Lightning set to net a really long reign

THE Sunshine Coast will reign as the world’s best domestic netball team for the best part of a year before they start their Suncorp Super Netball title defence.

Netball Australia will today announce that the 2018 season will not begin until after the Commonwealth Games in late April.

The governing body canvassed the possibility of starting the season in February – like this year – and taking a break during the Games.

But with so many international stars from the Super Netball competition set to play in one of the marquee events on the Gold Coast, Netball Australia opted to sit tight.

The Lightning will have to wait at least 10 months before their next official outing after smashing the Giants for the best part of three quarters on the way to an emphatic 65- 48 thumping in front of 8899 spectators at Boondall on Saturday night.

However, planning for their 2018 campaign is already underway with a majority of the squad on one- year contracts.

The free agents list will be released today and the club will begin talking to players tomorrow.

Lightning coach Noeline Taurua said contract negotiations were deliberately put on hold so the Sunshine Coast could focus on finals.

“What we decided as a team is that we were going to get through the grand final and put all the energy into that,’’ she said. “It was really important for the players, leading into this grand final that we concentrated on that.”