Netball Super League | Pearson shuns the limelight but reaps the rewards

Credit: Ben Lumley

Lois Pearson does not like the limelight, but her performances keep putting her in it.

The goal attack wowed for runners-up Manchester Thunder in the 2024 Netball Super League season.

Her displays saw her voted by her peers as the Players’ Player of the Season, beating out Funmi Fadoju of London Pulse and her Thunder teammate Imogen Allison.

“It is an honour to be picked by the people that you are playing against and the people that you are playing with,” Pearson said. “It is just a really nice feeling.

“I’ve been at Thunder for a while and I have a lot of trust in the players around me and the coaches around me.

🏐 344 goals
🎯 245 feeds
🤝 395 centre pass receives
5⃣ Five #NSL2024 Team of the Week mentions
🏅 Two @Kissimmee Player of the Match awards

The numbers do the talking as @loisepearson_x is named GA in the All Star VII after yet another impactful season for @thundernetball 👏 pic.twitter.com/Wvasc5BqyY

— Netball Super League (@NetballSL) July 8, 2024

“Even though I have been there for a while, I am still learning a lot from all the experienced players and the coaches.

“This season, I have played with two completely new shooters, and I have learnt a lot from playing with them and adapting to that.”

Pearson was twice named Player of the Match across a season where Thunder lost only twice, including in the Grand Final to Loughborough Lightning.

The 24-year-old sat on the sidelines for Thunder’s 2022 triumph before making her Grand Final debut in this year’s loss.

Even as the North West franchise’s game plan did not get off to the best start in that game, Pearson was the constant with Paige Reed and Elmere van der Berg rotated in the goal shooter bib to suit Karen Greig’s tactics.

This is emblematic of Pearson’s role throughout the season as she has learned to combine with both Reed and Van der Berg, while also sometimes filling in at wing attack.

Pearson passion 🫶

🏅 A standout performance from @loisepearson_x last Friday night saw her earn the @Kissimmee POTM.

Which player stood out to you over the weekend? 🤔 https://t.co/B3XZzUcyH4 pic.twitter.com/9VPreTB5Se

— Netball Super League (@NetballSL) May 23, 2024

She added: “It is just about being really adaptable between the two. With Elmere, I play more of a role out the front of the circle.

“Whereas with Paige, it is more that she drives out and I drive in and it is about being really smart and using the ball speed.

“I’ve got the tools there, it is now about being a bit more consistent and playing with a bit more confidence and hopefully these awards will give me that.”

Head coach Greig was full of praise for a player that she has known for several years.

Out of nowhere 🤯

👀 @loisepearson_x with a sneaky interception for @thundernetball as her side press on in the final quarter. #NSL2024 | #SeeUsNow pic.twitter.com/Tp59DeRO43

— Netball Super League (@NetballSL) February 17, 2024

She was particularly delighted to see Pearson elevated to the full-time Vitality Roses squad for the 2024-25 season.

She said: “Lois has been phenomenal for us, she has been in our pathway since she was 12, I’ve coached her since she was 13-14 years old.

“She is a real pro, and she is not one of these players that expects, she works really hard for what she does and hates the limelight.

“But I think we have seen her evolve and grow over these last two seasons into a starting player and experiences in Grand Finals and semi-finals will be invaluable for her as she pushes on to be a Rose.”

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