Three pillars of Bond success

EXCELLENCE, effort and execution.

It’s the three words the Bond University Bull Sharks have chosen to live by ahead of the inaugural netball Sapphire Series which begins in less than two weeks.

Designed as a Queensland state competition, the newly formed league will feature seven teams who all have a connection to a university, although Bond is the only university that has taken full ownership of a licence.

Bond University director of netball Stu Allen believes that after three months of preseason training, the Bull Sharks are itching to tear their competition to shreds.

“We want to work hard and be as good as we can be,” he said.

“We’ve set ourselves a goal of playing finals but from a franchise perspective, we want to play hard and engage with the local netball community.”

After formerly partnering with the Golden South Jaguars in the now defunct Queensland State Netball League, Allen said Bond’s decision to take on a Sapphire Series licence demonstrated the university’s commitment to Gold Coast elite female sport.

“It’s been a full-on process,” he said. “Netball Queensland developed the model and the decision for Bond to be involved was made before my time but I’m glad it was because we want to be a presence in local women’s sport.”

From there, Bond have gone about assembling a competitive playing list which is set

to feature local players, former Gold Coasters who return home after seeking opportunity elsewhere and even South Africa and New Zealand international talent.

The Bull Sharks will be coached by Somerset College mentor Sheryl Burns who joins Bond after representing New Zealand in netball, basketball and surf lifesaving.

“She has set a high standard and knows what it takes to be elite,” Allen said.

Bond competed in a preseason tournament a few weeks ago and now face a clash against the Fijian national side before Round 1.

“We’ve been training since March which has involved two training nights a week and two morning sessions at the Bond high-performance centre so it’s been full-on preparation,” Allen said.

“We haven’t had a game where we’ve had our full team together yet.”

The Bull Sharks start the season on June 23 against the USC Thunder.