Latest news with #KenRosewallArena
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giants send retiring legend Harten out a winner
Jo Harten's legendary 19-year career has ended in fairytale fashion as the Giants concluded their 2025 Super Netball campaign by steamrolling the Melbourne Mavericks 74-59 at a full-voiced Ken Rosewall Arena. Four-time club MVP Harten racked up 33 goals, including seven two-pointers, and eight assists on Saturday as the Giants (5-9) finished the season strongly with four wins from their last six games to leapfrog the Mavericks (4-10) into sixth place. Harten, 36, announced her retirement during the week, drawing the curtain on a glittering career that featured 117 Tests for England - including Commonwealth Games gold - 202 national league games and an MBE for services to netball. Hot hands Harten 🔥Watch every game live on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and Binge. — Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) July 12, 2025 The Giants rode an unstoppable wave of emotion to the finish line, swamping Melbourne 25-14 in the fourth quarter. With only seconds remaining, Sophie Dwyer gave up a wide-open super-shot to spot up Harten, who, fittingly, finished the job with a long-range bomb on the fulltime bell before being swarmed by teammates and teary coach Julie Fitzgerald. "For my sins, I'm just a born winner and I was getting a bit touchy at three-quarter time when we were neck and neck in a really competitive game," Harten said, holding baby daughter Eddie, after receiving a bouquet of flowers from Netball NSW. "It was an awesome game to finish on. "I was once one of those little girls dreaming of making it to the big time. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be here today." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Suncorp Super Netball (@supernetball) The Giants started sluggishly, falling behind 8-3, before tidying up their penalty count and closing the gap to 18-17 at quarter-time. Molly Jovic was prolific through the middle for the Mavs but with Erin O'Brien subbing on and subduing Sasha Glasgow, the Giants were able to square the scores at halftime. Hope White was injected at wing attack for the hosts and did a fine job on Melbourne captain Amy Parmenter, while some late cough-ups from the Mavericks' frontcourt saw the Giants finish the quarter on a 6-0 run, turning a deficit into a 49-45 advantage. From that point, the Giants - and the great Harten - were simply unstoppable.
News.com.au
21-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Super Netball 2025: Housby, Nweke vs. Kopua in derby clash of NSW titans
One of Super Netball's greatest players has turned super fan of a game in which she'll be a central character. Champion goaler Helen Housby has snuffed out any idea the Swifts are disappointed the Giants are hitting their straps ahead of the NSW derby, saying she's excited at the prospect of playing in one of the most anticipated games of the season. The teams may be sitting at opposite ends of the competition ladder, with the Swifts on top and Giants in sixth place having just lifted themselves from the cellar. But it's the Giants who head in with the best form line, their back-to-back wins the first time they've had consecutive victories in two years, while the Swifts lost outright lead of the competition after two straight losses in the last fortnight. Throw in the Giants' recruitment of Silver Ferns legend Casey Kopua setting up a clash between New Zealand netball's past and future - in super shooter Grace Nweke - and there's every ingredient needed for a fantastic feast. 'It's the kind of game that you want to play in,' said Housby, who believes the form guide has to be thrown out ahead of Sunday's match in front of a sold out crowd of about 10,000 fans at Ken Rosewall Arena. 'It's got a story to it, and it's got excitement to it and we love trying to figure out ways to play on different players, special players - and I think this is no different.' As strong a player as Kopua is in her own right - despite having been retired for the past six years - it's the way she's bringing the Giants' young defenders into the game that's helped them take such a step forward and Housby will have her own battle against outstanding young goal defence Erin O'Brien, who has flourished under the former Fern's on-court guidance. 'I think she was a really great recruitment for them,' Housby said of Kopua. 'She's obviously been retired for a little while but I don't think she's lost any of her game sense, game smarts … and more than anything, it's the confidence and the composure that she gives to the defenders around her. 'I think they've probably been desperate for a little bit of leadership back there and especially with Jodi-Ann (Ward's) sad (knee) injury, she was the perfect person to come in and kind of wrap them into a solid defensive game plan and mindset. 'She's an absolute stalwart of netball, one of the best defenders that the Silver Ferns have ever produced and for the (Giants) to have picked her up, they'll just be gaining information from her, learning from her and in turn, they can use her body, her physicality, to their advantage, so she's going to be huge for them and I'm quite excited by the prospect (of playing her).' Kopua's likely direct match-up will be Nweke though, the outstanding shooter who has given up her New Zealand eligibility this year to cross the ditch and play Super Netball with the Swifts to improve her game. 'I've got no doubt that most young Silver Ferns probably see Casey as a bit of an idol,' Housby said. 'I haven't actually spoken to Grace personally about it, I'll have to have a few words with her and see how she's feeling about it but I think it's going to be incredible. 'I think if you are a Silver Ferns supporter, you'll definitely be tuning in to watch this across the ditch, because I think it's a pretty special match-up … and it's pretty awesome to see the changing of the guard in the Silver Ferns superstars and I can't wait to be involved and to see, hopefully Gracie shine.'
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Australia will play Belgium in Davis Cup tie in Sydney in September
Australia will play a home Davis Cup tie for the first time in three years when Alex de Minaur leads the team in a Sydney showdown with Belgium as they chase a fourth-straight berth in the finals. Captain Lleyton Hewitt has long bemoaned the format that forced the Australians to try to qualify at overseas venues and de Minaur said the chance to play on his 'favourite court' at Ken Rosewall Arena was overdue. It's the first time since 2022 that the Australians, who defeated Sweden 3-1 in February to reach the qualifying stage, will get home court advantage. 'I'm looking forward to playing in Sydney, it's no secret Ken Rosewall Arena is my favourite court,' world No.10 de Minaur said. 'I have some amazing memories competing there, and to be back in Australia in September is going to be a lot of fun. 'We haven't played Davis Cup at home since 2022, so it means a lot. We are hungry as ever to qualify again for the finals and really give it everything.' The Australians are seeking a spot in the Davis Cup Final 8, this year being staged in Bologna in November, 'It's really exciting to be back with the team in Sydney for Davis Cup in September,' Hewitt said. 'We will be led by our No.1 Alex de Minaur, who's showing us why he's one of the world's best. 'Our focus is on getting through and giving ourselves the opportunity to move through to the Final 8 in Italy, so I'm asking the fans to come and pack out Ken Rosewall Arena in September to support us.' Australia leads Belgium 4-3 in the head-to-head series, including a 3-0 win in Hamburg during the group stage in 2022. 'This tie against Belgium isn't going to be easy. They are a quality team, and they did really well against Chile in February,' Hewitt added. Australia's team line-up will be confirmed in mid-August. Australia has finished Davis Cup runners-up twice in the last three years, in 2022 and 2023, but last won the title in 2003 when Hewitt helped take down Spain at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
News.com.au
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Hannah Petty's career-best performance headlines the Super Netball Team of the Week
A career-best showing from Hannah Petty has led to the Adelaide Thunderbirds captain snaring a spot in the team of the week but there's little doubt the dual-premiership winner would hand that back for a win. The Thunderbirds and NSW Swifts played out the match of the season at Sydney's Ken Rosewall Arena, with the Swifts staging a spirited fightback to keep their unbeaten record alive. Petty was outstanding at centre, with 19 goal assists, 31 feeds and two crucial gains and while her team were pegged back after holding a double-digit lead at one stage in the third term, they showed they remain premiership threats, even without star defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey. Check out Emma Greenwood's Super Netball team of the week below, and use our team picker tool to select your team of the week for Round 8. Just two Swifts are among nominees for the team of the week though, a reflection of the fact they were well down for much of the night and won the moments – rather than the contest overall – to help their team fight back into the match. Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard was back doing Fowler-Nembhard things in becoming the first player to sink 6500 Super Netball goals, her only miss coming from a super shot attempt in the final seconds with the game won. Check out Emma Greenwood's Super Netball team of the week below, and use our team picker tool to select your team of the week for Round 8. Kiera Austin and Hannah Mundy sneak into CODE Sports' team of the week after leading the Vixens to a hard-fought win, although they had plenty to contend with from a fighting Giants outfit including young defender Erin O'Brien. Sunday Aryang continues to impress in the west, whether defending in the circle or out at wing defence, where she starred on Sunday, while Courtney Bruce made a return to full form to help the Lightning maintain their place in the top four.
News.com.au
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Super Netball round 8: Melbourne Vixens 71 d. Giants 61
The Kiera Austin-led Melbourne Vixens defied the unlikely return of a netball great and the hot shot of Matisse Letherbarrow to stage a strong fightback against the Giants and propel themselves to the edge of the top four with back-to-back wins. After regaining their mojo last week against the Queensland Firebirds, the Vixens recovered from a shaky start and a six-goal deficit in the second quarter to score a critical 71-61 win at Ken Rosewall Arena. With the spotlight on the shock comeback of 40-year-old former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua as an injury replacement for the Giants, the Vixens were led by an MVP performance from goal attack Austin, who finished with 22 goals from 28 attempts, including six from nine from two-point range, alongside her 33 feeds. The Vixens claimed consecutive wins for the first time this season to keep themselves within striking distance of a top four assault and have now drawn level with the fourth-placed Adelaide Thunderbirds on points, but remain just outside of the top four on percentage. The Vixens didn't take the lead in the match until early in the third quarter and managed to find momentum from there as they started to capitalise on turnover ball and stave off the sharpshooting threat of Letherbarrow, who had been on fire in the goal circle for the Giants. 'We probably started a little bit slower than what we would have wanted, but we were able to come out after halftime and hit it hard, which we should have been doing from the get-go,' Austin said. 'They are a really good super-shot threat, so I'm really proud of the defenders, I thought they stayed switched on the whole time. 'I think we probably could have rewarded them a little bit more in the first half, but we're building and it's good things to take from it and lots to look forward to for next week.' Sophie Garbin (43/51) topscored, while captain Kate Moloney and wing attack Hannah Mundy also starred in the midcourt for the Vixens, who face the Mavericks in the Melbourne derby next round. CASEY COMEBACK All eyes were on the comeback of former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua after the Giants pulled the biggest selection shock of the season this week. Called on to replace the injured Jodi-Ann Ward, Kopua has been retired since 2019, but was thrust straight into the action at goal keeper on Diamonds' goal shooter Sophie Garbin. Kopua showed she had lost none of her goal-circle smarts, causing trouble for the Vixens' gaolers with her long reach and ability to read the play. Kopua, whose instruction for the Giants' young defenders Erin O'Brien and Amy Sligar out the front was also invaluable, played the full 60 minutes at goal keeper. Pre-game, Giants' coach Julie Fitzgerald defended the decision to bring Kopua in as an injury replacement instead of a pathway player. 'If you look at it we are by far the youngest team in the league,' Fitzgerald said. 'I think the best thing I can do for those young pathway athletes is to put someone out there with a bit of experience and guidance who can lead them around the court a bit.' But Fitzgerald was unable to shed any light on how long the Kopua comeback would last. 'How long she will be here for is a little bit debatable at the moment,' Fitzgerald said. 'But we will see. I asked her on Tuesday, she was on a plane Wednesday and at training on Thursday, which I think is pretty incredible for a mother of three.' While the spotlight was on Kopua, it was Letherbarrow who lit up the goal circle at the other end with her long-range shooting. Letherbarrow, starting at goal shooter, was on fire during the power play period and equalled her own best of nine supershots. The 23-year-old finished with 40 from 50 for the match alongside goal attack Sophie Dwyer (10 from 12).
