Big chance to shine in Sapphire Series

TOWNSVILLE City Netball president Marg Cedar believes Netball Queensland’s new Sapphire Series will give North Queensland athletes a chance to prove themselves without the need to move to Brisbane.

Seven teams will contest the statewide competition in 2019 with Townsville to be represented by the Northern Rays in partnership with the Cairns and Whitsundays netball associations.

The Sapphire Series aims to bridge the gap between the former Queensland State Netball League – which featured the Magnetic North Steelcats – and the elite level including Super Netball.

Townsville has a strong netball presence with local products Steph Wood, Cara Koenen and Kim Jenner all making the step up to Super Netball, while Wood is also in the Australian Diamonds.

Cedar hoped more North Queensland talents would be afforded those opportunities as they show their skills in a reg- ular competition through the Sapphire Series.

“It’s an opportunity for players to stay local. They won’t have to go to Brisbane to play semi- elite,” she said.

“Scouts and coaches from Super Netball teams will be able to see players in action and not have to rely on advice that there might be a good player in North Queensland.

“I think it is the stepping stone to show we need to look further afield than southeast Queensland for netballers.”

The Steelcats will continue to field a team in the new Ruby League, which will complement the Sapphire Series, with recruitment for the Northern Rays set to begin in the coming weeks.

Cedar expected that to in- clude some marquee players from outside North Queensland but she was confident a few Steelcats players were up for the challenge.

“I think some of our younger girls will definitely be able to step up,” she said.

“That doesn’t discount some of our more mature players because you definitely need that balance. We’ve got the likes of Brooke Williams, who is an international player with the Samoan national team. Someone like that in our team would be a godsend.”