Jenner geed up for historic showdown
FIREBIRDS young gun Kim Jenner says Queensland’s defenders have had the best possible preparation for tomorrow’s historic Super Netball clash with Collingwood.
They have been training against a fired-up Romelda Aiken, who was benched in the final quarter of last week’s 12-goal loss to the Melbourne Vixens.
The Firebirds will play their first home game at the new $44 million Queensland State Netball Centre at Nathan against the star-studded Magpies, who yesterday suffered a major blow when cocaptain Madi Browne was ruled out for the season with a knee injury.
And 21-year-old Jenner – who is firmly on the Australian Diamonds’ radar – said if training intensity was anything to go by, goal-shooting star Aiken and the Firebirds as a whole were ready to make amends for their Round 1 loss.
“Didi (Aiken) is always really hard to come up against in every training session,” Jenner said. “It’s great that we get that practice and come up against the best. She’s been extra motivated, pushing us to be better as well.’’
Jenner’s aggression and athleticism at goal defence was one of the driving forces for the Firebirds in their blistering opening quarter against the Vixens when they raced to an early 8-1 lead.
But a glut of turnovers and penalties saw the momentum swing towards the Vixens.
The Townsville product said the Firebirds needed to again put the pedal to the metal from the opening pass – and keep it there – against a Collingwood outfit that handed the Sunshine Coast Lightning their heaviest loss with a 57-43 romp in Round 1.
“It was really exciting to come out of the blocks strongly and we want to do that in every single game,’’ Jenner said.
“That will be the aim again this week – to come out really hard and really push them for that first quarter but then also for the three quarters after that. They have a lot of experience in their team and they are coming off a really great win last week, so it will be a really big challenge.’’
Jenner said it was an honour to be part of the first Firebirds side to christen the shiny new home for the sport in Queensland.
“It’s so special to hear all the stories of what the girls had to do to get to this,” she said.
“It’s special to now be here and have our own venue to train and play at. It really cements a home for us and really allows the young girls to come through.’’