semi-final could be making of Swifts star Grace Nweke
Star goaler Helen Housby believes the Swifts' shambolic semi-final stumble against West Coast Fever last week could be the making of Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke. The Swifts went down 77-45 in a shellacking in Perth, with Nweke, the club's star recruit this season, finishing with 23 goals, three offensive penalties and six general play turnovers as the Fever put a blow torch on the Kiwi ace. It was the lowest tally for the 23-year-old this season but Housby expects her goaling partner to bounce back and in fact, grow from the experience. While Housby - who said she would still back Nweke 'till the day I die' - was not about to sugar coat the Swifts' performance, she said both she and Nweke had to find the humour in the game to take the pain out of the result and be able to move on to the grand final qualifier against the Melbourne Vixens on Sunday. 'Both of us are incredibly competitive and hate losing in any form, never mind like that, so you kind of do have to laugh at it a little bit because it does take the sting out,' Housby said. 'For Grace, I always forget how young she is and she actually doesn't have as much experience as everybody thinks she does - and especially I thought she did. 'I've had so many games where I either haven't played well at all or we've had a devastating loss for whichever team I'm part of, and that's absolutely shaped who I am as a player and it's shaped my career and it's made me more resilient and it's made me a better player and better able to deal with those moments. 'So I personally think this is just going to be one of those moments for her and she'll probably look back on it in five or 10 years and say - 'Do you know what, that made me a better player'.' If their 2019 campaign is any indication that could come as quickly as this weekend. Housby sees plenty of parallels between the 2019 Swifts - who suffered a significant loss to Sunshine Coast Lightning in the major semi-final before winning their preliminary as underdogs and taking their revenge on the Lightning in the decider. 'It absolutely feels like a bit of deja vu,' Housby said, not just of the result but the way the team had responded. '(The loss) definitely felt the same way that this game feels because we were so confident going into it and we had nothing to lose and then we came back to Sydney licking our wounds a little bit the same as we've done this time around. 'We actually we played the Vixens in that prelim as well and we had one of our best performances of the year. 'It definitely does feel very similar and I feel like the way that we've banded together this week also feels similar to how we did it in 2019, so I'm hoping that history will repeat itself.' Certainly Housby, who has played much more of a feeder role than in previous seasons given Nweke's dominance in the one-on-one contest in the circle, is not about to abandon her shooting partner. 'I'm still super proud of her. I'll back her in till the day I die, I think she's incredible,' she said. 'And I don't think one bad game defines a player. 'She certainly was not the only one who didn't have her best game. I don't think anyone on the court at the weekend for the Swifts would be happy with their performance.' And beware the wounded warriors. Housby is an athlete who wants the ball in her hand in the crucial moment - one unafraid to take on the big plays in the big games. And she believes Nweke is the same. 'I'm excited to see what she does this weekend, because I think there's a bit of vengeance in her mind - as there is in mine,' she said. Netball Super Netball's eliminated teams must confront harsh truths about their failed campaigns. But there is a road back to the top. We assess what's next for the six teams to miss the grand final. Netball From big-name recruits and runaway premiership favourites at the start of the year to a crushing prelim-final defeat, things turned very ugly for the Swifts. So how did it all fall apart?
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nothing to lose for Swifts after finals 'nightmare'
Having survived a living nightmare, star attacker Helen Housby says the NSW Swifts' Super Netball finals fate can't get any worse than what has already happened. The Swifts will be out for redemption - and a spot in the 2025 decider - when the 13-times finalists host the Melbourne Vixens in a do-or-die prelim at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday. Housby and her teammates were left reeling after a disastrous 77-45 semi-final mauling to grand final-bound West Coast in the RAC Arena "dungeon". After a perfect 8-0 start to the season, NSW have lost five of their past seven games. This is where we belong! Lets Go Swifts, Lets Go! 🙌🎟️ | — NSW Swifts (@NSWSwifts) July 24, 2025 Meanwhile, the Vixens are riding high after sensationally ending Adelaide's bid for a third-straight title with a 58-56 win last week. The road to grand final glory works favourably for the Vixens, who will enjoy home-court advantage - despite finishing fourth - if they reach the decider. Despite the Fever finishing on top of the table, Rod Laver Arena will host the grand final on August 2 under Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider. NSW can't look that far just yet, with Housby saying her side was taking a nothing-to-lose approach against Melbourne. "It kind of feels like we've lived our nightmare but, in saying that, the sun came up the next day," Housby said. "I don't want to say it was a relief but to get that game out of the way but still have a game to play, it almost feels like it can't go any worse than what it was (against West Coast). "We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain going into this game." Housby has seen this movie before too, saying NSW have never had it easy on the way to a grand final. The Swifts were thumped 58-48 by Sunshine Coast in the 2019 major semi-final before rebounding to win the title. Housby also points to their 2023 run, where the Swifts eliminated the Fever by one point in the dying seconds. They later lost the grand final by one point to Adelaide. "It does feel like a bit of deja vu," Housby said. "It always seems like there's a bit of adversity in our wins and in our premierships, so I quite like that. "I love to be on the edge of performance. This group is itching for it. Just itching for another chance to prove ourselves and to show the netball world that that's not what we stand for." Swifts co-captain and mid-courter Paige Hadley is expected to return from a leg injury in a massive boost for coach Briony Akle's team.
Perth Now
7 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Nothing to lose for Swifts after finals 'nightmare'
Having survived a living nightmare, star attacker Helen Housby says the NSW Swifts' Super Netball finals fate can't get any worse than what has already happened. The Swifts will be out for redemption - and a spot in the 2025 decider - when the 13-times finalists host the Melbourne Vixens in a do-or-die prelim at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday. Housby and her teammates were left reeling after a disastrous 77-45 semi-final mauling to grand final-bound West Coast in the RAC Arena "dungeon". After a perfect 8-0 start to the season, NSW have lost five of their past seven games. Meanwhile, the Vixens are riding high after sensationally ending Adelaide's bid for a third-straight title with a 58-56 win last week. The road to grand final glory works favourably for the Vixens, who will enjoy home-court advantage - despite finishing fourth - if they reach the decider. Despite the Fever finishing on top of the table, Rod Laver Arena will host the grand final on August 2 under Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider. NSW can't look that far just yet, with Housby saying her side was taking a nothing-to-lose approach against Melbourne. "It kind of feels like we've lived our nightmare but, in saying that, the sun came up the next day," Housby said. "I don't want to say it was a relief but to get that game out of the way but still have a game to play, it almost feels like it can't go any worse than what it was (against West Coast). "We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain going into this game." Housby has seen this movie before too, saying NSW have never had it easy on the way to a grand final. The Swifts were thumped 58-48 by Sunshine Coast in the 2019 major semi-final before rebounding to win the title. Housby also points to their 2023 run, where the Swifts eliminated the Fever by one point in the dying seconds. They later lost the grand final by one point to Adelaide. "It does feel like a bit of deja vu," Housby said. "It always seems like there's a bit of adversity in our wins and in our premierships, so I quite like that. "I love to be on the edge of performance. This group is itching for it. Just itching for another chance to prove ourselves and to show the netball world that that's not what we stand for." Swifts co-captain and mid-courter Paige Hadley is expected to return from a leg injury in a massive boost for coach Briony Akle's team.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Swifts hold nerve to sink Firebirds in extra time
The NSW Swifts will enter the Super Netball finals on a winning note after overcoming the Queensland Firebirds 79-75 in an extra-time thriller at Nissan Arena. After losing four of their past five games the second-placed Swifts entered Sunday's match in desperate need of a confidence-boosting win. NSW looked to have the win in the bag after opening a six-goal lead with less than five minutes remaining. But a Super Shot bonanza by the Firebirds sent the game into extra time. Scores were level at 75-apiece early in the second period of extra time, but a series of mistakes from the Firebirds allowed the Swifts to score the final four goals of the match. NSW goal attack Helen Housby nailed six-of-eight super shots in a hot shooting display, while Grace Nweke finished with 59 goals from 66 attempts. For the Firebirds, Mary Cholhok nailed 47-of-53, as well as a super shot, while Emily Moore was six of 10 from super shot range. Moore levels the score! 🔥Watch every game live on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and Binge. — Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) July 13, 2025 NSW (10-4) will travel to Perth next week to take on the ladder-leading Fever in the major semi-final. The winner secures a direct berth into the August 2 grand final in Melbourne, while the loser goes to the preliminary final. Season 2025 will be one to forget for the Firebirds, who won their first two games before losing the remaining 12 to take the wooden spoon. The Swifts announced before Sunday's match that Teigan O'Shannassy had been officially ruled out of the finals series with a back injury, while co-captain Paige Hadley was rested due to a foot injury. Housby's hot shooting from range in the first half helped give NSW a 34-30 edge at the long break. Veteran Swifts star Verity Simmons grew increasingly frustrated with some of the Firebirds' delaying tactics in the first half, and she received a talking-to from the umpire late in the second quarter. "I don't think we're really having the umpires on our side at the moment, it's really tough," Simmons told Fox Sports at halftime. "It's a hard game to umpire, I understand that, but I think we all need to leave the frustrations at bay. "It's the delaying stuff, that's the stuff we can change. It ticks the clock over, which does change the game. If it's both ways, no worries." The second half was a captivating affair, with the Firebirds hitting back late to send it to extra time, only for the Swifts to come up trumps after that.
The Advertiser
13-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Swifts hold nerve to sink Firebirds in extra time
The NSW Swifts will enter the Super Netball finals on a winning note after overcoming the Queensland Firebirds 79-75 in an extra-time thriller at Nissan Arena. After losing four of their past five games the second-placed Swifts entered Sunday's match in desperate need of a confidence-boosting win. NSW looked to have the win in the bag after opening a six-goal lead with less than five minutes remaining. But a Super Shot bonanza by the Firebirds sent the game into extra time. Scores were level at 75-apiece early in the second period of extra time, but a series of mistakes from the Firebirds allowed the Swifts to score the final four goals of the match. NSW goal attack Helen Housby nailed six-of-eight super shots in a hot shooting display, while Grace Nweke finished with 59 goals from 66 attempts. For the Firebirds, Mary Cholhok nailed 47-of-53, as well as a super shot, while Emily Moore was six of 10 from super shot range. NSW (10-4) will travel to Perth next week to take on the ladder-leading Fever in the major semi-final. The winner secures a direct berth into the August 2 grand final in Melbourne, while the loser goes to the preliminary final. Season 2025 will be one to forget for the Firebirds, who won their first two games before losing the remaining 12 to take the wooden spoon. The Swifts announced before Sunday's match that Teigan O'Shannassy had been officially ruled out of the finals series with a back injury, while co-captain Paige Hadley was rested due to a foot injury. Housby's hot shooting from range in the first half helped give NSW a 34-30 edge at the long break. Veteran Swifts star Verity Simmons grew increasingly frustrated with some of the Firebirds' delaying tactics in the first half, and she received a talking-to from the umpire late in the second quarter. "I don't think we're really having the umpires on our side at the moment, it's really tough," Simmons told Fox Sports at halftime. "It's a hard game to umpire, I understand that, but I think we all need to leave the frustrations at bay. "It's the delaying stuff, that's the stuff we can change. It ticks the clock over, which does change the game. If it's both ways, no worries." The second half was a captivating affair, with the Firebirds hitting back late to send it to extra time, only for the Swifts to come up trumps after that. The NSW Swifts will enter the Super Netball finals on a winning note after overcoming the Queensland Firebirds 79-75 in an extra-time thriller at Nissan Arena. After losing four of their past five games the second-placed Swifts entered Sunday's match in desperate need of a confidence-boosting win. NSW looked to have the win in the bag after opening a six-goal lead with less than five minutes remaining. But a Super Shot bonanza by the Firebirds sent the game into extra time. Scores were level at 75-apiece early in the second period of extra time, but a series of mistakes from the Firebirds allowed the Swifts to score the final four goals of the match. NSW goal attack Helen Housby nailed six-of-eight super shots in a hot shooting display, while Grace Nweke finished with 59 goals from 66 attempts. For the Firebirds, Mary Cholhok nailed 47-of-53, as well as a super shot, while Emily Moore was six of 10 from super shot range. NSW (10-4) will travel to Perth next week to take on the ladder-leading Fever in the major semi-final. The winner secures a direct berth into the August 2 grand final in Melbourne, while the loser goes to the preliminary final. Season 2025 will be one to forget for the Firebirds, who won their first two games before losing the remaining 12 to take the wooden spoon. The Swifts announced before Sunday's match that Teigan O'Shannassy had been officially ruled out of the finals series with a back injury, while co-captain Paige Hadley was rested due to a foot injury. Housby's hot shooting from range in the first half helped give NSW a 34-30 edge at the long break. Veteran Swifts star Verity Simmons grew increasingly frustrated with some of the Firebirds' delaying tactics in the first half, and she received a talking-to from the umpire late in the second quarter. "I don't think we're really having the umpires on our side at the moment, it's really tough," Simmons told Fox Sports at halftime. "It's a hard game to umpire, I understand that, but I think we all need to leave the frustrations at bay. "It's the delaying stuff, that's the stuff we can change. It ticks the clock over, which does change the game. If it's both ways, no worries." The second half was a captivating affair, with the Firebirds hitting back late to send it to extra time, only for the Swifts to come up trumps after that. The NSW Swifts will enter the Super Netball finals on a winning note after overcoming the Queensland Firebirds 79-75 in an extra-time thriller at Nissan Arena. After losing four of their past five games the second-placed Swifts entered Sunday's match in desperate need of a confidence-boosting win. NSW looked to have the win in the bag after opening a six-goal lead with less than five minutes remaining. But a Super Shot bonanza by the Firebirds sent the game into extra time. Scores were level at 75-apiece early in the second period of extra time, but a series of mistakes from the Firebirds allowed the Swifts to score the final four goals of the match. NSW goal attack Helen Housby nailed six-of-eight super shots in a hot shooting display, while Grace Nweke finished with 59 goals from 66 attempts. For the Firebirds, Mary Cholhok nailed 47-of-53, as well as a super shot, while Emily Moore was six of 10 from super shot range. NSW (10-4) will travel to Perth next week to take on the ladder-leading Fever in the major semi-final. The winner secures a direct berth into the August 2 grand final in Melbourne, while the loser goes to the preliminary final. Season 2025 will be one to forget for the Firebirds, who won their first two games before losing the remaining 12 to take the wooden spoon. The Swifts announced before Sunday's match that Teigan O'Shannassy had been officially ruled out of the finals series with a back injury, while co-captain Paige Hadley was rested due to a foot injury. Housby's hot shooting from range in the first half helped give NSW a 34-30 edge at the long break. Veteran Swifts star Verity Simmons grew increasingly frustrated with some of the Firebirds' delaying tactics in the first half, and she received a talking-to from the umpire late in the second quarter. "I don't think we're really having the umpires on our side at the moment, it's really tough," Simmons told Fox Sports at halftime. "It's a hard game to umpire, I understand that, but I think we all need to leave the frustrations at bay. "It's the delaying stuff, that's the stuff we can change. It ticks the clock over, which does change the game. If it's both ways, no worries." The second half was a captivating affair, with the Firebirds hitting back late to send it to extra time, only for the Swifts to come up trumps after that.
