Steelcats strive to keep record intact
THE Magnetic North Steelcats will use inspiration gained from the plight of the Northern Rays to attempt to keep their perfect record intact this weekend.
Playing in the curtain-raiser to the Rays’ potential last Sapphire Series match against Sunshine Coast, the Ruby Series’ Steelcats face Cairns’ Marlin Coast, before meeting Mackay.
But while they have a clean record after two wins from as many games last weekend, Steelcats coach Angela Cooper said her side was not resting on their laurels.
“We’ve had lots to work on, so when you put them on court you see what needs to be done, so we’re keen to get back to training and work on fixing a few things,” she said.
Getting players back on court after a short pre-season will provide a reprieve for the Steelcats, and while they’re playing Marlin Coast and Mackay Whitsunday again, Cooper said every game was different.
Working on “connection” and a full four-quarter effort, Cooper was hopeful the side would hit top form.
“In one quarter (last weekend) we had a bit of a lapse and lost two points for the quarter, so that’s something we really identified where they let themselves down,” Cooper said.
“Every single one of the girls have advised on things they can improve on and I 100 per cent believe we can take another two in a row.
“That’s the main aim, to keep getting better and going forward.”
Wanting to put on a strong performance regardless, Cooper said Saturday’s game meant a lot the club and its players in showing support for the Rays.
Not only do the Rays cater for Steelcats’ stars and the current generation, but Cooper believed the next generation would be left out in the cold without the presence of the state-level club.
“We’ve got a girl that travels an hour-and-a-half from Ingham, one from Burdekin... even having those two encourages those regions and they’ve look up to Steelcats and now the Rays,” she said.
“It’s heartbreaking if they fold as we need a pathway here. A lot of people haven’t thought about when the girls have to move south.
“So many girls I’ve coached who’ve gone south; that first three to six months is so hard for them, so having that ability to stay here and play at that level is something I feel really passionate about.
“There’s some great girls coming through the ranks. (Former Cowboy) Paul Bowman’s daughter Grace is coming through and I could see her making the Rays and taking that pathway away is an injustice.”
While the support of the netball and wider community has rallied around the Rays this week, Cooper hoped more would be forthcoming.
“Everyone in Townsville, Mackay and Cairns really (needs to) make a stand and someone really needs to jump on board to make sure this doesn’t happen,” she said.
“So hopefully we get a huge crowd and we hope the stadium is full to show the support North Queensland has.”
The Steelcats meet the Marlins on Saturday at 11.30am at Townsville Stadium followed by the Sharks at 5.30pm and 9am on Sunday.