GIANTS defender Kristiana Manu’a will attend the Diamonds Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Camp on the Sunshine Coast as an invitee next week. The Staging Camp will be held Wednesday 28 March – Sunday 1 April, with the Diamonds playing two final practice matches; against the Queensland Firebirds and Sunshine Coast Lightning.
The 12 members of the Diamonds Commonwealth Games Team will return to the Village on Sunday 1 April, joining the wider Australian Team.
A similar camp took place for Netball World Cup SYDNEY 2015, with the Diamonds based in a regional city prior to the major event.
Head coach Lisa Alexander said she was pleased for Kristiana to be back in the Diamonds environment, after a season-ending injury saw her miss the inaugural Suncorp Super Netball season.
“Kristiana has represented her country with the Diamonds and knows the environment inside and out. It’s wonderful to see her back on court after a difficult 2017.
“Training partners and invitees are a critical component of Diamonds preparation, and it’s a credit to our national system and athletes for ensuring athletes are available when required,” Alexander said.
Australia opens its 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games campaign against Northern Ireland on Thursday 5 April before its remaining pool matches against Barbados (6 April), South Africa (8 April), Fiji (9 April) and Jamaica (11 April).
Diamonds Commonwealth Games Training Partners
Name – test caps (state of origin/2018 Suncorp Super Netball team)
Kristiana Manu’a – 2 caps (Wellington, New Zealand, GIANTS Netball)
Kate Moloney – 3 caps (Victoria, Melbourne Vixens)
Tegan Philip– 12 caps (Victoria, Melbourne Vixens)
Gretel Tippett – 16 caps (Queensland, Queensland Firebirds)
