KEY DECISIONS LOOM FOR RAYS
THE Northern Rays will await the outcome of a Netball Queensland board meeting before getting their athletes back on the court.
Rays chairman Michael Brennan said the state’s governing body of the sport met yesterday to discuss when the Sapphire Series would start now that the national Super Netball competition had been locked in.
Brennan said two options were tabled when the Queensland clubs met last week – a season that began in mid-august and ran until December or an October start playing until February next year, with a Christmas break included.
He said with the WNBL locking in its season dates, a final decision would also involve managing the clash of sports and venues.
“We would prefer the October start only because that’s what we’ve been working to since March,” Brennan said. “Our biggest concern is player fatigue, and a shortened preseason always leads to issues … with the rescheduling of the Super Netball part of the discussion.
“I think more so down in Brisbane where the venue is shared between Super Netball, Sapphire Series and now the basketball as well.
“We’ve got the same issue here with Townsville Stadium and the clash with Townsville Fire so we’re trying to work through how we will deal with that given our seasons will most likely clash.”
Brennan said the club had begun discussing the matter with Townsville Basketball, in particular using the facility next door to Townsville Stadium. As it stands the Fire have first priority of its use owing to an agreement with the council.
But Brennan was pleased with how discussions had so far developed and was confident benefits for both parties would come from it.
“Townsville Basketball were really keen to try and collaborate, because they can see the benefits of both codes if we can approach sponsors jointly,” he said. “If we can get a system in place it’ll be great for sponsors because they would effectively have year-round coverage of netball rolling into basketball.”
Brennan said the coronavirus-enforced hiatus from sport had not stopped the Rays from making moves behind the scenes to bring the club forward.
He is set to meet with James Cook University today to continue discussions about establishing a partnership and help attract more talented players to the region.
As for the return of New Zealand coach Gail Parata, Brennan said it was a waiting game given border restrictions but they were hopeful she would be back in Townsville by July.