Sapphire
Round 10 and 11 Preview
Sapphire vs Tigers (Saturday, Nissan Arena) and Titans (Sunday, Carrara)
The opposition
It's back to a double-header weekend as we take on Tigers on Saturday at Nissan Arena before returning home on Sunday to face Titans in our final home game of the regular season. Tigers currently sit seventh on the ladder and continue to be a tough, hard-working team that competes for every contest. Titans are fourth and will be eager to respond after our 11-goal victory over them earlier this season on their home court.
The challenge
Double-header rounds always test depth, recovery and consistency. The challenge will be to deliver a 60-minute performance against Tigers before quickly resetting and backing it up 24 hours later against Titans. With finals approaching, every quarter becomes an opportunity to sharpen our game and continue building towards our best netball.
Shuffling the magnets
We welcome Holly Comyns into the squad and are excited to see the experience and composure she brings following her ANZ Championship season in New Zealand. While Amy Williams remains unavailable as she continues her recovery from an ankle injury, Kydan Tuapou retains her place as our replacement player. Kydan has made an impact every time she has stepped on court this season, and we're grateful to have her continuing to contribute.
Ones to watch
For Tigers, expect their trademark defensive pressure and willingness to contest every ball. They'll fight for four quarters and can't be underestimated.
Titans will no doubt have our previous meeting fresh in their minds and will be determined to reverse the result. They'll bring plenty of intensity and confidence, making Sunday's clash a genuine top-four contest.
The focus
I've been really pleased with how the group has tracked against our performance targets throughout the season. While there are always areas we can continue to improve, we're focused on the bigger picture and ensuring our game continues to develop as we build towards finals.
We currently sit third on the ladder, just one win behind both Cougars and Jets, so every result from here carries significant importance.
Final word
This weekend presents another great opportunity to keep building momentum. We know what we're capable of when we stay connected to our game plan and trust each other. Two quality opponents, two important matches, and another chance to take a step forward as we continue our finals journey. We look forward to seeing plenty of Bull Sharks supporters across both games.
Ruby
Rounds 14 and 15 Preview
Ruby vs Tigers (Saturday, Nissan Arena) and Titans (Sunday, Carrara)
The opposition
Another big week of netball draws closer as we prepare to take on two of the heavyweight teams of the Ruby competition both in the top 4 the Tigers and our Gold Coast rivals the Titans. Titans are a strong, physical opponent who will test our composure, resilience and discipline. Success will come from staying calm under pressure, valuing every possession, and trusting our systems rather than being drawn into their style of play. A consistent four-quarter effort, smart decision-making and belief in one another will be the keys to success. It's the Gold Coast Derby and we were just pipped at the post a few weeks ago so it's time for us to step up and get the win on our home court.
The agile Tigers team presents a different challenge as they thrive on speed and movement off the body. By staying connected defensively, communicating constantly and controlling the tempo, we can force the game to be played on our terms. We will need to be on our game and work for and with each other for four complete quarters.
The Challenge
Our squad continues to be tested by injury and illness, but with every challenge comes opportunity. This week is another chance for players to step up, embrace their role and make a strong contribution. Against quality opposition, we must be ready to execute from the first whistle and maintain that intensity for all four quarters.
Our defensive pressure continues to force opposition turnovers and create valuable ball gains. The next step is converting those opportunities into goals through strong, varied leads, accurate ball placement and smart decision-making—knowing when to be patient and when to move the ball with speed and confidence.
Shuffling the Magnets
We're delighted to welcome Mahalia Henare back after injury and look forward to increasing her court time this weekend. We also welcome Harriet Nicholson and Brook Lacey from the Sapphire squad into the team at various times over the weekend, with both players adding strength, versatility and depth to our strong defensive end. There remain a few niggling illnesses and injuries in the team and we will know our full line up later in the week: what we do now is focus on the controllables and train well.
The focus
"You never truly lose If you learn" and boy have, we had some learnings of late. Two of our last three games we have been pipped in the dying seconds has challenged us to pick ourselves up and go again. We are going to be challenged again this weekend by our opponents: how we respond is the key.
"Always go a little further into the water than you feel you're capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don't feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you're just about in the right place to do something exciting." (David Bowie)
Final word
One great weekend of netball. Two opponents. Two different styles. One focus: be our best for each other and the club!