Super Netball 2025: West Coast Fever shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard says she's ready to step up in finals
Fowler-Nembhard has defied the personal tragedy of losing her unborn baby at the start of this year to inspire Fever to record 12 consecutive victories and on the brink of a historic second premiership.
The minor premiers will look to book their spot in a fourth grand final in eight seasons when they host the NSW Swifts at RAC Arena on Sunday.
And Fowler-Nembhard looms as the biggest weapon in their stacked arsenal having scored a league-high 724 goals and in contention for an unprecedented sixth league most valuable player award despite missing the first two games of the season.
In a concerning sign for the other three teams still left in contention, the 35-year-old declared she was fresh and ready to take her game to another level in the finals.
'I have to find another gear. Every week I get out there, I have some amazing defenders that I'm coming up against,' Fowler-Nembhard said.
'I feel really good, I feel really fresh. I try to make sure the body is ticking over as it should during the week before I get to the weekend.
'I am looking forward to it (finals). It's going to be exciting. I love the fact we're playing here firstly; I am going to have to step into that moment and embrace it. And be as competitive as I can.'
Renowned as the ultimate competitor, Fowler-Nembhard has seemingly found a lot of joy in this season, often being seen smiling on court.
And her happiness is reflected in her form, with the Jamaican averaging 60 goals from her 12 game
'I just love playing netball, so if it's showing that I am enjoying it, I definitely am,' Fowler-Nembhard said.
'All my teammates are a good bunch of girls, and I'm blessed to be amongst such amazing athletes and amazing individuals.
'It means a lot to me. I love winning with this club in general and having got that record with them is just a really good thing.'
While Fowler-Nembhard is the most dangerous player in Fever's goalcircle, the form of countrywoman Shanice Beckford has added another dimension.
The goal attack has hit her straps in the back half of the season and it's forcing teams to abandon the double-team of Fowler-Nembhard which is not going unrecognised by coach Dan Ryan.
'Shanice is playing her role beautifully for us,' he said.
'She's opening up games and she played a couple of 60-minute ones where she's been locked in for the entirety.
'She's a real weapon, there is no one else in the league that plays goal attack like her and I love seeing her grow game upon game.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
13 hours ago
- West Australian
Super Netball 2025: Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard looms as difference for West Coast Fever against NSW Swifts
Super Netball 2025: Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard looms as difference for West Coast Fever against NSW Swifts
The Advertiser
15 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Star shooter puts Fever in box seat for netball crown
West Coast Fever coach Dan Ryan has declared season 2025 as Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard's finest yet as the star goal shooter gears up for Sunday's major semi-final against the NSW Swifts in Perth. Fowler-Nembhard was initially set to miss the entire campaign due to pregnancy, but she suffered the heartbreak of a miscarriage in January. The Fever were at the bottom of the table with a 0-2 record when Fowler-Nembhard made her playing return in round three following a mini training block. Any doubts about the 198cm shooter's fitness or form quickly disappeared as the star Jamaican inspired the team to a Super Netball record 12-match winning run. The Fever (12-2) finished on top of the table thanks largely to Fowler-Nembhard, who scored a league-high 724 goals despite missing the opening two rounds. Swifts star Grace Nweke finished second on the charts with 718 goals, the showdown between the league's two best shooters will be a major feature of Sunday's semi-final at RAC Arena. Fowler-Nembhard has already won the competition's MVP award on five occasions, with possibly a sixth to come this year. The 35-year-old has led the league for scoring in every season since 2018. But in the eyes of Ryan, this season has been the best of the lot. "I think it's been the best season she's had," Ryan said. "The adaptability she's shown in her game and some key growth areas she's added into her tool kit this year (have been crucial). "She's moving better than she's ever moved. Her skills are looking good. Hopefully there's much more to come." When asked about her secret to success this season, Fowler-Nembhard simply reeled off the names of every one of her teammates. "That's my secret. I have them," Fowler said. The Swifts were the benchmark team in the first half of the season after going 8-0, but are limping into the finals on the back of four losses from their past six games. They only just scraped past wooden spooners Queensland Firebirds last week, needing overtime to defeat the two-win strugglers 79-75. The Swifts announced last week defender Teigan O'Shannassy will miss the entire finals series with a back injury, but it's hoped co-captain Paige Hadley (foot) will return against the Fever. The winner of Sunday's major semi-final will advance straight through to the August 2 grand final in Melbourne, while the loser will be relegated to the preliminary final. Sunday's minor semi-final will feature two-time defending champions Adelaide Thunderbirds hosting last season's beaten grand finalists Melbourne Vixens. The loser of that match will be eliminated, with the winner to take on either the Fever or Swifts in an away preliminary final. West Coast Fever coach Dan Ryan has declared season 2025 as Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard's finest yet as the star goal shooter gears up for Sunday's major semi-final against the NSW Swifts in Perth. Fowler-Nembhard was initially set to miss the entire campaign due to pregnancy, but she suffered the heartbreak of a miscarriage in January. The Fever were at the bottom of the table with a 0-2 record when Fowler-Nembhard made her playing return in round three following a mini training block. Any doubts about the 198cm shooter's fitness or form quickly disappeared as the star Jamaican inspired the team to a Super Netball record 12-match winning run. The Fever (12-2) finished on top of the table thanks largely to Fowler-Nembhard, who scored a league-high 724 goals despite missing the opening two rounds. Swifts star Grace Nweke finished second on the charts with 718 goals, the showdown between the league's two best shooters will be a major feature of Sunday's semi-final at RAC Arena. Fowler-Nembhard has already won the competition's MVP award on five occasions, with possibly a sixth to come this year. The 35-year-old has led the league for scoring in every season since 2018. But in the eyes of Ryan, this season has been the best of the lot. "I think it's been the best season she's had," Ryan said. "The adaptability she's shown in her game and some key growth areas she's added into her tool kit this year (have been crucial). "She's moving better than she's ever moved. Her skills are looking good. Hopefully there's much more to come." When asked about her secret to success this season, Fowler-Nembhard simply reeled off the names of every one of her teammates. "That's my secret. I have them," Fowler said. The Swifts were the benchmark team in the first half of the season after going 8-0, but are limping into the finals on the back of four losses from their past six games. They only just scraped past wooden spooners Queensland Firebirds last week, needing overtime to defeat the two-win strugglers 79-75. The Swifts announced last week defender Teigan O'Shannassy will miss the entire finals series with a back injury, but it's hoped co-captain Paige Hadley (foot) will return against the Fever. The winner of Sunday's major semi-final will advance straight through to the August 2 grand final in Melbourne, while the loser will be relegated to the preliminary final. Sunday's minor semi-final will feature two-time defending champions Adelaide Thunderbirds hosting last season's beaten grand finalists Melbourne Vixens. The loser of that match will be eliminated, with the winner to take on either the Fever or Swifts in an away preliminary final. West Coast Fever coach Dan Ryan has declared season 2025 as Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard's finest yet as the star goal shooter gears up for Sunday's major semi-final against the NSW Swifts in Perth. Fowler-Nembhard was initially set to miss the entire campaign due to pregnancy, but she suffered the heartbreak of a miscarriage in January. The Fever were at the bottom of the table with a 0-2 record when Fowler-Nembhard made her playing return in round three following a mini training block. Any doubts about the 198cm shooter's fitness or form quickly disappeared as the star Jamaican inspired the team to a Super Netball record 12-match winning run. The Fever (12-2) finished on top of the table thanks largely to Fowler-Nembhard, who scored a league-high 724 goals despite missing the opening two rounds. Swifts star Grace Nweke finished second on the charts with 718 goals, the showdown between the league's two best shooters will be a major feature of Sunday's semi-final at RAC Arena. Fowler-Nembhard has already won the competition's MVP award on five occasions, with possibly a sixth to come this year. The 35-year-old has led the league for scoring in every season since 2018. But in the eyes of Ryan, this season has been the best of the lot. "I think it's been the best season she's had," Ryan said. "The adaptability she's shown in her game and some key growth areas she's added into her tool kit this year (have been crucial). "She's moving better than she's ever moved. Her skills are looking good. Hopefully there's much more to come." When asked about her secret to success this season, Fowler-Nembhard simply reeled off the names of every one of her teammates. "That's my secret. I have them," Fowler said. The Swifts were the benchmark team in the first half of the season after going 8-0, but are limping into the finals on the back of four losses from their past six games. They only just scraped past wooden spooners Queensland Firebirds last week, needing overtime to defeat the two-win strugglers 79-75. The Swifts announced last week defender Teigan O'Shannassy will miss the entire finals series with a back injury, but it's hoped co-captain Paige Hadley (foot) will return against the Fever. The winner of Sunday's major semi-final will advance straight through to the August 2 grand final in Melbourne, while the loser will be relegated to the preliminary final. Sunday's minor semi-final will feature two-time defending champions Adelaide Thunderbirds hosting last season's beaten grand finalists Melbourne Vixens. The loser of that match will be eliminated, with the winner to take on either the Fever or Swifts in an away preliminary final.
West Australian
17 hours ago
- West Australian
West Coast Fever star Alice Teague-Neeld named in Australian Diamonds squad for first time
Alice Teague-Neeld's transition into a world-class wing attack has been recognised by national selectors, with the West Coast Fever star named in the Australian squad for the first time. Teague-Neeld joins Fever defender Sunday Aryang in the 18-player squad for the Diamonds' series against South Africa and New Zealand, beginning in October. It is the first time the 29-year-old has been named in a national squad, having been elevated off the back of being an invitee to the training camp for the past two years. The Fever duo joins West Aussies Courtney Bruce and Sophie Garbin in the powerhouse squad, while WA shooter Donnell Wallam has been invited as a train-on. Teague-Neeld has been rewarded for an outstanding season for the minor premiers, having led Super Netball for goal assists (315) and centre pass receives (292). It comes after she made the transition from goal attack, a position she was recruited to Fever from the now-defunct Collingwood back in 2019 before making the transition to the midcourt under coach Dan Ryan. Australian coach Stacey Marinkovich said Teague-Neeld had developed her game to another level to earn a maiden call-up. 'Alice has had two years as an invitee and she's really come into the environment and evolved those connections,' she told The West Australian. 'She's having another consistent year of a really high standard in Super Netball. She's putting up her hand, she's evolving things and she's really coach able. 'We've had some really great conversations as to how to keep growing her game in a Diamonds context as well as what she's doing on a Super Netball court.' Marinkovich was the coach of Fever when they recruited Teague-Neeld and isn't surprised that she has made the transition from a shooter to a midcourt star. 'Alice has incredible skills, she knows the game, definitely knows how to read the space out on court so it's definitely no surprise that she transitioned into wing attack,' she said. 'We saw potential in her as a young athlete and her coming to West Coast Fever, she's thriving, she's embraced every opportunity that she's got and it's great to see that transferring into a national environment.' Aryang is a staple of the Australian set up since she debuted in 2022, having been part of the 2023 World Cup gold medal winning side. Marinkovich said the defender had taken 'accountability for her performance out on court' to become one of the game's elite. 'She's really driving her own personal standard of how she goes about the game,' she said. 'I know she's really driven to the intensity that she brings out on court and I think you're seeing the reward of that. 'Her work-rate, her repeated efforts and her ability to get hand to ball particularly in this later part of the season has been phenomenal so I'm really excited to see how this is going to transition into the Diamonds.'
