After a Newcastle championship season like no other, players are set to relish a return to a full 14-round competition with finals this year. Here is how the eight teams are shaping up ahead of round one on Saturday:
University of Newcastle
Coach: Traci Baber
Last season: First (24 points)
Squad news: University were undefeated on their way to finishing on top of the pointscore in a modified season last year due to the coronavirus crisis. The only loss has been goal shooter/goal attack Erin Asquith due to commitments with the NSW Swifts Academy. They have added Mackenzie Stuart, from Kotara, to their goal circle and 2020 championship Most Valuable Player in midcourter Claudia Rodwell from BNC. The University squad otherwise remains the same.
Coach comment: "It's a very strong squad, a very versatile team. We want to win. We don't have our name on that trophy yet and they're very focused on trying to do as well as what we did last year."
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Souths Lions
Coach: Tracey van Dal
Last season: Second (22), collected the inaugural club championship
Squad news: Midcourter Danielle Taylor, who can also shoot, returns from a knee injury and defender Nakita Jackson is back after being part of the Giants Academy last year. Key players will include experienced trio Narelle Eather, Katelyn Stansfield and Tianna Cummings and 2020 Lions player of the year Lucy Tonkin will be one to watch as she continues to build on her strong form from last year.
Coach: "Whilst we have great personnel, it's a challenge from a team point of view but we're aiming for the top four. From a club point of view, we're looking to retain the club championship."
Nova Thunder
Coach: Katie Robinson
Last season: Third (20)
Squad news: Thunderhave picked up midcourters Amalia Fitzhenry and Marnie Robinson and defender Tahlia Henry from their 23s. Defender Laura Nolan is pregnant but may be back on court later in the season. Nova have retained the core of their shooting end in Brooke Fennings, Abbie Gray and Caity Lobston, the key for Robinson will be finding the best way to use all three in a game. At the other end of the court, Georgia McVey will hold the defence together.
Coach comment:"We see ourselves as one of the top four now. We're not pushing or trying to get in any more."
West Leagues Balance
Coach: Tracey Baggs
Last season: Fourth (18)
Squad news: The three-time champions suffered due to restrictions on NSW Premier League and Metro players last year but used the opportunity to blood young talent and shooter Kate Love and defenders Ella Butcher and Emrah Manning will be the better for it this campaign. Experienced centre Sophie Buckley is back full-time and Baggs will welcome more opportunity to use Central Coast Heart shooters Maddie Taylor and Tarsha Hawley this season.
Coach comment: "The aim is definitely top four until we get a look at the other teams."
Inner Glow
Coach: Dwight Graham
Last season: Fifth (14)
Squad news: Inner Glow have picked up midcourters Khiani Gregory and Jessica Jennings from Junction Stella and goal shooter Tayla Winter from West. They have also recruited long-serving Charlestown representative player Aela Streatfield, who plays goal attack and wing attack. The loss of Jessika Christensen will be felt in the midcourt.
Coach comment: "The team finished fifth last year and are pretty keen to climb one more and get into that top four, which means finals. Another goal was around trying to win more games than last year."
BNC Whanau
Coach: Cherie Aoake-Puru
Last season: Sixth (12)
Squad news: BNC have lost last year's championship MVP Claudia Rodwell but welcome the return of Jamie Hohua from overseas to boost their attack end. Midcourter Victoria Aoake will again be a key player and and expect to see more from young talents Moana Puru, Hope White, Charlee Belcher and Cassie Craig.
Coach comment: "We've got a nice mix of youth and experience and I think they'll push for top four. They've got a lot of legs, the only thing that might catch them is there's probably not as much experience as I would like."
Kotara South
Coach: Rachel Gardner
Last season: Seventh (10)
Squad news: MidcourterMegan Aspinall and shooter Brytne Bunnett have come across from Junction. The return of experienced defender Rachel Dunn to the top grade will be valuable as she brings experience and vision. The Tigers have lost shooter Mackenzie Stuart.
Coach comment: "There's a lot to be excited about but we'll just set our goals fairly modestly and go from there."
Junction Stella
Coach: Naomi Myers
Last season: Finished last on eight
Squad news: There have been a few losses and the biggest challenge for Naomi Myers will be blending the new group. One of the losses is circle defender Emma Rumbel but the new coach expects defensive pairing of Charli Carroll and Celeste Alley to prove a bit of a surprise. They have picked up Nicole Waugh, who can play goal attack or goal defence and has relocated from Baulkham Hills, and centre Arrin Stirrat-Black from the North Coast.
Coach comment: "There's a lot of talent in the team. We have a number of representative players with high skill level, so I'm not necessarily working on their skill as such but more just game play. Just trying to work through the combinations and getting them comfortable with each other."
Round 1, Saturday at 3.48pm: University v Inner Glow, Kotara v West, Nova v Souths, BNC v Junction.
