ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Liv Tchine deserved better. Loughborough made a statement. Thunder are into the Grand Final. Episode 17 has plenty to unpack.
This week on Here If You Need - The Netball Pod, Emily and Nia react to a huge NSL semi-final weekend, from the serious off-court conversations to the big on-court performances.
We discuss:
- The NSL apology after Liv Tchine was misidentified in a 100-cap post, why it was so hurtful, and why “sorry” cannot be where this ends
- More broadcast issues across semi-final weekend, including dark pictures, missed restarts, sound problems and a rogue pre-recorded interview moment
- Loughborough Lightning beating Nottingham Forest 77-57, and why the scoreline does not tell the full story
- Whether Forest emotionally peaked by making top four, and why that does not take away from a brilliant first season
- Loughborough’s knockout experience, shooting accuracy and Jo Trip’s brilliant job shutting down Suncorp star Shamera Sterling-Humphrey’s impact
- Manchester Thunder beating London Pulse to reach the Grand Final
- Why Thunder look like they are peaking at exactly the right time
- Liv Tchine growing into the game after a difficult week
- Alicia Scholes returning and changing the feel of Pulse’s attack
- Sam Bird’s emotional post-match reaction, and whether it helps or worries Pulse going into the prelim
- What Pulse need to fix with their live turnover to goal rate
Then we’re joined by Manchester Thunder team manager Phil Thomas, also known as Jeeves, to talk about life behind the scenes at one of the league’s most successful franchises.
Phil tells us:
- What a team manager actually does
- Why team managers are absolute gold dust
- Washing dresses, sorting sweets and chasing match-day logistics
- The Thunder players who always pick up the bags
- The time Karen Greig had to buy a microwave before a game
- Why players come back to Manchester Thunder
- How Thunder have grown from a poor Super Cup to a Grand Final
- What NSL 2.0 has changed behind the scenes
- Men’s, mixed and para netball at Thunder
- Why arena games matter, but why double headers might be the smarter route
Plus:
- Nia is officially the Louis Theroux of netball
- Emily gives a pregnancy and Mini Eggs update
- We discover Jade Clarke is very good at Fantasy Netball, because of course she is
- Nia explains why players do “top ups” after matches
- Prelim final predictions: Loughborough by seven or Pulse by two?
Big semi-final energy. Big behind-the-scenes insight. And yes, netball still has some standards to sort out.
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