T’birds lock in finals spot, end Lightning’s season

Steve Barrett | July 12, 2025

The two-time reigning champion Adelaide Thunderbirds have booked their place in the Super Netball finals after finishing the minor round with a hard-fought 59-55 victory over the Sunshine Coast Lightning.

After trailing at quarter-time in Saturday night’s winner-takes-all mini-elimination final at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, the Thunderbirds kept their dream of a historic championship three-peat alive with a commanding 19-10 second period.

Defenders Matilda Garrett and Latanya Wilson combined for 14 deflections and five intercepts, while shooter Romelda Aiken-George paired 43 goals with eight rebounds.

“Just absolute relief,” Garrett said post-match.

“I think everyone on our team was extremely nervous.

“We’ve had belief all along that we can make the finals.

“I’m just so proud that we’re actually going to be there.”

It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Adelaide (8-6) in 2025, rocked after three rounds by the departure of Jamaican superstar Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, the world’s best defender, through pregnancy.

But they have hit form at the right time, winning four of their last five to set up a minor semi-final date with the Melbourne Vixens next weekend.

If the Vixens upset the top-ranked West Coast Fever in Perth on Sunday, that semi-final will be held in Melbourne.

If the Fever get up, Adelaide will host the Vixens.

The Thunderbirds had some issues early, a lopsided 20-7 penalty count and a flurry of late goals from Cara Koenen giving the Lightning a 15-13 quarter-time cushion.

Adelaide turned the tables emphatically in the second term.

Aiken-George buried 15 goals, captain Hannah Petty subdued Liz Watson in the centre, and Sunshine Coast coughed up seven turnovers while chalking up an identical 20-7 penalty count to see the Thunderbirds motor ahead 32-25 at halftime.

Tayla Williams, unused in the first half, subbed on for Petty midway through the third stanza and had an influence through the middle as the home side stayed in the driver’s seat.

The gap blew out to 11 midway through the fourth before the Lightning went on a two-point binge, eroding the deficit significantly but not enough to save their season.

“Disappointed, of course,” Sunshine Coast skipper Steph Fretwell said.

“We started off the game really well, then the second quarter is when the game was won (by Adelaide).”