Round two of the Suncorp Super Netball has come to a close, the weekend's action bringing exciting match-ups and nail-biting encounters.
The round opened with the Queensland Firebirds getting on the board for the first time in 2024 over the Giants, who remain one of the two teams in the competition yet to win a game this season.
Fans also got to witness the first instalment of a match-up between Courtney Bruce and Jhaniele Fowler Nembhard as Bruce returned to RAC Arena for the first time since departing the Fever.
The round closed with a physical contest between the New South Wales Swifts and Melbourne Mavericks, the Swifts getting their first win of the season while the Mavericks failed to secure that all-important first win in what was Gabi Sinclair's 50th game.
ESPN takes a look at the four biggest talking points of round two.
Has Super Netball adjusted to the new dangerous play ruling?
Across the offseason there has been a change to the rules by World Netball has changed the rules when it comes to dangerous play. With the caution being removed and suspensions being introduced after a warning or in the case of dangerous play.
In the updated Rules of Netball manual from World Netball, the manual states the following under dangerous play.
"A player must not take any action, either unnecessarily forceful, careless, reckless or dangerous that could affect the safety of another player. This specifically includes (but is not limited to) any action that results in either head and/or neck contact or contact of the head and/or neck with any part of the playing enclosure including the goalpost."
In rule 18, section 37 the manual goes on to say that players can be suspended in the event of endangering player safety without warning.
The new dangerous play rules are not hard to understand. They just need to be applied as they are written and the umpires need to be supported in doing so, because the objective is keeping players safe for the good of the game.
— Michelle Phippard (@mphippard10) April 21, 2024
"Where appropriate an umpire may order a player off the court even if no suspension has been given. This must be the case for intentional or highly reckless acts of dangerous play that endanger player safety."
In the ANZ Premiership league in New Zealand, the umpires have been quick to enforce the new rules with four suspensions in the opening round last week. In the SSN there have been several head-high contact across this round alone but there was no warning or suspension.
We're still only two rounds into the season and when it comes to rule changes it'll take some time for both players and umpires to adjust. Although with the seriousness of concussion, we don't want it to take a player to get hurt before these rules start to take effect in the competition.
Old habits die hard for Adelaide
The Adelaide Thunderbirds went down in a nailbiter with Kiera Austin securing a Super Shot to get the Vixens ahead by a point in the dying seconds of the game. But a glaring issue that affected the Thunderbirds in seasons past has once again come to the surface.
For the Thunderbirds, it was the inability to capitalise on the defensive ball that the defence won back. Shamera Sterling-Humphrey had six intercepts for the game which was the same amount she had in last week's win against the Firebirds, while Latayna Wilson (five intercepts, four deflections) and Matilda Garrett. (three intercepts and two deflections)
Unfortunately, the Thunderbirds' attack end wasn't able to capitalize down the other end with 14 unforced turnovers for the match, they also had a gain-to-goal rate of 67 percent to the Vixens' 70 percent. Almost all the turnovers for the Thunderbirds came in the attacking end with the defensive trio finishing with no turnovers between the three of them, which will be something that Tania Obst looks to improve on going into this week's match against the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
Shanice Beckford and Sunday Aryang dominate
Going into the match most of the attention was on the match-up between former Fever captain Courtney Bruce and sharpshooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, but the focus quickly shifted to two Fever Superstars who excelled in the club's 25-goal win against the premiership favourites in the Sunshine Coast Lightning
Shanice Beckford is quickly proving to be a threat in the Suncorp Super Netball competition, which sets up a dangerous proposition for opposition teams. Beckford can hurt teams with her speed and creativity outside the circle and then apply the scoreboard pressure with the ability to nail long-range shots. Teams may be reluctant to double team Fowler-Nembhard knowing that Beckford can be just as dangerous.
Fellow goaler Fowler-Nembhard said that she is proud of the way that Beckford made her mark on the competition in the opening two rounds of the season.
"I'm super proud of how Shanice has come out and stamping her class in the SSN," Fowler Nembhard said.
"She's doing really well and just our combination out there it keeps on growing, keeps on getting better and it's so amazing to know that we can do that."
While Sunday Aryang is stepping up in what is a new-look defensive circle for the Fever. Once again, Aryang was tasked with going head to head with a fierce goaler in Steph Fretwell and later young gun Reilley Batcheldor. Aryang finished the match with six intercepts and three deflections. Fever coach Dan Ryan said the game against the Lightning was some of the best netball he's seen Aryang play.
"[It was] some of the best netball that I've seen Sunday play," Ryan said post-match.
" I guess us in the environment aren't surprised because she's incredibly happy, she is so strong in her leadership with her fellow defenders. The communication between all three of them is amazing, the seamless changes we have are really sensational too.
"She's just got a new lease of life which is amazing and you know we're seeing Sunday really start to come into her potential which is so good for us and really scary for everybody else."
Firebirds attack on song
One of the biggest highlights for the Firebirds was their attack line, which was on song from the first whistle, blowing the Giants out of the water with a 21-11 opening quarter. The trio of Lara Dunkley, Tippah Dwan and Donnell Wallam were exceptional in the attack end, with the feeds into Wallam from Dwan, Dunkley and Macy Gardner coming in with almost pinpoint precision.
The centre pass to goal rate from the Firebirds was at 82% for the game which is a big improvement compared to last week's 62% against the Thunderbirds. Wallam was just about unstoppable with the Giants unable to contain the star Diamond; she finished the match with 51 goals and two super shots, shooting at 89% accuracy in the one point game.
While Dunkley was strong out at wing attack, having 25 goal assists and 43 feeds, and her defensive pressure when the Giants were bringing the ball out of the Firebirds attacking third was solid. As the Firebirds vice-captain continues to step up in season 2024.
Dwan is continuing to put together a strong season in purple with her injection into the Firebirds lineup taking the pressure off Wallam out the front. Not to mention her connection with Dunkley has grown since the 24-year-old has come back into the Firebirds environment. Dwan finished the match with 19 goal assists, 20 feeds and one intercept to go with her eight goals at 80% efficiency
Firebirds coach Bec Bulley was pleased with Dwan's game against the Giants, especially when she was able to get a turnover when the Giants were coming hard.
"I certainly think that the addition of Tippah actually brings a great level of calmness, experience and composure," Bulley said post-match.
"She's prepared to let the ball go, her feeds are great into Nellie but also she can put some shots up as well. There was a point in the game that we desperately needed to turn over and she was the one that put her body on the line got that turnover and that swung momentum back our way."