The next phase of the Suncorp Super Netball fixture has been confirmed, with all matches to be played at Nissan Arena in Brisbane.
The GIANTS will match up against the Queensland Firebirds again in round seven, before facing the Collingwood Magpies for the first time in round eight.
In round nine the GIANTS will take on the Melbourne Vixens for the second time, just nine days after their first match-up of the season.
After relocating to the Sunshine Coast for the next two games, the GIANTS will remain where they are and overnight in Brisbane for their round seven to nine games.
Head Coach Julie Fitzgerald said the recent relocation has been refreshing.
“We’ve been in Queensland for two-and-a-half weeks now and even though the feeling around the group has been amazing, it’s been nice to have a scenery change,” she said.
“The girls have been doing a great job at adjusting to "hub life", but it will be nice to for them to be able to grab a coffee and have a stroll along the beach.
Based on the latest announcement regarding rounds seven to nine, the GIANTS will remain based in the Sunshine Coast.
“We have taken everything into consideration to best provide a schedule for our team, taking into consideration location, travel and wellbeing,” said Fitzgerald.
Suncorp Super Netball Operations Manager Bill Allen said the league is pleased to have confirmed all but the final five rounds of the season.
“With an increased seating capacity and multiple warm-up courts available, Nissan Arena provided the ideal and most financially viable location for the league to hold the middle three rounds of the season,” he said.
“Clubs are asking for greater certainty around scheduling for the remainder of the season and this fixture now takes us through to the first week of September.
“We are incredibly grateful to management teams of USC Stadiums and Nissan Arena, to the Sunshine Coast Lightning and Queensland Firebirds, who are acting as host clubs to the league, and the teams who have relocated into the hub in south-east Queensland.”
To assist with managing the overall cost of delivering the season, all round seven matches and the first two matches of round nine will be conducted as closed events – this includes the GIANTS’ upcoming matches against the Firebirds and Vixens.
The GIANTS will take on the Sunshine Coast Lightning tomorrow, August 18 at USC at 7:30pm.
