The belated return of two key players has supercharged the Sunshine Coast Lightning, ahead of Super Netball’s opening round.
The Sippy-Downs based team recently welcomed back South Africans Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni, after their off-season stretched into the pre-season.
The duo went home for the summer break, but travel restrictions and limited flights kept them there for much longer than anticipated.
After quarantining on arrival in Australia, they are making up for lost time with some impressive training sessions.
“The change in team dynamics and on-court performance has risen since they have joined the group,” coach Kylee Byrne said.
“They’ve really raised the standard.”
Pretorius, the best goal defence in the national league and recently-named Lightning captain, said it was “nice to be back”.
She and goal keeper Maweni tried to do what they could in South Africa, with training and fitness programs.
“I feel like we’ve come back into the structure quite quickly,” she said.
“When we were home, we had communication with Mark (McKean), our strength and conditioning coach, and Kylee, to make sure we were on the right track with our preparations.
“So that has made it a bit easier”.
Pretorius said she wasn’t concerned about the delay, while at home.
“You can only control what you can. Even though we knew we could be staying longer, we still did our training there.”
The Lightning have also welcomed back Cara Koenen from her first campaign with the Australian team.
Byrne said the goal shooter returned with zest and confidence.
“She really had a voice over there (New Zealand) and she’s brought that back here.”
The Lightning also recently named a replacement for Ashlee Unie, after she suffered a serious knee injury.
Training partner Maddie Hinchliffe has been promoted to the roster proper, after impressing during the pre-season.
Midcourter Hinchliffe joined the team during the off-season after being a training partner at the Queensland Firebirds, where she played one game in 2019.
“Maddie has worked immensely hard since joining our club and it is pleasing to now grant her this opportunity to play at the higher level and elevate her game even further,” Byrne said.
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The injury was a devastating blow for Unie.
The first Sunshine Coast product to earn a full-time contract with the team in their four-year history, she was poised to add depth to the defence and was pressing for possible start, before she went down.
“We were just gutted for Ash,” Byre said. “Especially, to do it so early in the pre-season and not even get on to the court for a proper match.
“She did it (the injury) after working so hard to secure a contract, so it was really devastating.”
The 24-year-old has had surgery and started her recuperation.
“It’s all systems go for rehab and working towards her getting back on court, which will be next season,” Byrne said.
“She’s just going through that mental side of it at the moment, about what it all means and we’re working to see how we can keep her as involved as possible (this year).”
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Meanwhile, Byrne lauded the efforts of off-season signing and former Thunderbirds player Kate Shimmin.
She’s pressing for a starting role with an eye-catching pre-season.
“I can’t speak highly enough of how Kate had shifted into the team and what she does on court,” Byrne said.
“She brings something exciting and she’s working hard.
“It (the team line-up) will come down to who we’re playing against and what they have put on the training court.
“We might see something different. There’s a lot of good options and depth in the team.”
