COVID-19 forces 11th-hour move of Super Netball to Queensland
Super Netball will relocate to Queensland to avoid mushrooming COVID-19 concerns across NSW and Victoria.
Competition hierarchy made the decision on Saturday night, meaning players across the country woke up to the news on Sunday that they will spend at least part of the season in the Sunshine State.
The 11th-hour move comes 12 days before Super Netball's start date on August 1.
The six non-Queensland teams will now be rushed to the Sunshine Coast to complete their 14-day isolation period.
The two Victorian-based teams, the Vixens and Collingwood, are are due to travel to the hub Sunday and will kick off the league while in quarantine after an exemption was granted by the Queensland government.
The Super Netball commission is still hashing out details in the hope of hosting some games across South Australia, Western Australia and NSW later in the season so players are not restricted to Queensland for the entire campaign.
While rigid, the decision allows for a full 60-match season across 14 rounds and a normal finals series.
The games, including finals, will be played in south-east Queensland at the Nissan Arena in Brisbane, the University of the Sunshine Coast Stadium and regional Queensland.
The Swifts could be relocated for the entire season in an effort to save Super Netball.Credit:Narelle Spangher, Netball NSW
Western Australia-based side West Coast Fever expressed their disappointment with the news in a statement on Sunday.
The club's managing director Simon Taylor said Super Netball officials had overlooked his state.
"WA is arguably the safest environment in Australia, and we have had several options on the table with the league for the last six to eight weeks which have been overlooked," Taylor said.
"Our focus and determination will see us unite even more than ever as we seek to challenge for the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball competition title in what is undoubtedly the most challenging year of the sport's history."
More to come.