The Firebirds, fresh from last weekend’s win over the Melbourne Vixens, are out to claim a third-straight Suncorp Super Netball victory when they face old rivals NSW Swifts in their final home match of the 2023 season.
That match comes directly after Queensland’s men’s netball team, the Suns, face NSW’s Men’s team in the final clash of this year’s State of Origin series between the two teams.
The men’s game may well be a decider with the first two matches of this year’s series to be held on Saturday in Brisbane.
Firebirds captain Kim Ravaillion says matches against the Swifts are always intense but the added interstate atmosphere will help to ensure an electric atmosphere inside Nissan Arena.
“We love playing against the NSW Swifts and to do it in front of our home crowd this weekend. I'm pumped. I can't wait to do it,” Ravaillion said.
“After watching the first game of the Origin, how Queensland showed up, that never-say-die attitude is exactly what we need to bring on the weekend against a quality side.
“The NSW Swifts are currently sitting first, so it would be nice to tip them off, considering we're not going to make finals. If we can finish our season on a high against quality opposition, then that's a big win for us.
“It's so cool that the guys get to play as a curtain raiser before us and hopefully they get the job done because that'll only inspire us to do that as well.”
The Suns’ earlier match against NSW will be the completion of the third interstate series between the two teams in an annual match-up that began in 2021.
Suns captain Glenn Ormesher said having the chance to showcase male netball in front of Firebirds’ fans at Nissan Arena was an exciting opportunity for him and his teammates.
“It's an absolute dream come true,” Ormesher said.
“Playing in front of Firebirds fans to showcase what we have, and also to stay after the game and support the Firebirds as well.
“It's a really exciting opportunity for us.”
Ormesher said while the schedule of three matches inside two days is a gruelling one, it’s not an unusual circumstance for the Suns.
“When we go away for our national tournaments it's a week and we play 11 or 12 games,” he said.
“That's really tough backing up the next day … every game is physical. Every game is fast.
“We'll have to play two games on the Saturday and one game on the Sunday which hopefully is going to be the decider to make it exciting for everyone.”
Having seen the growth in male netball over the years, Ravaillion encouraged fans to take the chance to watch the Suns in action.
“The standard’s definitely gotten so much better,” Ravaillion said.
“The competitiveness and the skills that the boys have worked on, it’s so noticeable and we love training against them.
“They only make us push ourselves even more athletically and, yeah, we can't wait to see how they go on the weekend.”
All three men’s open matches in 2023 State of Origin netball series will be livestreamed on the Queensland Suns Facebook page, while Sunday’s Suncorp Super Netball clash between the Queensland Firebirds and NSW Swifts is available for free via Kayo Freebies.
