Sunshine Coast Lightning

The Sunshine Coast Lightning is an Australian netball team in Sunshine Coast, Queensland which competes in the premier domestic league, Suncorp Super Netball. The team were formed in 2016 as the second Queensland-based side, during the disbanding of the ANZ Championship. The team is a joint venture owned by the Melbourne Storm and University of the Sunshine Coast. In their four years of competition in Super Netball, the Lightning have won two premierships and featured in three grand finals.

Sunshine Coast Lightning
Founded2016
Based inSunshine Coast, Australia
RegionsQueensland
Home venueUSC Stadium (3,000)
Head coachKylee Byrne
CaptainKarla Pretorius
Premierships2 (2017, 2018)
LeagueSuncorp Super Netball
2020 placing3rd (after finals)

History

Following the dissolving of the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship competition in 2016, Netball Australia announced the creation of a new national Netball league, which would feature the five original Australian teams and three additional teams. In May 2016, Netball Australia confirmed that professional rugby league club the Melbourne Storm was one of three preferred licence holders for the new teams.[1]

A Lightning game against the West Coast Fever in progress

The club was launched in August 2016. The club colours (Navy Blue, purple and yellow) and logo (a bolt of lightning) are similar to the features of the Storm. Speaking at the launch, Storm CEO Dave Donaghy stated it was "exciting for the junior netballers, the fans, local businesses and the entire Sunshine Coast region. This is your team".[2] Noeline Taurua was immediately appointed coach of the team and high-profile Australia national team players Caitlin Bassett and Stephanie Wood were the team's inaugural signings.[3][4] The Lightning play home matches at the USC Stadium, which was upgraded prior to their first home match to seat 2,200 people and featured corporate boxes and broadcast facilities.[2] As a result of growing demand, the venue was upgraded to 3,000 seats and featured new change rooms, a function room, public bathrooms and upgraded sound system; all of which was completed in May 2019.[5] The Lightning have also played occasional home games at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, usually against local rivals the Queensland Firebirds.[6]

2017-20: Back-to-back premierships

The 2017 Suncorp Super Netball season saw the debut of the Sunshine Coast Lightning. England international Geva Mentor was appointed inaugural captain of the team.[7]

After finishing second (out of eight teams) on the ladder, the Lightning defeated the Melbourne Vixens by one goal in the major semi-final to progress directly to the Grand Final, where they comfortably defeated Giants Netball at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and became one of the few expansion teams to record a Premiership in their debut season in Australian sport.[8][9] The following season the Lightning narrowly qualified for finals, though defeated the Firebirds and Giants to qualify for the second consecutive Grand Final, this time against West Coast Fever in Perth. In a tight game before over 13,700 fans, the Lightning registered a three goal win to record their second consecutive premiership.[10] After Mentor left the club at the end of the season, Laura Langman was appointed captain, with Karla Pretorius named vice-captain.[11] The club continued their dominance in the 2019 season, losing just two matches on the way to their first minor premiership. Despite qualifying for their third successive grand final, the Lightning were surprisingly defeated by the New South Wales Swifts at home. The result marked an end of an era as inaugural coach Noeline Taurua left the role after three seasons and was replaced by long-time assistant at the club, Kylee Byrne.[12]

Players
2021 Sunshine Coast Lightning roster
PlayersCoaching staff
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Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height
Cara Koenen GS, GA 27 February 1996 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Madeline McAuliffe WD, C 5 December 1994 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Phumza Maweni GK, GD 4 September 1984 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Karla Pretorius GD, WD 12 March 1990 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Peace Proscovia GS 1 November 1989 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Ashlee Unie GD, WD 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Mahalia Cassidy C, WA 9 October 1995 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Laura Scherian WA, C 26 June 1988 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Stephanie Wood GA, WA, GS 28 November 1991 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Kate Shimmin GD, GK, WD 13 February 1992 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Head coach
  • Kylee Byrne


Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  • – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: Team website Last updated: 11/11/2020

Notable past players

Competitive record
Season Standings Regular season Finals Head coach
W D L
Sunshine Coast Lightning
2017 2nd 11 1 2 Won Qualifying Final (Vixens, 56–55)
Won Grand Final (Giants, 65–48)		 Noeline Taurua
2018 4th 8 1 5 Won Elimination Final (Firebirds, 57–56)
Won Preliminary Final (Giants, 59–50)
Won Grand Final (Fever, 62–59)		 Noeline Taurua
2019 1st 12 0 2 Won Semi Final (Swifts, 58–48)
Lost Grand Final (Swifts, 47–64)		 Noeline Taurua
2020 2nd 9 0 5 Lost Semi Final (Vixens, 47–63)
Lost Preliminary Final (Fever, 59–73)		 Kylee Byrne
Regular season 40 2 14 1 Minor Premiership
Finals 6 0 3 2 Super Netball titles

Territory Storm
Main article: Territory Storm

Territory Storm are effectively Lightning's reserve team. They play in the Australian Netball League. After missing the 2016 ANL season, Territory Storm rejoined in 2017 after forming a partnership with Lightning. [13][14][15] Several Lightning players, including Cara Koenen, Annika Lee-Jones, Peace Proscovia, and Jacqui Russell, have subsequently lined out for Storm. [16]

References
  1. "Netball Australia confirms new eight-team division and bumper broadcasting deal". ABC News. 19 May 2016.
  2. "Our new team's striking display of confidence". Sunshine Coast Daily. 18 August 2016.
  3. "Sunshine Coast Lightning storm into new netball competition". The Roar. 17 August 2016.
  4. "Sunshine Coast Lightning unveil Diamonds stars Caitlin Bassett and Stephanie Wood as inaugural signings". Courier Mail. 22 September 2016.
  5. "Lightning buoyed by stadium upgrade". ESPN Netball. 26 November 2018.
  6. "Sunshine Shootout heads to Brisbane". Sunshine Coast Lightning. 20 March 2019.
  7. "EXCLUSIVE: Lightning has perfect Mentor for captain". Sunshine Coast Daily. 11 February 2017.
  8. Davis, Greg (4 June 2017). "Sunshine Coast Lightning's licence to thrill can deliver grand final success". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  9. "Sunshine Coast win Super Netball title". Wide World of Sports. 17 June 2017. Archived from the original on 17 June 2017.
  10. "Lightning strikes twice as Sunshine Coast retain Super Netball title". ABC News. 26 August 2018.
  11. "New leadership team announced for season 3". Sunshine Coast Lightning. 15 April 2019.
  12. "Lightning coach Noeline Taurua quits club to return to NZ but will be returning in 2021". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 August 2019.
  13. "Territory eager to join Coast's Lightning show". www.sunshinecoastdaily.com. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  14. "2019 Territory Storm Team Announced". nt.netball.com.au. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  15. "Netball Northern Territory Annual Report 2019" (PDF). nt.netball.com.au. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  16. "Storm's Strong Finish Pleases Coach Voge". sunshinecoastlightning.com.au. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
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