The NSW Swifts’ Grand Final rematch with the Sunshine Coast Lightning on Sunday is shaping up as the game of the weekend as Suncorp Super Netball 2020 enters Round 4.
The last time the sides met was the 2019 decider in Brisbane when the Swifts put in their best performance of the year to claim the club’s sixth Premiership.
Since Suncorp Super Netball replaced the ANZ Championship in 2017 the Lightning have been the most consistent side, winning back-to-back Premierships before the Swifts ended their attempt for a three-peat.
They may be coming off a defeat at the hands of the red-hot Melbourne Vixens on Wednesday night, but head coach Briony Akle believes that only makes the Queensland side more dangerous.
“Traditionally the Swifts’ biggest rivals have been the Firebirds and Vixens, but of late a real healthy respect and competitiveness has grown between us and the Lightning and it’s one fans of both clubs should savour,” Akle said.
“Last year’s games in the regular season were some of the best netball I’ve watched and the Lightning showed huge grit and champion spirit to come back and beat us in them.
“Our last two encounters were a bit one-sided in the Finals Series and we were lucky it was the Grand Final where things went right for us, but the clock has reset this year and the title is up for grabs again. I can’t wait to see how we shape up against a really quality side like Sunshine Coast.
“They may have lost to the Vixens this week but that means they’ll only be more fired up when they meet us. They also have the loudest crowd in the competition, which is a real weapon for them, even with reduced crowd numbers.”
The Swifts have won the opening three games of their title defence against the Giants, Fever and Thunderbirds, but captain Maddy Proud said the team is still looking to shake off cobwebs.
“We are three from three but it could very easily have been a different story, especially in our games against the Giants and Fever,” she said.
“The final score line against Thunderbirds didn’t show that they really pushed us in the third quarter so it’s by no means been a perfect start for us.
“The Lightning have been the standard bearers of elite netball in Australia recently and I’m sure they’ll have plenty of motivation to get one up on us after the Grand Final, but those narrow losses we experienced last year means we’ve got a lot to prove too.
“These games are the reason you love to play netball, so I can’t wait.”
The Swifts and Lightning do battle at the University of Sunshine Coast in Sippy Down on Sunday at 1pm (AET). The game will be broadcast on Channel Nine and the Telstra Netball Live App.
