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News.com.au
21-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Super Netball 2025: Housby, Nweke vs. Kopua in derby clash of NSW titans
One of Super Netball's greatest players has turned super fan of a game in which she'll be a central character. Champion goaler Helen Housby has snuffed out any idea the Swifts are disappointed the Giants are hitting their straps ahead of the NSW derby, saying she's excited at the prospect of playing in one of the most anticipated games of the season. The teams may be sitting at opposite ends of the competition ladder, with the Swifts on top and Giants in sixth place having just lifted themselves from the cellar. But it's the Giants who head in with the best form line, their back-to-back wins the first time they've had consecutive victories in two years, while the Swifts lost outright lead of the competition after two straight losses in the last fortnight. Throw in the Giants' recruitment of Silver Ferns legend Casey Kopua setting up a clash between New Zealand netball's past and future - in super shooter Grace Nweke - and there's every ingredient needed for a fantastic feast. 'It's the kind of game that you want to play in,' said Housby, who believes the form guide has to be thrown out ahead of Sunday's match in front of a sold out crowd of about 10,000 fans at Ken Rosewall Arena. 'It's got a story to it, and it's got excitement to it and we love trying to figure out ways to play on different players, special players - and I think this is no different.' As strong a player as Kopua is in her own right - despite having been retired for the past six years - it's the way she's bringing the Giants' young defenders into the game that's helped them take such a step forward and Housby will have her own battle against outstanding young goal defence Erin O'Brien, who has flourished under the former Fern's on-court guidance. 'I think she was a really great recruitment for them,' Housby said of Kopua. 'She's obviously been retired for a little while but I don't think she's lost any of her game sense, game smarts … and more than anything, it's the confidence and the composure that she gives to the defenders around her. 'I think they've probably been desperate for a little bit of leadership back there and especially with Jodi-Ann (Ward's) sad (knee) injury, she was the perfect person to come in and kind of wrap them into a solid defensive game plan and mindset. 'She's an absolute stalwart of netball, one of the best defenders that the Silver Ferns have ever produced and for the (Giants) to have picked her up, they'll just be gaining information from her, learning from her and in turn, they can use her body, her physicality, to their advantage, so she's going to be huge for them and I'm quite excited by the prospect (of playing her).' Kopua's likely direct match-up will be Nweke though, the outstanding shooter who has given up her New Zealand eligibility this year to cross the ditch and play Super Netball with the Swifts to improve her game. 'I've got no doubt that most young Silver Ferns probably see Casey as a bit of an idol,' Housby said. 'I haven't actually spoken to Grace personally about it, I'll have to have a few words with her and see how she's feeling about it but I think it's going to be incredible. 'I think if you are a Silver Ferns supporter, you'll definitely be tuning in to watch this across the ditch, because I think it's a pretty special match-up … and it's pretty awesome to see the changing of the guard in the Silver Ferns superstars and I can't wait to be involved and to see, hopefully Gracie shine.'
News.com.au
18-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
NSW derby highlights Swifts dominance for season 2025
Their last clash was a battle to avoid the wooden spoon but the NSW derby has underlined the dominance of the NSW Swifts in season 2025. The Swifts poured in a season-high 82 points in a 13-point victory over the Giants that maintained their unbeaten record this season and helped them retain the Carol Sykes Memorial Trophy. A runaway 22-13 third quarter gave them an 82-69 win, with the final scoreline no real indication of how close the unrelenting physical battle was. The Swifts won every quarter but their edge for the first, second and fourth terms combined was only four points, with only the disastrous third term - when the Giants committed six of their 16 turnovers for the match and had a previously firing Jo Harten subbed out and head up the tunnel before taking no further part in the match - turning the game. While 16 of their 18 previous derby matches had been decided by single digits - and the last game by a solitary goal - the Swifts showed why they're already considered premiership favourites this season with a dominant performance. The Giants came into the match on the bottom of the ladder but belied their position with an outstanding effort in the first half. The match started at a frenetic pace, with the teams going goal for goal in the opening 10 minutes, even when there was turnover ball - the Giants winning the ball back before the Swifts could capitalise - until Jo Harten finally missed an attempt during the super shot period at 12-12. Just one point separated the teams at the opening break and three at halftime, with the Swifts in the lead but the Giants clinging on desperately after arguably their best half of netball this season. But the Swifts took the match away from their rivals with a 22-13 term, Grace Nweke scoring 18 goals in the third quarter alone and Helen Housby putting a couple of nails in the coffin with a pair of super shots. MIDCOURT BATTLE The Swifts started Verity Simmons and Maddie Hay with Paige Hadley in the midcourt after battling with their full court transition against the Vixens a week earlier. But it was the battle in the middle between Hadley and her Diamonds teammate Jamie-Lee Price that dominated proceedings. In a physical encounter, the pair went hammer and tongs at each other, with Price taking points in an opening half during which both wore the centre bib. Hadley said it was a battle she loved. 'I'm never going to beat her physically, she loves being on the body, she loves to push and shove but for me it's about bringing my skill set really well,' Hadley said. 'But you always love the battle coming up against a Diamond.' Hadley was switched to wing attack in the second half and dominated, creating outstanding opportunities and angles for her shooters, with Price switched to wing defence in a bid to shut her down again. The Giants' middies were exceptional at times but their lack of depth and experience told at times, with Hope White's injection in the third term in place of Maddie Hay not paying dividends, while for the Swifts, Allie Smith and Sharni Lambden entered the game seamlessly for Verity Simmons and Maddy Turner. SWIFTS DEFENCE ON SONG Just as they rotated their midcourt, the Swifts' depth in defence was on full show, with Teigan O'Shannassy switched to goalkeeper just before halftime and snaring MVP honours with five gains, including four intercepts. Sarah Klau, who snared player of the match honours the previous week against the Vixens, started in the GK bib against Harten but with the former England Roses shooter leading by example and keeping her team in the game, the switch was made, with the taller O'Shannassy pushed back to 'keeper, allowing Klau to hunt out in front, with Turner also used at goal defence. The injection of Aussie Kelpies men's captain Dylan Nexhip as an assistant focusing on defence has been an overlooked component of the Swifts' dominance this season and his input was again pivotal in Sunday's derby. WHERE TO FOR GIANTS Things get no easier for the Giants, who host the West Coast Fever on Saturday to finish the opening round of fixtures. With just one win under their belts, pressure is mounting on players and coaching staff, with questions over the future of veterans Julie Fitzgerald and Harten, who are both off contract at the end of the season. Harten's co-captain Jamie-Lee Price is contracted until the end of 2026 but her recent comments that 'It's just a matter of when I go to Melbourne' to join long-term partner and Collingwood AFL player Harry Perryman could also be destabilising. Price though was outstanding for the Giants on Sunday and her efforts cannot be questioned, while Harten, one of the smartest players in the league, has also turned in a couple of vintage performances in her last two outings, although she is no longer a 60-minute option at full throttle.
