It was a huge weekend for Bull Sharks netball with all sides playing in a double-header round at Nissan Arena.
Rebecca Stower is proud of her Sapphire squad's physical, mental and emotional strength which helped them secure back-to-back wins. The Ruby squad finished the weekend with a draw and a loss, however coach Kim Boland is happy to see the squad's form returning against two tough teams.
Sapphire Series
Bull Sharks v Kedron-Wavell Cougars at Nissan Arena
Bull Sharks won 61 – 58
Bull Sharks v Brisbane Wildcats at Nissan Arena
Bull Sharks won 71 - 58
How it was won
The Cougars game was the standout of the weekend. After a slow start, the team rallied from a 14-goal deficit to flip the game in our favour. It was a gritty, determined effort — chipping away, staying composed, and finishing strong.
The Wildcats match was what you'd call “winning ugly.” We struggled to find our groove but found a way to get the job done when it counted.
What we’re happy with
Double headers are always a test — physically, mentally, emotionally. The girls rose to the occasion. They approached the weekend with clarity, took each game as it came, and focused on controlling the controllables. With pressure on the ladder, they delivered when it mattered most.
Work to Do
We’re still chasing consistency across four quarters. That will come with more time together — we haven’t had all ten athletes on court at training yet this season, but we’re getting closer. Once we hit full attendance, expect further cohesion and flow.
Trademark players
These wins were built on a whole-team effort. We had honest conversations about sticking to our structures and trusting our processes, especially under pressure. Everyone committed to their roles and executed them with intent. We stayed connected and purposeful, and the results speak for themselves.
Bull Sharks Netball
One word: BOLD.
With Rebecca Stower
Ruby Series
Bull Sharks v Kendron- Wavell Cougars at Nissan Arena
Bull Sharks lost 68 - 53
Bull Sharks v Brisbane Wildcats at Nissan Arena
Bull Sharks drew 58 – 58
How it was lost/drawn
Our match against the Cougars was possibly the most physical contest we've faced so far. Unfortunately, we were on the back foot early, trailing 22–9 at the end of the first quarter. The team regrouped well, putting in a strong effort—winning the third quarter and narrowly losing the fourth by just two goals—but the early deficit proved too much.
In the clash with the in-form Wildcats, the girls began to rediscover the form and intensity we saw in the early rounds of the season. It was a seesawing battle from start to finish. Holding a one-goal lead with just five seconds on the clock, we unfortunately allowed the Wildcats to score in the dying moments, resulting in a draw.
What you’re happy with
Despite the results—a loss and a draw, we began to see the group’s form returning. The girls rallied together, showing great resilience and cohesion to produce two strong performances against tough teams.
Bull Sharks Netball
Both games were extremely physical, as we expected, and I was proud to see the team stay true to our brand of netball.
Work to do
The next few rounds are crucial, with matchups against teams currently sitting in 1st and 3rd on the ladder. We'll need to keep building on our strength to the ball and embrace the physical contest without hesitation. Most importantly, we must play smarter in those key moments—sticking to our structures, making good decisions under pressure, and backing ourselves.
Trademark players
This week saw a number of athletes step up, with standout performances from Ocean Karekare, Mahlia Henare, Jorja Gisinger, and Abby Boland.
Ocean was relentless in her defensive pressure throughout the weekend and showed incredible endurance and commitment by also stepping up to play in the Sapphire round against the Wildcats.
With Kim Boland
M-League
Bull Sharks vs Sunshine Coast Thunder
Bull Sharks lost 72 - 43
Bull Sharks vs Moreton Bay City Pulse
Bull Sharks lost 64 - 34
How it was lost
It was a tough weekend for the men with four players absent, including both of our shooters, but the team showed up and gave it their best against tough opposition. One of our key focuses for both games was consistent execution of our skill set and supporting each other with direct actionable communication. Whilst our communication was great our consistent application of our skills was sporadic and was costly in terms of turnover ball. We pushed passes into contestable situations, and our shooting was inconsistent at this level to compete with the best teams in the competition. Our intentions were clear, but our actions did not match.
What we’re happy with
The guys really got around each other when we were under scoreboard pressure and found ways to stay in the game as best we could. There were touches of real brilliance and we need to build on this if we are to make finals.
Work to do
Work, work, work as individuals and as a team on key skills and structures and this group is more than capable of doing that this season.
Trademark players
With both shooters away it was great to see young Xavier ‘Lum’ Whap step up in the goal shooting circle and score some lovely goals under tough pressure from older more experienced circle defenders. A big thank-you to Ezra TiaTia and Jack Jordan who filled in superbly over the weekend.
With Glenn Ormesher