Final caps off return for Russell
NETBALL: Lightning midcourter Jacqui Russell managed to squeeze a whole lot of life into her six years in the elite netball wilderness.
Russell is on the verge of claiming her second premiership medal when the Sunshine Coast take on the West Coast Fever in Sunday’s Super Netball grand final in Perth.
She was part of the Queensland Firebirds side that won the 2011 National Netball League and only reappeared at the top level this year with the Sunshine Coast.
The departure of Kiwi great Laura Langman and injuries to others threw the 30-year-old a lifeline she feared would never come.
In between trips to national league grand finals, Russell played in England, travelled, got her second university degree, worked as a high school teacher, broke her leg and starred in the second-tier national league and Queensland state league competitions.
“It’s a very different story to most other netballers that were playing in 2011 and are still playing at this level,” Russell said.
“I thought my chances of getting back to that level were probably done.”
But like a bolt out of the blue, the Lightning came calling with a vacancy in their midcourt.
Russell said the match-like intensity and physicality at Lightning training was a key to the club’s success and it had been “business as usual” in the build-up to the 2018 decider.
She said the culture led by coach Noeline Taurua ensured nobody panicked when the Lightning lost their first three matches by small margins.
“We always knew that once we found our footing, we would be OK. It’s been wonderful to be a part of this group and see how they handle everything,” Russell said.