The biggest and best season of the Origin Energy Premier League to date culminates on the greatest stage the competition has ever known with Ken Rosewall Arena hosting the Opens and Under 23s Grand Finals on Saturday night.
The home of the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball, the Arena is a fitting backdrop for the conclusion of the first non-COVID affected running of the Premier League since 2019.
With the NSW and Queensland Men doing battle in their State of Origin clash earlier in the afternoon, it promises to be a bumper day of action with some of the best up-and-coming talent the State has to offer showcasing their skills.
As ever, every moment of Grand Final action will be live-streamed and available to view via Cluch TV and the Premier League website.
Fans are also able to purchase tickets for Saturday’s deciders HERE
Below is a preview of what they can expect to see on the night.
OPENS GRAND FINAL
- North Shore United v Central Coast Heart (7.45pm, Sat 6 Aug)
A meeting of two of the most successful franchises of recent years and a match-up fitting for the big stage, this will be a cracker.
North Shore, who won the 2020 title were imperious in Conference stages and saw off the huge challenges of both ERNA Hawks and the Panthers in recent weeks. They are looking to go back-to-back after the 2021 competition was abandoned due to COVID-19.
In attack they have GIANTS sharpshooter Matisse Letherbarrow, who can score from all over the circle, and she is supported by quality in all other areas of the court.
However, the Heart have their own aces too. Double NSW Swifts Premiership winner and current GIANTS defender Lauren Moore has also won an Opens title with Central Coast and her experience will be crucial in the decider.
Moore will be aided in defence by current NSW Swifts Training Partner Dakota Thomas, and in Amber Cross the Heart have a state coach who knows what it takes to win at this level.
U23s GRAND FINAL
- Sutherland Stingrays v South Coast Blaze (6pm, Sat 6 Aug)
Former NSW Swifts captain Abbey McCulloch has shown she’s a force in the coaching ranks by leading the Sutherland Stingrays to the Grand Final of the Premier League Under 23s Division for the first time.
The Stingrays were the standout side in the Conference stages and enter the decider as the No.1 ranked team in the competition.
The Stingrays, who were the inaugural Opens Premiers back in 2016, are yet to win a Under 23s (formerly U20s) title but they have put themselves in the driving seat to correct that.
However, South Coast Blaze only just lost to the Stingrays by a couple of goals in the first week of Finals so they won’t be short of belief on Saturday.
They may be relatively new to the competition but the Blaze have been quick to make their mark, and this weekend will be the second Grand Final in their short history.
Back in 2020 they lost out to the Sparks, so they are hoping to go one better in 2022.
