The first round of Super Netball has officially drawn to a close with the opening weekend providing just about everything, from one-point nail-biters to runaway victories.
Round one kicked off with a dominant display from the Collingwood Magpies over the NSW Swifts, with Jamaican international Shimona Nelson really spearheading a powerful Collingwood attack.
Meanwhile in Perth, the Grand Final rematch didn't disappoint with a one-goal win to the reigning premiers which kept fans on the edge of their seats for most of the match. Despite a fast start from the champions, the Vixens brought themselves right back in through the work of Emily Mannix and Mwai Kumwenda.
The weekend also saw big name recruits on show, with Eleanor Cardwell pulling on the pink dress for the first time and making her Super Netball debu,t while Kim Jenner made her debut for the Fever after switching from the Queensland Firebirds over the offseason.
Read on as we take look at the four biggest talking points to come out of round one.
Jamaican domination
The Jamaican players across the Super Netball competition have sent a warning to the rest of the world ahead of the World Cup in July, with all four players who were judged player of the match all part of the Sunshine Girls side that won the silver medal in Birmingham.
The Magpies' Jodi-Ann Ward was instrumental in her side's eight-goal win over the Swifts, with Ward getting fingertips to just about everything in the defensive circle; she was also able to cast doubt in the minds of Housby and Fawns. She finished the match with four intercepts and seven deflections, combining nicely with Magpies co-captain in Geva Mentor.
Down the other end of the court, Shimona Nelson was unstoppable in the goal circle with the Swifts not quite having an answer for the 24-year-old goal shooter. The Magpies' midcourters found easy feeds into the circle, especially through Kelsey Browne, with the connection between the two reaching new heights in 2023. Nelson was extremely accurate, shooting 53 goals across the match at 100 percent accuracy.
Out in the West, Jhaniele Fowler was strong in the Fever's one goal win in the Grand Final rematch with the shooter once again proving why she's a five-time Super Netball player of the year. Fowler was a force under the post, and much like Nelson, she was extremely accurate shooting 55 goals at 100 percent. Her combination alongside Sasha Glasgow has gone to a new level with both players really dominating for the Fever.
After an up and down 2022, Sunshine Coast Lightning defender Kadie-Ann Dehaney was instrumental in her team's win over the Giants, stepping up in the absence of vice-captain Tara Hinchliffe. She had a strong combination with the returning Karla Pretirous and just oozed confidence in the circle with her ability to back herself in and go out for a fly. Dehaney finished with eight gains, six intercepts and 10 deflections.
Closing out the round was Adelaide Thunderbirds star Shamera Sterling, who was extremely impressive while going head-to-head with Firebirds star Donnell Wallam. Whilst Wallam got the chocolates early, Sterling was vital in the Thunderbirds 23-point turnaround. Sterling finished with five intercepts and twelve deflections.
Magpies, Lightning prove the doubters wrong
After many had both teams poised to finish in the bottom four both the Collingwood Magpies and Sunshine Coast Lightning made a statement over the weekend getting big wins over the Swifts and Giants respectively.
Collingwood were on song from the first whistle and were able to maintain that high level of intensity across all four quarters, which is something the Magpies lacked in 2022. Sophie Garbin had a new level in confidence, after a strong international series. The 25-year-old was back at goal attack for the Magpies and created a lethal combination with Nelson, with the shooter even sinking six Super shots. The Magpies defensive end of Ward and Geva Mentor was at a whole never level, with the defence really disrupting the Swifts' attack.
Up on the Sunshine Coast, the Lighting were dominant over a depleted Giants lineup, starting the new era under coach Belinda Reynolds off with a bang. While there were concerns over the defensive end coming into the match, Dehaney and Pretorius silenced any doubters with the pair creating a dynamic defensive combination that rarely gave the young Giants shooters a chance to get momentum. Down the other end, Steph Wood and Cara Koenen were back at their best, with the pair really working well in that shooting circle.
Rising Star proving age means nothing
While the Queensland Firebirds didn't get the win over the Thunderbirds after going down by 15 goals, one of the biggest positives out of the match was the emergence of debutant Remi Kamo, who at the age of 29 performed strongly in her first ever Super Netball match, especially in the Firebirds' run in the first half.
Kamo, who signed with the Firebirds over the offseason proved to be a force in the goal circle with the defender being able to win plenty of ball back for her side, her reading of the play and her positioning allowing her to come away with the ball or get fingertips to allow one of her teammates to come in and mop up the crumbs.
Kamo held her own while coming up against England star Eleanor Cardwell when she went back into goal shooter. Kamo's partnership with Ruby Bakewell Doran was exceptional, with the pair playing very instinctively after spending a few years playing together at the Brisbane North Cougars. With that level of instinctive play in the defensive circle it's something the Firebirds haven't seen since Tara Hinchliffe and Kim Jenner were playing together back in 2021.
Super Mums return
Round one saw two players officially return to the Super Netball after missing last season for the birth of their daughters. Karla Pretorius and Romelda Aiken- George have officially returning to the court for their respective sides.
While in new colours, Aiken-George opened up the shooting for the Swifts sinking the first goal of the match after a wayward ball from the Magpies saw the Swifts capitalise through the club debutant. It wasn't the easiest of matches for Aiken-George or the Swifts, having her back on the Super Netball court after a year out of the game was a big win. Aiken-George finished the match with 31 goals and as combinations with Sophie Fawns and Helen Housby grow over time, there's no doubt we could see the 34-year-old get back to her dominant best.
For Pretorius it was almost like she never left, slotting straight back into that goal defence position for the Lightning, this time with a new defensive partner in Dehaney with the pair certain to excite fans for the rest of the season. Pretorius finished the match with two intercepts and seven deflections in the Lightning's strong win over the Giants, with her on-court leadership, especially in the defensive end, another highlight of her game.