Talking points: Round 2

By Sophie Taylor

The Thunderbirds are back on top and there were  shining stars stepping up everywhere you looked during a big Round 2 of Suncorp Super Netball action.

From the big stats getters to the young guns pushing up the ranks, we run you through our top talking points.

TWO-PRONGED ATTACK PAYS

A threatening shooting end needs more than just volume in SSN.

Take the Swifts, for example.

Grace Nweke has been a revelation for the Swifts this season, piling on the offensive pressure with a 49-goal haul this week to complement her 51 goals in Round 1.

But when Nweke is under pressure?

Cue Helen Housby.

She played a secondary role to Nweke in the opening half, shooting just the three goals from five attempts and piling on 15 goal assists.

But Housby came alive after half-time, proving why she’s one of the best.

Eleven goals (four super shots) at 100 percent accuracy and 12 goal assists later, and Housby continued to prove why she’s so important to the Swifts lineup.

Similarly, the connection between Romelda Aiken-George and her goaling teammates continued to pay off.

Aiken-George’s 40-goal haul was crucial, but it was the additional load from Lauren Frew (14 goals, five assists) and Georgie Horjus (four goals, 19 assists) that allowed her to go about her business so well.

YOUNG DEFENDERS STANDING TALL

An influx of young defenders have been coming through the ranks in recent seasons, with important minutes awarded to some of Australia’s brightest young talents.

Isabelle Shearer has taken to the starting goal keeper role like a duck to water this season, slotting in seamlessly to finish with a whopping seven gains (three intercepts) against fellow young gun Liv Wilkinson this week.

Erin O’Brien led the defensive charge again for the GIANTS this round, once again earning the start over the experienced Tilly McDonell and picking off three gains for her trouble against an all-Diamonds shooting circle.

Elsewhere, Ruth Aryang only played 21 minutes in the Fever’s loss to the Firebirds but certainly made her presence felt, coming up with four gains (three intercepts) in the last quarter alone.

Despite a heavy loss to the Thunderbirds, Ash Ervin continued where she left off last week with five gains from 28 minutes on court.

ARE THE FIREBIRDS THE REAL DEAL?

The Firebirds copped their fair share of slack over the break, losing a chunk of their experience in one fell swoop.

But season 2025 looks good on them so far with two wins from two matches: their best start ever to an SSN season.

Mary Cholhok was questioned for her accuracy during Round 1, but clearly took on the feedback and made quick improvements to finish with 42 goals at 87 percent this week.

Emily Moore continued to go about her business, calm and composed as anything, while Ruby Bakewell-Doran sent reminders to spectators and players alike, just why she’s in the Origin Australian Diamonds squad.

But how long can it last?

So far they’ve only come up against the GIANTS and Fever, both clubs tipped to finish in the middle or lower this season.

The real test will be after the split round, with a week off before they take on the Sunshine Coast Lightning who will be keen for redemption after a big loss at home and the NSW Swifts who are looking deadly early in the season.

WESTON HITS 150

One club, 150 matches.

The remarkable achievement was marked by a six-goal win for Vixens stalwart Jo Weston, who played majority of her milestone match in goal keeper.

Despite the GIANTS continuously fighting their way back into the contest, Weston and her Vixens stayed clean and off the body to come away with an important win.

“It was really special to play a milestone game here in Melbourne,” Weston said post-match.

“To have so many people here and to get the win, that was what was most important to me.

“I count myself so lucky to be able to play sport at the elite level and play for such an incredible club and team.”

Despite the unfamiliar position, Weston used her footwork to full effect and came away with three gains against the GIANTS’ ever-moving goal circle.

ON THE STATS SHEET

Nweke tops the stats sheet for a second week for goals scored, taking her season tally to a round 100 goals, closely followed by Shimona Jok (92) and Cholhok (85).

Steph Fretwell has taken top spot for Super Shots, with 11 from 19 attempts to Matisse Letherbarrow’s 10 from 17.

Mavericks captain Amy Parmenter (five intercepts) is the only midcourter in the top five for defensive gains, equalling Lightning defenders Ervin and Tara Hinchliffe and GIANTS young gun O’Brien.

Defensively, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey holds onto top spot on the deflections leaderboard with 15 for the season, leading her T’Birds teammates Latanya Wilson (14) and Tilly Garrett (12).

Origin Diamonds Kiera Austin and Sophie Dwyer hold the top two centre pass receive stats (46 and 39, respectively), while Hannah Mundy and Housby are equal top for goal assists (43) ahead of Liz Watson, Tayla Fraser and Horjus.