We are really excited to now be just weeks away from the start of the season as we embark on an exciting new era in the Netball Super League.
Anyone who has been following the recent developments in international netball will have realised there are some player injuries which impact our squad as we countdown to the 2025 campaign, and we wanted to update you on what’s happening and what it means.
Firstly, you will have seen that Lois Pearson has had to withdraw from the Roses squad for the upcoming Nations Cup due to injury. She underwent successful surgery on Saturday and will be out of action with no exact timeline at this point. We’re working closely with Lois and the England Netball team to provide all the support she needs during her recovery.
If you have been following the Sunshine Series in Jamaica, you may have seen that South Africa’s Nicola Smith sustained a broken arm during the first test. We are expecting a full recovery and are working closely with Nicola to provide her with every support but it’s too soon to know when she will be back on court at the moment.
Alongside the exciting news that Nat Metcalf is pregnant and, of course, also unavailable for the season ahead it means we are currently looking at all our recruitment options for what are exceptional circumstances for Thunder’s squad just weeks ahead of the first game.
Head Coach Karen Greig said:
“I think it’s important to be honest that this is a really difficult time. The performance team are working incredibly hard to find solutions and ensure we are as competitive as we always try to be for the start of the new era of Super League. Anyone who knows Thunder knows that we are used to dealing with knocks, challenges and changes and our strength and resilience is something we are famous for. I am sure this year will be no different.
“We’re also all thinking of Nicola and Lois at what is a challenging time for them personally. They are surrounded by the love and care of the entire Thunder family and we’ll be supporting them with their recoveries so they can be back, fit and firing, as soon as possible.
“Stay tuned, Thunder fans, and show your support by buying tickets for the season ahead so you can see our squad in action. Stay tuned for further updates, and as soon as I know any more, I’ll let you know!”
