Latest news with #Housby
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nothing to lose for Swifts after finals 'nightmare'
Having survived a living nightmare, star attacker Helen Housby says the NSW Swifts' Super Netball finals fate can't get any worse than what has already happened. The Swifts will be out for redemption - and a spot in the 2025 decider - when the 13-times finalists host the Melbourne Vixens in a do-or-die prelim at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday. Housby and her teammates were left reeling after a disastrous 77-45 semi-final mauling to grand final-bound West Coast in the RAC Arena "dungeon". After a perfect 8-0 start to the season, NSW have lost five of their past seven games. This is where we belong! Lets Go Swifts, Lets Go! 🙌🎟️ | — NSW Swifts (@NSWSwifts) July 24, 2025 Meanwhile, the Vixens are riding high after sensationally ending Adelaide's bid for a third-straight title with a 58-56 win last week. The road to grand final glory works favourably for the Vixens, who will enjoy home-court advantage - despite finishing fourth - if they reach the decider. Despite the Fever finishing on top of the table, Rod Laver Arena will host the grand final on August 2 under Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider. NSW can't look that far just yet, with Housby saying her side was taking a nothing-to-lose approach against Melbourne. "It kind of feels like we've lived our nightmare but, in saying that, the sun came up the next day," Housby said. "I don't want to say it was a relief but to get that game out of the way but still have a game to play, it almost feels like it can't go any worse than what it was (against West Coast). "We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain going into this game." Housby has seen this movie before too, saying NSW have never had it easy on the way to a grand final. The Swifts were thumped 58-48 by Sunshine Coast in the 2019 major semi-final before rebounding to win the title. Housby also points to their 2023 run, where the Swifts eliminated the Fever by one point in the dying seconds. They later lost the grand final by one point to Adelaide. "It does feel like a bit of deja vu," Housby said. "It always seems like there's a bit of adversity in our wins and in our premierships, so I quite like that. "I love to be on the edge of performance. This group is itching for it. Just itching for another chance to prove ourselves and to show the netball world that that's not what we stand for." Swifts co-captain and mid-courter Paige Hadley is expected to return from a leg injury in a massive boost for coach Briony Akle's team.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Nothing to lose for Swifts after finals 'nightmare'
Having survived a living nightmare, star attacker Helen Housby says the NSW Swifts' Super Netball finals fate can't get any worse than what has already happened. The Swifts will be out for redemption - and a spot in the 2025 decider - when the 13-times finalists host the Melbourne Vixens in a do-or-die prelim at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday. Housby and her teammates were left reeling after a disastrous 77-45 semi-final mauling to grand final-bound West Coast in the RAC Arena "dungeon". After a perfect 8-0 start to the season, NSW have lost five of their past seven games. Meanwhile, the Vixens are riding high after sensationally ending Adelaide's bid for a third-straight title with a 58-56 win last week. The road to grand final glory works favourably for the Vixens, who will enjoy home-court advantage - despite finishing fourth - if they reach the decider. Despite the Fever finishing on top of the table, Rod Laver Arena will host the grand final on August 2 under Super Netball's controversial policy of selling hosting rights for the decider. NSW can't look that far just yet, with Housby saying her side was taking a nothing-to-lose approach against Melbourne. "It kind of feels like we've lived our nightmare but, in saying that, the sun came up the next day," Housby said. "I don't want to say it was a relief but to get that game out of the way but still have a game to play, it almost feels like it can't go any worse than what it was (against West Coast). "We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain going into this game." Housby has seen this movie before too, saying NSW have never had it easy on the way to a grand final. The Swifts were thumped 58-48 by Sunshine Coast in the 2019 major semi-final before rebounding to win the title. Housby also points to their 2023 run, where the Swifts eliminated the Fever by one point in the dying seconds. They later lost the grand final by one point to Adelaide. "It does feel like a bit of deja vu," Housby said. "It always seems like there's a bit of adversity in our wins and in our premierships, so I quite like that. "I love to be on the edge of performance. This group is itching for it. Just itching for another chance to prove ourselves and to show the netball world that that's not what we stand for." Swifts co-captain and mid-courter Paige Hadley is expected to return from a leg injury in a massive boost for coach Briony Akle's team.
The Advertiser
15-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Housby heroics not enough as Vixens shoot to fourth
The Melbourne Vixens have defied a "lethal" Helen Housby to topple the ladder-leading NSW Swifts and move into Super Netball's top four. Sophie Garbin powered the Vixens' 70-68 win while player-of-the-match Jo Weston dominated defensively to inflict a second-straight defeat on the Swifts. It was party time on Sunday at John Cain Arena when Weston's long-range assist in the third quarter swelled the lead to 11 goals. But English star Housby was dealing in pairs, the veteran nailing eight-of-nine super shots to drag her side off the canvas. Her sixth got the margin back to four goals with three minutes to play, Housby then nailing two more on successive plays to make it a two-goal game in the final 30 seconds. From the restart Weston was then called for a held ball, but Swifts replacement shooter Sophie Fawns missed a super shot that would have levelled the game. "I'm happy we got that in the end ... the super-shot shooting from Helen and Sophie is just lethal," Weston said. "It was a real team effort and I was proud of our attack, they were really smart and worked the ball, drew penalties when they needed to and finished it off." A fourth-straight Vixens (6-4) win allowed them jump the Thunderbirds (5-5) into fourth with four regular-season games to play. "Just being really chaotic and having fun out there," Weston said of their intent. "We've been trying to emphasis the work rate and decision making … we weren't seeing the option because we weren't working for each other." Earlier, Garbin (47-of-49 attempts) and Austin (17-of-19 with 26 assists from 28 feeds) had spearheaded the Vixens' charge, the hosts forging clear after scores had been locked at 20-20 early in the second quarter. While assured of a finals berth, the Swifts' (8-2) loss came a week after Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard's 71 goals for the West Coast Fever ended their eight-game winning start to the season. The Melbourne Vixens have defied a "lethal" Helen Housby to topple the ladder-leading NSW Swifts and move into Super Netball's top four. Sophie Garbin powered the Vixens' 70-68 win while player-of-the-match Jo Weston dominated defensively to inflict a second-straight defeat on the Swifts. It was party time on Sunday at John Cain Arena when Weston's long-range assist in the third quarter swelled the lead to 11 goals. But English star Housby was dealing in pairs, the veteran nailing eight-of-nine super shots to drag her side off the canvas. Her sixth got the margin back to four goals with three minutes to play, Housby then nailing two more on successive plays to make it a two-goal game in the final 30 seconds. From the restart Weston was then called for a held ball, but Swifts replacement shooter Sophie Fawns missed a super shot that would have levelled the game. "I'm happy we got that in the end ... the super-shot shooting from Helen and Sophie is just lethal," Weston said. "It was a real team effort and I was proud of our attack, they were really smart and worked the ball, drew penalties when they needed to and finished it off." A fourth-straight Vixens (6-4) win allowed them jump the Thunderbirds (5-5) into fourth with four regular-season games to play. "Just being really chaotic and having fun out there," Weston said of their intent. "We've been trying to emphasis the work rate and decision making … we weren't seeing the option because we weren't working for each other." Earlier, Garbin (47-of-49 attempts) and Austin (17-of-19 with 26 assists from 28 feeds) had spearheaded the Vixens' charge, the hosts forging clear after scores had been locked at 20-20 early in the second quarter. While assured of a finals berth, the Swifts' (8-2) loss came a week after Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard's 71 goals for the West Coast Fever ended their eight-game winning start to the season. The Melbourne Vixens have defied a "lethal" Helen Housby to topple the ladder-leading NSW Swifts and move into Super Netball's top four. Sophie Garbin powered the Vixens' 70-68 win while player-of-the-match Jo Weston dominated defensively to inflict a second-straight defeat on the Swifts. It was party time on Sunday at John Cain Arena when Weston's long-range assist in the third quarter swelled the lead to 11 goals. But English star Housby was dealing in pairs, the veteran nailing eight-of-nine super shots to drag her side off the canvas. Her sixth got the margin back to four goals with three minutes to play, Housby then nailing two more on successive plays to make it a two-goal game in the final 30 seconds. From the restart Weston was then called for a held ball, but Swifts replacement shooter Sophie Fawns missed a super shot that would have levelled the game. "I'm happy we got that in the end ... the super-shot shooting from Helen and Sophie is just lethal," Weston said. "It was a real team effort and I was proud of our attack, they were really smart and worked the ball, drew penalties when they needed to and finished it off." A fourth-straight Vixens (6-4) win allowed them jump the Thunderbirds (5-5) into fourth with four regular-season games to play. "Just being really chaotic and having fun out there," Weston said of their intent. "We've been trying to emphasis the work rate and decision making … we weren't seeing the option because we weren't working for each other." Earlier, Garbin (47-of-49 attempts) and Austin (17-of-19 with 26 assists from 28 feeds) had spearheaded the Vixens' charge, the hosts forging clear after scores had been locked at 20-20 early in the second quarter. While assured of a finals berth, the Swifts' (8-2) loss came a week after Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard's 71 goals for the West Coast Fever ended their eight-game winning start to the season.
Perth Now
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Housby heroics not enough as Vixens shoot to fourth
The Melbourne Vixens have defied a "lethal" Helen Housby to topple the ladder-leading NSW Swifts and move into Super Netball's top four. Sophie Garbin powered the Vixens' 70-68 win while player-of-the-match Jo Weston dominated defensively to inflict a second-straight defeat on the Swifts. It was party time on Sunday at John Cain Arena when Weston's long-range assist in the third quarter swelled the lead to 11 goals. But English star Housby was dealing in pairs, the veteran nailing eight-of-nine super shots to drag her side off the canvas. Her sixth got the margin back to four goals with three minutes to play, Housby then nailing two more on successive plays to make it a two-goal game in the final 30 seconds. From the restart Weston was then called for a held ball, but Swifts replacement shooter Sophie Fawns missed a super shot that would have levelled the game. "I'm happy we got that in the end ... the super-shot shooting from Helen and Sophie is just lethal," Weston said. "It was a real team effort and I was proud of our attack, they were really smart and worked the ball, drew penalties when they needed to and finished it off." A fourth-straight Vixens (6-4) win allowed them jump the Thunderbirds (5-5) into fourth with four regular-season games to play. "Just being really chaotic and having fun out there," Weston said of their intent. "We've been trying to emphasis the work rate and decision making … we weren't seeing the option because we weren't working for each other." Earlier, Garbin (47-of-49 attempts) and Austin (17-of-19 with 26 assists from 28 feeds) had spearheaded the Vixens' charge, the hosts forging clear after scores had been locked at 20-20 early in the second quarter. While assured of a finals berth, the Swifts' (8-2) loss came a week after Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard's 71 goals for the West Coast Fever ended their eight-game winning start to the season.
The Advertiser
31-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Swift action paves way for stunning super comeback win
The NSW Swifts have posted their eighth consecutive victory after storming from 10 goals down to beat the Adelaide Thunderbirds 66-64 at a heaving Ken Rosewall Arena. The Swifts' unbeaten start to the Super Netball season looked certain to end after they fell behind 48-38 with just four minutes remaining in the third quarter of Saturday night's clash. A series of clutch super shots from Helen Housby helped close the margin to just three goals entering the final quarter, and the lead changed hands several times in a thrilling finale. There were a number of defining moments in the dying minutes. Housby's super shot with just over three minutes remaining gave the Swifts a two-goal buffer. Swifts goalkeeper Sarah Klau (four gains, three intercepts) snared a vital intercept a short time later, and the home side secured the win by passing the ball around for the final 60 seconds to deny Adelaide the chance to level the scores. Housby finished with 6-of-9 from super shot range, while Grace Nweke nailed 50 goals from 52 attempts. Thunderbirds goal shooter Romelda Aiken-George converted 43 goals from 48 attempts. The result ensured the Swifts (8-0) will finish the round either two or three wins clear on top of the ladder, while two-time defending premiers Adelaide slipped to a 4-4 record. "I think it's pure relief we got the job done," Swifts coach Briony Akle told Fox Sports after the win. "Coming out of halftime, I was a little bit worried coming off that 19-9 quarter. It wasn't good enough by us. "But I'm so proud of them for that fightback in the second half." Adelaide captain Hannah Petty praised her team's effort, despite not getting the win. "It's disappointing not to get the win tonight, but it's given us a lot of belief we can do it," Petty said. The Swifts took a 19-17 lead into quarter-time, but it was all the Thunderbirds in the second term as they stamped their authority on the match. Adelaide outscored the Swifts 19-9 for the term, marking the first quarter this season that NSW have been kept to single digits. Aiken-George scored her 9000th national league goal late in the first half, coming just a week after West Coast Fever goal shooter Jhaniele Fever-Nembhard became the first player to achieve the feat. The momentum changed dramatically in the dying minutes of the third quarter courtesy of Housby's hot hand, and NSW came up with clutch plays when it mattered most in a see-sawing final term. The NSW Swifts have posted their eighth consecutive victory after storming from 10 goals down to beat the Adelaide Thunderbirds 66-64 at a heaving Ken Rosewall Arena. The Swifts' unbeaten start to the Super Netball season looked certain to end after they fell behind 48-38 with just four minutes remaining in the third quarter of Saturday night's clash. A series of clutch super shots from Helen Housby helped close the margin to just three goals entering the final quarter, and the lead changed hands several times in a thrilling finale. There were a number of defining moments in the dying minutes. Housby's super shot with just over three minutes remaining gave the Swifts a two-goal buffer. Swifts goalkeeper Sarah Klau (four gains, three intercepts) snared a vital intercept a short time later, and the home side secured the win by passing the ball around for the final 60 seconds to deny Adelaide the chance to level the scores. Housby finished with 6-of-9 from super shot range, while Grace Nweke nailed 50 goals from 52 attempts. Thunderbirds goal shooter Romelda Aiken-George converted 43 goals from 48 attempts. The result ensured the Swifts (8-0) will finish the round either two or three wins clear on top of the ladder, while two-time defending premiers Adelaide slipped to a 4-4 record. "I think it's pure relief we got the job done," Swifts coach Briony Akle told Fox Sports after the win. "Coming out of halftime, I was a little bit worried coming off that 19-9 quarter. It wasn't good enough by us. "But I'm so proud of them for that fightback in the second half." Adelaide captain Hannah Petty praised her team's effort, despite not getting the win. "It's disappointing not to get the win tonight, but it's given us a lot of belief we can do it," Petty said. The Swifts took a 19-17 lead into quarter-time, but it was all the Thunderbirds in the second term as they stamped their authority on the match. Adelaide outscored the Swifts 19-9 for the term, marking the first quarter this season that NSW have been kept to single digits. Aiken-George scored her 9000th national league goal late in the first half, coming just a week after West Coast Fever goal shooter Jhaniele Fever-Nembhard became the first player to achieve the feat. The momentum changed dramatically in the dying minutes of the third quarter courtesy of Housby's hot hand, and NSW came up with clutch plays when it mattered most in a see-sawing final term. The NSW Swifts have posted their eighth consecutive victory after storming from 10 goals down to beat the Adelaide Thunderbirds 66-64 at a heaving Ken Rosewall Arena. The Swifts' unbeaten start to the Super Netball season looked certain to end after they fell behind 48-38 with just four minutes remaining in the third quarter of Saturday night's clash. A series of clutch super shots from Helen Housby helped close the margin to just three goals entering the final quarter, and the lead changed hands several times in a thrilling finale. There were a number of defining moments in the dying minutes. Housby's super shot with just over three minutes remaining gave the Swifts a two-goal buffer. Swifts goalkeeper Sarah Klau (four gains, three intercepts) snared a vital intercept a short time later, and the home side secured the win by passing the ball around for the final 60 seconds to deny Adelaide the chance to level the scores. Housby finished with 6-of-9 from super shot range, while Grace Nweke nailed 50 goals from 52 attempts. Thunderbirds goal shooter Romelda Aiken-George converted 43 goals from 48 attempts. The result ensured the Swifts (8-0) will finish the round either two or three wins clear on top of the ladder, while two-time defending premiers Adelaide slipped to a 4-4 record. "I think it's pure relief we got the job done," Swifts coach Briony Akle told Fox Sports after the win. "Coming out of halftime, I was a little bit worried coming off that 19-9 quarter. It wasn't good enough by us. "But I'm so proud of them for that fightback in the second half." Adelaide captain Hannah Petty praised her team's effort, despite not getting the win. "It's disappointing not to get the win tonight, but it's given us a lot of belief we can do it," Petty said. The Swifts took a 19-17 lead into quarter-time, but it was all the Thunderbirds in the second term as they stamped their authority on the match. Adelaide outscored the Swifts 19-9 for the term, marking the first quarter this season that NSW have been kept to single digits. Aiken-George scored her 9000th national league goal late in the first half, coming just a week after West Coast Fever goal shooter Jhaniele Fever-Nembhard became the first player to achieve the feat. The momentum changed dramatically in the dying minutes of the third quarter courtesy of Housby's hot hand, and NSW came up with clutch plays when it mattered most in a see-sawing final term.
