They are coming off a high after a weekend of defining wins for our Sapphire and Ruby squads – but the coaches have stressed the real value from those performances comes in backing them up this Sunday against Moreton Bay Pulse.
The Sapphire squad have a full-strength list to take on the winless Pulse side, but coach Bec Stower says the opposition should not be underestimated especially with 6’5 Scottish goal shooter, Emma Barrie at the helm.
A consistent four quarters is key for the Ruby squad to win and to keep their finals dreams alive. Bull Sharks v Moreton Bay City Pulse at Nissan Arena
Sapphire Series
Last time we met,
Rd 3, 2025
Bull Sharks won 74-54
It was a convincing win built on sharp attacking play, great shooting and structured, relentless defence. Our midcourt set the tone early with fast, direct ball movement, feeding tall target Kaylin van Greunen and sharp-shooter Mia Stower with precision. The attacking duo proved difficult to contain.
The opposition
Pulse may still be winless and sit at the bottom of the ladder, but they’re not to be underestimated. They show genuine promise at times, and feature several SSN Reserves players along with a Scottish International GS in Emma Barrie.
The challenge
We need a strong start and a full 60-minute commitment to our game plan. Maintaining intensity and focus throughout is non-negotiable.
Shuffling the magnets
We’re expecting to have our full team available, which provides flexibility in our rotations.
Ones to watch
I’m looking forward to seeing how both Lauren Aubrey and Tehya Hyssett handle the significant height mismatch against Emma Barrie. Each brings a different defensive style, and their growing combination with Maddie Ryan out the front is looking sharper every week. They’ve really stepped up and are starting to create some quality disruption and ball-winning moments.
The focus
To continue consolidating the key themes and focuses we’ve been working on over the last few weeks.
Final word
We now sit at the top of the ladder on our own, with a healthy for-and-against percentage. The aim is to stay right there after this weekend.
With Rebecca Stower
Ruby Series
Last time we met,
Rd 7, 2025
Bull Sharks lost 60 – 43
This loss against Pulse was a tough and disappointing loss for our Ruby Team. From the first whistle, we struggled to find the intensity and focus that have been key to our success in recent weeks. It was clear that we weren’t at our best, and the result reflected that.
The opposition
Our loss to Pulse in Round 7 was a disappointing one. Unfortunately, we didn’t show up ready to play—we weren’t switched on or prepared for the physical battle they brought to the court.
The challenge
Pulse sits above us on the ladder and are known for their physical style of play. This week, we must be ready to meet that challenge head-on. We can’t afford to shy away from the contact or the contest, as we have at times in the past. With a very experienced ex-Silver Fern defender leading their back line, our shooters will need to be both strong and smart with the ball.
Shuffling the magnets
Harriet Nicholson was unfortunately ruled out of our last game against the Tigers. We’re hopeful she’ll be cleared to return this week. Like many teams, we've had our fair share of illness run through the squad recently, but we’re hopeful that’s now behind us and we’ll be back to full strength with all 11 athletes.
Ones to Watch
We’ll need all 11 athletes to step up again this week and deliver in their roles. Every player has a part to play, that collective effort will be key to getting the result.
The Focus
Our aim is to consolidate the things we do well and execute them consistently across all four quarters. It’s about maintaining intensity, discipline, and connection from start to finish.
Final Word
This is a must-win game. It’s going to be a tough challenge, but we’ve shown we can match it with the top teams—we’ve pushed every side in the top four. Now it’s time to back ourselves and take this opportunity head on.
With Kim Boland