Netball Super League | Chapman predicts extra gear for record-breaking Grand Final

Image: Ben Lumley

BBC commentator Lindsey Chapman has challenged Manchester Thunder and Loughborough Lightning to find that extra gear ahead of the Netball Super League Grand Final.

Chapman has spent the majority of the season in the commentary box and will finish with a flourish by calling the action on Saturday.

There’s plenty on the line for both sides, with Manchester Thunder looking to equal Team Bath as the most successful Netball Super League team with five victories, whilst Lightning are set their sights on back-to-back titles.

Ahead of the final event, Chapman has urged both teams to reach into their lockers and provide a showcase event worthy of a record-breaking crowd in Birmingham.

“It’s the highest crowd at a final ever with record-breaking crowd numbers,” she said.

“We want a really close-fought contest between the two top teams, showing what they’re made of and to have done their homework.

“It’s one apiece this season between Lightning and Thunder. I want to see who has managed to find the key to sort of unlock that big final win.

“If Thunder win, they will equal Bath’s record of five Super League Championships but if Lightning win when they’ve gone back to back

“They’ve got to have that extra something in their locker to get there.”

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Manchester Thunder have lost just one game all season, struck down 64-52 by Lightning in round six.

Karen Greig’s side turned the tables in round 12, with a 61-27 victory which now makes for a tasty battle for the overall title between the two teams.

Thunder versus Lightning is an age old debate but Chapman believes that we haven’t yet seen all of the tricks from a Thunder side that have impressed all season.

She said: “I remember asking Karen Greig, when they had first played all of the top four teams, I was like,’ Okay, so you’ve played the top four now. Is there something that you’re going to hold back for the rest of the season?’

“Do they have another card to play that they won’t show us until that final.

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“Karen obviously said that would be telling and I think that’s really interesting because as much as we’ve seen of the teams this season, they will want to have that extra gear and that’s what this final needs.”

The 2024 Netball Super League season has brought plenty of spicy battles to the plate, with London Pulse narrowly missing out on back-to-back finals after Lightning finally got the better of them in last weekend’s semi-finals.

The season has also seen greater intrigue off the court according to Chapman, who has welcomed the social media output from teams.

From TikToks to live-tweeting Games, Chapman believes every bit of content is key to developing the stories and characters of the league away from the court ahead of NSL 2.0.

“It just feels like the momentum has shifted a bit and netball is getting more noise,” she said.

“We’re really getting those characters now within the Super League, which is what we need. We need to have the games we need to have the big crashes, but also need the stories and the personalities come through.

“I’ve really enjoyed watching the teams on social media this season, getting a bit more access to training sessions and to different people or characters.”

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