Latest news with #PaigeHadley
News.com.au
22-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Shimona Jok, Mavericks stars, headline Super Netball Round 11 team of the week
The Melbourne Mavericks' efforts to ensure they don't finish with the wooden spoon this season have pushed three players into Code Sports' team of the week. The Mavs' win might not have been the best collective effort of the week but some of their players' individual efforts against the Firebirds were outstanding, with one key player from each third of the court making the team of the week. Shimona Jok's 60 goals showed what a dominant force she has become as a holding shooter, not just in Super Netball but amongst the world's best, with her efforts surpassing fellow Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard (Fever) and Kiwi Grace Nweke (Swifts) in round 11. Wing defence Amy Parmenter had a captain's knock in Brisbane, picking herself up from a massive clash with Firebirds Macy Gardner and Abi Latu-Meafou to lead her team to a crucial win, while Kim Brown had a cracker against her old side, finishing with eight gains at Nissan Arena. Meanwhile, co-captain Paige Hadley's efforts to lead the Swifts back from a terrible start against the Giants in the NSW derby pushed her into the week's best, alongside defender Teigan O'Shannassy, who had six gains in her side's comeback win. The victory kept the Swifts on top of the ladder, level on points with the Fever, whose midcourter Alice Teague-Neeld was once again outstanding in their clash with the Adelaide Thunderbirds. The Vixens' Kiera Austin rounds out the team after a player of the match effort in Melbourne's win over the Lightning on the Sunshine Coast.
News.com.au
22-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Super Netball, round 11: Swifts beat Giants in NSW derby, all but end rival's finals hopes
The Giants' chances of making an unlikely finals run have all but ended but not without giving ladder leaders the NSW Swifts a massive fright in a thrilling NSW derby. While there was a considerable Kiwi flavour to the match, with the past and future of the Silver Ferns going head-to-head, it was a pair of locals that took the match out of Giants hands, with veteran Swifts captain Paige Hadley and rising defensive star Teigan O'Shannassy sealing the win for the locals. The Giants led by 11 at the opening break after holding the Swifts to their lowest first-quarter score of the season but in a match that could define their season, the women in red fought back to win 75-66, only hitting the front for the first time in the final term. After eight consecutive wins there were plenty believing the Swifts could not be challenged for the title this season but back-to-back losses in the fortnight heading into the derby made the clash a crucial one for both teams. The Giants sprinted from the blocks, scoring the opening four goals of the game and restricted the Swifts to their lowest opening-period of the season, conceding just 10 goals to take an 11-point lead to the opening break. The league leaders started to claw their way back in the second quarter but still trailed by eight at halftime. But an 8-1 run to start the third quarter got them back in the game and after a 24-16 period, they went to the final break with scores level, hitting the front for the first time in the match when they opened the scoring in the final term. They went on with it, unstoppable in the final term as they gained momentum and confidence. 'I feel like that was a full team effort, obviously not the way we wanted to start that game but to be able to grind it out in those last three (quarters), I couldn't be prouder,' said Hadley, who finished with 18 goal assists, 28 feeds and two deflections in a points win over fellow Diamonds midcourter Jamie-Lee Price. 'To have 10,000 people here in red supporting us, we knew this one was a must-win for us, for our season, so a huge effort.' KIWIS' PAST AND FUTURE The trans-Tasman league may have ended almost a decade ago, but it was a contest between two Silver Ferns greats that was a major talking point in this game as former captain and Giants recruit Casey Kopua, who celebrated her 40th birthday during the week, and 23-year-old shooter Grace Nweke went head to head. Kopua finished with four gains - three of those coming in an enormous first quarter effort - but again, it was the direction and confidence she gave to fellow defender Erin O'Brien that was most telling. Nweke finished with 52 goals, 34 of those coming in the second half as the Swifts found their range and got the ball into the circle more directly and rapidly. HAS GIANTS' RUN STOPPED? The Giants were on the bottom of the ladder when Kopua joined them following the season-ending knee injury to Jamaican defender Jodi-Ann Ward. They notched back-to-back wins for the first time in two years ahead of the derby and a win would have given them an outside mathematical chance of a fairytale finals berth. That can't happen now but they will challenge teams in the final three rounds and could have a huge say in the make-up of the final four given they still face the Fever in round 13. TOSSY ON SONG The Swifts have plenty of match-winners and a core of vastly experienced players but Teigan O'Shannassy is making a case to be included in their starting seven as they ramp up their title challenge. The 188cm defender was brought into the match late in the first term but it was not until challenged by coach Briony Akle that she took off. 'I wasn't going for ball, I was letting them take over and Briony said 'pull your finger out', so I did,' O'Shannassy said. She finished with six gains, six deflections and four rebounds in a game-changing effort that would have been watched closely by Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich.
West Australian
18-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Record start continues for Super Netball pacesetters
The NSW Swifts have survived a first-half scare in their Sydney derby clash with the Giants before extending their record-setting start to the Super Netball season. Sunday's contest at Ken Rosewall Arena drew together two teams at different ends of the ladder, but the Giants threw everything they had at their unbeaten rivals before falling to an 82-69 defeat. While the Swifts remain unbeaten after six rounds - continuing their best start to a season - the Giants remain at the bottom of the ladder with just one win. The Swifts got off to a sluggish start that has typified their recent matches. They still managed to hold a three-goal lead at the main break after a feisty first half featuring a physical battle between Swifts centre Paige Hadley and her Giants counterpart and fellow Diamond Jamie-Lee Price. But the third quarter proved crucial as the competition front-runners streaked away with the match, extending their lead to 60-48 with sharp-shooter Grace Nweke almost unstoppable. Down the other end, Swifts keeper Teigan O'Shannassy also kept a tight lid on the Giants and was named player of the match. The Giants lost Jo Harten with a mystery injury. The veteran shooter made her way off court and down the tunnel midway through the third quarter and was unable to return. Harten had been in blistering form, with 25 goals from 25 attempts and two from four from the two-point range. Matisse Leatherbarrow took over the GS bib and was also on target with 16 goals from 19 attempts, including five super shots. The Giants tried to claw their way back into the match in the final term but the deficit proved too much, with the Swifts' Kiwi ace Nweke finishing with a mammoth haul of 64 goals from 67 attempts. Briony Akle's troops extended their dominance over the Giants, now winning their past six clashes. "We wanted to start each quarter hard, we wanted to come out and lay a mark and I think we did that," said ex-Giant O'Shannassy. "We got told by Briony to go out and do what we do best, individually and as a team, and getting that freedom from the coach is something that lifts everyone up. "It's the battle of NSW and no matter where they (Giants) are on the ladder they bring out the best in us and no matter where we are in the ladder it's always going to be a great game."
Perth Now
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Record start continues for Super Netball pacesetters
The NSW Swifts have survived a first-half scare in their Sydney derby clash with the Giants before extending their record-setting start to the Super Netball season. Sunday's contest at Ken Rosewall Arena drew together two teams at different ends of the ladder, but the Giants threw everything they had at their unbeaten rivals before falling to an 82-69 defeat. While the Swifts remain unbeaten after six rounds - continuing their best start to a season - the Giants remain at the bottom of the ladder with just one win. The Swifts got off to a sluggish start that has typified their recent matches. They still managed to hold a three-goal lead at the main break after a feisty first half featuring a physical battle between Swifts centre Paige Hadley and her Giants counterpart and fellow Diamond Jamie-Lee Price. But the third quarter proved crucial as the competition front-runners streaked away with the match, extending their lead to 60-48 with sharp-shooter Grace Nweke almost unstoppable. Down the other end, Swifts keeper Teigan O'Shannassy also kept a tight lid on the Giants and was named player of the match. The Giants lost Jo Harten with a mystery injury. The veteran shooter made her way off court and down the tunnel midway through the third quarter and was unable to return. Harten had been in blistering form, with 25 goals from 25 attempts and two from four from the two-point range. Matisse Leatherbarrow took over the GS bib and was also on target with 16 goals from 19 attempts, including five super shots. The Giants tried to claw their way back into the match in the final term but the deficit proved too much, with the Swifts' Kiwi ace Nweke finishing with a mammoth haul of 64 goals from 67 attempts. Briony Akle's troops extended their dominance over the Giants, now winning their past six clashes. "We wanted to start each quarter hard, we wanted to come out and lay a mark and I think we did that," said ex-Giant O'Shannassy. "We got told by Briony to go out and do what we do best, individually and as a team, and getting that freedom from the coach is something that lifts everyone up. "It's the battle of NSW and no matter where they (Giants) are on the ladder they bring out the best in us and no matter where we are in the ladder it's always going to be a great game."
News.com.au
11-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Sarah Klau's defensive masterclass headlines the Super Netball Team of the Week
A defensive masterclass from Sarah Klau in one of the best individual performances of the season has pushed her into Code Netball's team of the week after the NSW Swifts' win over great rivals the Melbourne Vixens. Klau was outstanding at the back, with her win in the head-to-head battle against Diamonds teammate Sophie Garbin going a long way to ensuring the Swifts maintained their unbeaten start to the season. Despite the match being a scrappy affair, it provided three players to the team of the week, with Klau joining her Swifts captain Paige Hadley (WA), while the Vixens' Kate Eddy won the wing defence spot in a tighter race after strong showings across the board by the defensive midcourters. Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard continues to be a rock in the circle for the Fever, dominating her third successive game since her round 3 return, with her 60 goals meaning she could become the first player to crack the 9000 goal barrier in ANZ Championship-Super Netball matches as soon as next week. In a strong week for centres, Mavericks' Molly Jovic gets the nod, just, over Kate Moloney and Jamie-Lee Price, the trio and fellow nominee Macy Gardner all pushing the efforts for their sides in weekend losses. The modest Klau downplayed her individual effort, paying tribute to her team. 'I think it was full-court defensive pressure,' she said 'The combination of (Maddy) Turner and I was just working today. Sophie (Garbin) and Kip (Kiera Austin) are world class, so we knew that it would be a big challenge. Vote for your team from the positional nominees below.
