As the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball season draws closer, the previews are flowing, and the profiles are growing.
Third by third, player by player, we’re breaking it down to give you the insight you need ahead of the GIANTS’ 2024 Super Netball season.
The Names:
Sophie Dwyer, Jo Harten and Matisse Letherbarrow
It’s the unit of the GIANTS’ 2024 line up that remains unchanged, with the self-described “shooting sisters” returning for their fourth consecutive season together.
At their best, the league’s longest serving shooting trio is the most dominant in the competition. No matter which combo, all three players can punish long range in the power five time and through their agile and dynamic movement, can be equally as damaging during the first 10 minutes of the quarter.
Their unit specific skill, combined with Jo Harten’s knowledge and play-making ability, has this trio primed for many seasons to come.
A stalwart of the GIANTS’ line-up since the club’s inception in 2017, 35-year-old Harten spent some time on the sidelines during the 2023 season, as she battled an aggravated netball knee.
However, Harten’s omission allowed world netball up-and-comer Sophie Dwyer, to combine with pathways partner Matisse Letherbarrow, with the duo showcasing the depth of the GIANTS’ shooting third.
22-year-old Dwyer spent the summer with the Origin Australian Diamonds and has continued to take her game to the next level, as she sent a strong message to opposition teams during the most recent Team Girls Cup tournament at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena.
Leatherbarrow will be looking to build momentum on her 2023 form and exposure and will continue to mature and develop each opportunity she gets.
With her knee issues under control and a full pre-season under her belt, Harten is set to prove yet again why she is one of the most prolific shooters the league has to offer.
The Numbers:
For those that like the numbers, here’s how our shooters present:
- At Team Girls Cup, the GIANTS recorded 23 Super Shots at 66%, the third most for the league
- In 2023, the GIANTS recored the 4th best Super Shot scoring rate
- In 2023, Sophie Dwyer shot 67 Super Shots, the third most for the league
The (Coach’s) Notes:
Coach Julie Fitzgerald provides some insight into the shooting trio:
Sophie Dwyer: “Get ready to see Sophie Dwyer take her game to a new level this year. I was so impressed with the way she took ownership of the attacking third at Team Girls Cup. She was strong, she was accurate, she was mature, all whilst taking on an enormous load in regard to minutes.”
Jo Harten: “We all know how threatening Jo Harten can be. Her skill, her intelligence and her leadership – back at her best, I'm really looking forward to seeing what she can deliver for us in 2024.”
Matisse Letherbarrow: “Matisse has had a really strong pre-season and we saw some great signs from her in our regional roadshow matches in Wagga and Griffith. If she continues on this trajectory, playing with strength and confidence, her skill can hold up against any defender in the competition.”
