Jenner happy to be home
THE last time Kim Jenner stepped on the court at Townsville Stadium she was a Pimlico State High School student dreaming of a career as an elite netballer.
The Queensland Firebirds defender will return to where it all began this afternoon as the Northern Rays play their first Townsville home game as part of the Netball Queensland Sapphire Series.
Jenner has been training and playing with the Rays while the Super Netball competition has a break.
The 21-year-old moved to Brisbane in 2016 to study at university and advance her netball career with the Firebirds and she said it would be a nice moment to represent her home town again.
“It’s such a special opportunity to be able to come back and play where it all started,” Jenner said.
“Mum always says she misses seeing me play every week so it’s awesome the community can come out and watch.”
The Rays are still chasing their first win in the new semi-professional state competition and they face a huge challenge against the unbeaten Brisbane North Cougars. Jenner has been a mentor to the young Rays players and she said she was confident they would keep improving as they get to spend more time together.
“We’ve got the skills and the smarts to really take it to these top teams. I think it’s just the experience and the connection on court and that will come (with) each game we play,” she said.
“I know that the girls here are so talented and that they’ve got the skills so it’s just been really good to work with them.”
The Rays claimed a surprise win over the Cougars during the pre-season, but coach Jillian Joyce said her side had to be prepared for a step up in intensity today.
“We’ve just looked at finishing off our moves and maintaining that intensity and not letting the pressure, whether that be physical or mental, get to us,” Joyce said.
The Sapphire Series clash will be part of a huge weekend of netball at Townsville Stadium with the first cluster round of the Ruby Series – North featuring the Magnetic North Steelcats.
The first game between the Steelcats and Marlin Coast Marlins starts at 11.30am followed by the main Sapphire Series clash at 1.30pm.