Reigning champions Adelaide Thunderbirds were brought crashing back to earth as they suffered their second loss of the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League season, edged 64–63 by a desperate and determined GIANTS Netball side at the Ken Rosewall Arena on Saturday.

Despite the best efforts of Jamaican standouts Romelda Aiken-George and Latanya Wilson, who both played pivotal roles throughout the contest, it was their compatriot Jodi-Ann Ward's GIANTS who finally broke through for their first win of the season, as they showcased composure and hunger in a game that went down to the final whistle.

With their backs against the wall after three consecutive losses, the GIANTS came out with fire in their bellies and romped the first quarter with the kind of speed, precision, and confidence that had been lacking all season. English international Jo Harten led the way with 36 goals from 38 attempts, seamlessly fed by Jamie-Lee Price, who found pockets of space through slick movement and clever feeds.

Supporting Harten, Sophie Dwyer added 24 goals, including clutch conversions down the stretch, while Matisse Letherbarrow proved a handy contributor off the bench with a perfect four from four.

On the other end of the court, it was the familiar reliability of Romelda Aiken-George that kept the Thunderbirds within touching distance. The towering Jamaican shooter netted 40 goals from 45 attempts, often outmaneuvering the GIANTS’ defenders and holding strong in contested situations. Her chemistry with Lauren Frew, who finished with 23 goals, including seven Super Shots, kept the scoreboard ticking and the Thunderbirds in the hunt.

GIANTS players celebrate their win. (Photos: Getty Images)

Latanya Wilson, as always, brought her defensive hustle to the forefront and applied intense pressure in the GIANTS' attacking third. The Jamaican wing defender was particularly effective in the second half, combining well with substitute Tilly Garrett to create turnovers and disrupt the rhythm of the GIANTS' play.

The second quarter was a scrappy arm wrestle, marked by full-court defensive pressure and few clean scoring opportunities. Both teams were guilty of throwing away possession, yet neither side blinked under pressure. The GIANTS held a slender 35–30 halftime lead, but momentum swung like a pendulum throughout the third term.

Thunderbirds coach Tania Obst made limited changes early, but as the final quarter loomed and the gap remained at five goals, the injection of fresh legs in defence started to pay dividends. The final five minutes saw a tactical shift as Wilson and Garrett ratcheted up the pressure, forcing GIANTS into errors and opening the door for a late Thunderbirds surge.

With just minutes remaining and the Thunderbirds down by two, Lauren Frew stepped up and drilled multiple Super Shots from long range to threaten a last-gasp comeback. Despite Erin O’Brien and Ward clamping down defensively, Frew’s accuracy under duress was remarkable.

But the GIANTS, wounded and winless prior to this contest, were not to be denied. Harten and Dwyer remained cool in the clutch, handling the ball with calmness and sinking the crucial shots that kept the Thunderbirds at bay.

Despite the win, the GIANTS remain at the foot of the table on four points, while the Thunderbirds, without star defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey out due to pregnancy, remain second on eight points.