The Bull Sharks will be banking on some hometown support this weekend when both sides play their first game of the season at Carrara.
Rebecca Stower’s Sapphire squad have come off a confidence boosting opening round and are desperate to claim Gold Coast bragging rights in the derby with the Titans.
Kim Boland’s Ruby squad face the Redlands Coast for the second time this season.
The girls thumped the Eagles in a 40-point win in round 2, but Boland has warned her side against any complacency saying the competition newcomers have found their feet in recent weeks and will be hungry for their first win of the season.
Sapphire
Bull Sharks v Gold Coast at Carrara.
Last time we met.
Rd 9, 2024 at Carrara
Bull Sharks won 53-52
Fortune favoured us that day. We seemed to be in control with a 13-point lead early in the third quarter. However, we let them back into the game during the super shot period, which put us under pressure. To the girls' credit, they stayed calm, managed to avoid any panicked decisions, and were able to keep the scoreboard ticking over just enough to win.
The opposition
The Titans have seen some changes over the off-season — a new head coach and assistant coach, several player retirements, and new players elevated into their Sapphire squad. They come into this match off a strong opening-round win over last year’s premiers, the Ipswich Jets where they came from behind with a late fourth-quarter surge to take the victory. They will be brimming with confidence.
The challenge
Emotions always run high in this match — it’s a local derby, with both teams hungry for Gold Coast bragging rights. It will be a hard, fast, and physical contest. The local crowd always brings a fantastic atmosphere, and both sides will be keen to showcase their brand of netball.
Our challenge will be staying task-focused and not getting swept up in the hype. We know what we need to do, and we need to keep our eyes firmly on the prize.
Shuffling the magnets
This week, our SSN Reserves players will be available without restrictions. We’re awaiting final clearance and a return-to-play protocol for Kaylin van Greunen once her injury is fully assessed, and a rehab plan is in place. Beyond that, it’s business as usual.
One to watch
I’m really excited about our defenders this week. They’ve worked incredibly hard this pre-season, and we’re starting to see their connections consolidate and some real steps forward in their ability to disrupt opposition attacking lines. We’ve focused a lot on the fundamentals — their "bread and butter" — so they can stay in play, stay in the contest, and create real opportunities for us.
The focus
Simple: to win.
The final word
Off the back of a strong opening-round performance, I’m looking forward to another opportunity to consolidate our combinations, implement more of our strategy, and play outstanding netball.
With Rebecca Stower
Ruby
Bull Sharks v Redlands at Carrara Stadium
Last time we met
Round 2, 2025 at Nissan Arena
Bull Sharks won 77-37
A full-team defensive performance saw our athletes maintain consistency across all four quarters, convincingly winning each quarter.
The opposition
This will be our second meeting with Redlands this season. We came away with a convincing 77–37 win in Round 2, but we know they’ve grown stronger since our last game.
The challenge
Redlands have really stepped up their game in recent weeks, pushing some strong teams to the limit. We’ll approach this match with the same level of focus and intensity as always. Nothing is guaranteed in the Ruby competition—Redlands will be hungry for redemption.
Shuffling the magnets
No changes to the lineup at this stage.
Ones to watch
Last time we played Redlands, it was a full team performance—and we’ll need that same level of collective effort again this week.
The focus
We are looking to continue to build our combinations, reduce our errors and stay locked in for the full 60 minutes
Final word
We’re back at Carrara this week—it’s always a great feeling to play on home ground. We’d love to see a strong crowd out supporting both our Ruby team and the Sapphire girls as they take on the Titans.
With Kim Boland