Latest news with #JulieFitzgerald
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Mission Improbable: derby key to Giants' finals hopes
After managing a sole win in the opening two months of the Super Netball season, the Giants have reignited finals hopes that had seemingly been extinguished. Julie Fitzgerald's crew head into Sunday's derby against the NSW Swifts at Ken Rosewall Arena aiming to extend a two-game winning streak. With just four rounds left this season, there is scant time for the sixth-placed Giants (12 points) to leapfrog third-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning (24) or the fourth-placed Melbourne Vixens (24). Go-to goal attack Sophie Dwyer accepts the road to finals would be tough, but not impossible. "Mathematically, it's not out of the equation," she told AAP. "It will be hard for us. We left it pretty late in the season to be in good form, and it will depend on other results as well." A round-10 win over the Lightning marked the first time the Giants had scored back-to-back wins in two years. The match reminded Dwyer of the 2021 season, when her team were crowned minor premiers. "I'm not usually one to smile, and I was smiling and having so much fun," she said. "We're playing with freedom, and I think our attacking unit does work the best when we are playing like that. "There's a lot of belief and confidence in the group at the moment ... definitely a very special one for us." The 23-year-old's breakout season came in 2021, after an injury to teammate Kiera Austin presented her with an early opportunity to excel. Dwyer has paired perfectly under the ring with veteran shooter Jo Harten, tallying 181 goals this season. "We've been playing for a few years now together, and it felt like back to 2021 Sophie and Jo which is really exciting," Dwyer said. "Jo's been in some of her career-best form, and at her age, it's just amazing." The experience of Kiwi great Casey Kopua, who returned from retirement in 2025 to replace injured Giants defender Jodi-Ann Ward, has also boosted the Giants. Rival goal attack Helen Housby, a staple English Rose and Swifts centurion, described Kopua's recruitment as "huge" for the Giants. "She can use her body well. She's strong, but I also think the way that she's leading the defence is probably something they were desperate for," Housby told AAP. The Swifts' top ladder position is on the line after Briony Akle's side copped back-to-back losses, against the Vixens and West Coast Fever. The results were out of character for the previously undefeated side, but Housby wasn't focused on the ladder. "The top of the ladder, it's not ours," she said. "It could be anyone's at any point in the season, and it's not ours to defend. "We want a premiership and that can happen in a lot of different ways." After managing a sole win in the opening two months of the Super Netball season, the Giants have reignited finals hopes that had seemingly been extinguished. Julie Fitzgerald's crew head into Sunday's derby against the NSW Swifts at Ken Rosewall Arena aiming to extend a two-game winning streak. With just four rounds left this season, there is scant time for the sixth-placed Giants (12 points) to leapfrog third-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning (24) or the fourth-placed Melbourne Vixens (24). Go-to goal attack Sophie Dwyer accepts the road to finals would be tough, but not impossible. "Mathematically, it's not out of the equation," she told AAP. "It will be hard for us. We left it pretty late in the season to be in good form, and it will depend on other results as well." A round-10 win over the Lightning marked the first time the Giants had scored back-to-back wins in two years. The match reminded Dwyer of the 2021 season, when her team were crowned minor premiers. "I'm not usually one to smile, and I was smiling and having so much fun," she said. "We're playing with freedom, and I think our attacking unit does work the best when we are playing like that. "There's a lot of belief and confidence in the group at the moment ... definitely a very special one for us." The 23-year-old's breakout season came in 2021, after an injury to teammate Kiera Austin presented her with an early opportunity to excel. Dwyer has paired perfectly under the ring with veteran shooter Jo Harten, tallying 181 goals this season. "We've been playing for a few years now together, and it felt like back to 2021 Sophie and Jo which is really exciting," Dwyer said. "Jo's been in some of her career-best form, and at her age, it's just amazing." The experience of Kiwi great Casey Kopua, who returned from retirement in 2025 to replace injured Giants defender Jodi-Ann Ward, has also boosted the Giants. Rival goal attack Helen Housby, a staple English Rose and Swifts centurion, described Kopua's recruitment as "huge" for the Giants. "She can use her body well. She's strong, but I also think the way that she's leading the defence is probably something they were desperate for," Housby told AAP. The Swifts' top ladder position is on the line after Briony Akle's side copped back-to-back losses, against the Vixens and West Coast Fever. The results were out of character for the previously undefeated side, but Housby wasn't focused on the ladder. "The top of the ladder, it's not ours," she said. "It could be anyone's at any point in the season, and it's not ours to defend. "We want a premiership and that can happen in a lot of different ways." After managing a sole win in the opening two months of the Super Netball season, the Giants have reignited finals hopes that had seemingly been extinguished. Julie Fitzgerald's crew head into Sunday's derby against the NSW Swifts at Ken Rosewall Arena aiming to extend a two-game winning streak. With just four rounds left this season, there is scant time for the sixth-placed Giants (12 points) to leapfrog third-placed Sunshine Coast Lightning (24) or the fourth-placed Melbourne Vixens (24). Go-to goal attack Sophie Dwyer accepts the road to finals would be tough, but not impossible. "Mathematically, it's not out of the equation," she told AAP. "It will be hard for us. We left it pretty late in the season to be in good form, and it will depend on other results as well." A round-10 win over the Lightning marked the first time the Giants had scored back-to-back wins in two years. The match reminded Dwyer of the 2021 season, when her team were crowned minor premiers. "I'm not usually one to smile, and I was smiling and having so much fun," she said. "We're playing with freedom, and I think our attacking unit does work the best when we are playing like that. "There's a lot of belief and confidence in the group at the moment ... definitely a very special one for us." The 23-year-old's breakout season came in 2021, after an injury to teammate Kiera Austin presented her with an early opportunity to excel. Dwyer has paired perfectly under the ring with veteran shooter Jo Harten, tallying 181 goals this season. "We've been playing for a few years now together, and it felt like back to 2021 Sophie and Jo which is really exciting," Dwyer said. "Jo's been in some of her career-best form, and at her age, it's just amazing." The experience of Kiwi great Casey Kopua, who returned from retirement in 2025 to replace injured Giants defender Jodi-Ann Ward, has also boosted the Giants. Rival goal attack Helen Housby, a staple English Rose and Swifts centurion, described Kopua's recruitment as "huge" for the Giants. "She can use her body well. She's strong, but I also think the way that she's leading the defence is probably something they were desperate for," Housby told AAP. The Swifts' top ladder position is on the line after Briony Akle's side copped back-to-back losses, against the Vixens and West Coast Fever. The results were out of character for the previously undefeated side, but Housby wasn't focused on the ladder. "The top of the ladder, it's not ours," she said. "It could be anyone's at any point in the season, and it's not ours to defend. "We want a premiership and that can happen in a lot of different ways."
NZ Herald
02-06-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua completes shock comeback for Giants in Australia's Super Netball
Former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua 'absolutely loved every minute' of court time six years after retiring from professional netball. The 39-year-old made a shock return on Sunday for the injury-depleted Giants in the Suncorp Super Netball competition, answering an SOS call from coach Julie Fitzgerald.
RNZ News
30-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua returns to top flight netball
Casey Kopua playing against England in 2019. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Kopua has been called in as injury cover for Sydney side, the Giants for this weekend's match against the Melbourne Vixens in the Australian Super League. The 39-year-old Kopua is just three weeks shy of her 40th birthday. She retired from top flight netball in 2019 after leading New Zealand to the World Cup title. Kopua has a strong link with Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald, who coached Kopua for several seasons at the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic. Kia Ora Casey Kopua The former @SilverFernsNZ legend has signed as temporary replacement player for round eight. The move will aslo reunites Kopua with former teammates Australian international Jamie-Lee Price and England international Jo Harten, who she played alongside with at the Magic. In making the announcement the Giants said Kopua is "known for her tenacity, game smarts, and ability to lift those around her, the former world champion is expected to provide invaluable guidance to the young Giants squad." Kopua went into retirement as a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a Netball World Cup champion but has continued to play netball in top-level mixed competitions and lower leagues. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
