Clubs join forces to chase new series goal

TOWNSVILLE has entered a joint application with the Whitsundays association to enter the new Netball Queensland semi-professional Sapphire competition.

This year was the last year of the Queensland State Netball League, in which the Magnetic North Steelcats finished joint second alongside the Whitsunday Sharks in July.

The two rivals have put their difference aside to help foster and retain North Queensland talent.

Townsville City Netball president Marg Cedar said the decision to have Townsville and the Whitsundays combine was to boost the odds of making up one of the competition’s seven teams.

“If we are successful we will be based in Townsville,” Cedar said. “Our biggest goal for this is to be able to keep players in the north.

“If (players) want to go any higher (they) actually have to go to Brisbane. We want players to be able to work locally and study locally.”

Cedar said it was possible, looking at the success of the Townsville basketball teams.

“With the Fire (WNBL championship side) and the strength of the Flames and Heat (QBL) have, we want to emulate that with local netball,” she said.

She said the Sapphire series licence was for five years. This would apply pressure on clubs to ensure they were financially viable and able to maintain a solid fan base.

But Cedar said Townsville had the resources with the Diamonds set to play New Zealand at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre in October.

“We want to let everyone know that netball is not dying in the north.”

Cedar said if the application was successful, North Queensland would offer a wide range of talent from Townsville to Cairns and Mackay.

The Sapphire series will start in May 2019.