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Imports key to Super Netball semi-finals

3 minute read

The Super Netball semi-finals will feature star imports on all four teams and their performances will go a long way towards deciding the 2021 champions.

JHANIELE FOWLER-Reid.
JHANIELE FOWLER-Reid. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

A place among the pantheon of all-time great imports awaits the overseas star who can lift the Super Netball trophy when the premiership is decided on August 28.

Nine foreign raiders boasting a combined five Australian national league titles and three Commonwealth Games gold medals are dotted among the four remaining teams who will contest the semi-finals at Brisbane's Nissan Arena on Saturday.

In the minor semi-final, Sunshine Coast Lightning trio Karla Pretorius, Peace Proscovia and Phumza Maweni tackle West Coast Fever's Jhaniele Fowler and Stacey Francis-Bayman.

In an all-NSW major semi-final, Jo Harten's Giants will meet Helen Housby, Sam Wallace and Natalie Haythornthwaite from the NSW Swifts.

England great Geva Mentor, New Zealand champion Laura Langman and Jamaican Romelda Aiken, the most prolific shooter in the league's history, are regarded as the best imports to have featured in the competition.

No individual has won more than Mentor's four titles, and the threesome have been successful in a combined nine grand finals.

There's still some sweat to come before the Lightning earn a shot at their fourth grand final in five years but Pretorius would not look out of place in the same company as Mentor and co.

The South African, who faces Jamaica's four-time league MVP Fowler and an in-form Alice Teague-Neeld in Saturday's eliminator, is within sight of a third Super Netball crown.

Her coach Kylie Byrne has mentored Langman and Mentor at the Sunshine Coast, and as an assistant at the Firebirds steered a young Aiken.

Byrne argued no international has been more influential than Pretorius for her telescopic arms and poise under pressure.

"I don't think we'll see another Karla in our competition for quite a while," Byrne said.

"For me, she's my favourite. When you talk about a complete package you talk about Karla. "I'd hate to coach against her."

Swifts coach Briony Akle picked Aiken as the competition's premier import for her impact over 14 seasons with the one club.

"It all started with Romelda. She and Geva were the trailblazers," she said.

But Akle would not trade Trinidad and Tobago sharpshooter Wallace or her pair of Roses for anyone.

The trio was vital to the Swifts' 2019 premiership, with Haythornthwaite torching the Lightning with 40 feeds in the grand final.

"They've been a key to our success and helped us greatly in 2019," Akle said.

"They're full of gratitude to be playing in the best league in the world. And when you're grateful for something then you're going to give it your all."

Akle will have the luxury of Paige Hadley returning to the midcourt after resting the Diamond from the Swifts' Round 14 victory against the Lightning.

Hadley rarely misses a game despite playing in one of the most demanding positions, a role that requires her input at both ends of the court where she can contribute about 150 - more than two per minute - possessions in a match.

"When you're running out a full game you've got to be smart about how you use the bench," Akle said.

LEADING IMPORTS IN SUPER NETBALL

* Geva Mentor, 204 games, 4 premierships

* Romelda Aiken, 197 games, 3 premierships

* Laura Langman, 222 games, 2 premierships

* Karla Pretorius, 118 games, 2 premierships

* Jhaniele Fowler, 116 games, 0 premierships

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