Netball Super League 2025: Loughborough Lightning’s Shadin Van der Merwe says that a new rule of contact and competition will help to protect the player | Netball News
Loughborough Lightning’s Shadin Van der Merwe believes that a new rule of contact and competition in Netball will help the sums of the players to protect the players when calling for a suspension to a dangerous game.
Taylor McKevitt Manchester Thunder suffered a two-minute suspension after a late goal at Lightnin’s Nat Panagarry during the Loughborough 66-52 victory on Sunday.
Mentor Leeds Rhinos Geva has also been suspended after her hit on Birmingham Panthers’ Gabriella Marshall during their victory 71-63, asking questions about how much a new rule will affect teams.
“I think that with this new rule, Umbari will really be careful to protect the players, and that is really important, so sometimes the sums will have a different discretion when to call a suspension and when it was actually a really difficult or dangerous game,” said Lightnin’s Van der Merwe, who won the player-meth award after winning Thunder.
“Sometimes it’s hitting your back and it’s not always intentional, there are cases where you were in the same line in the end and the player gets taken off.
“I think the sums of really want to put that rule of suspension this season to make sure they have control over the game.
“It is to protect the players, and so that the defenders, or even any player, can suspend themselves, and only they can adapt and return from it.
“So much respect for the mentor that she managed to return to the field and have a completely clean game.”
Lightning will take the next London Pulse to Sir David Wallace Arena in Loughborough on Saturday at 6 pm and will hope to extend the winning ride.
“I think our defense and pulse will make this a really exciting match as it will turn the ball,” Van der Merwe added.
“I think if we look at different styles of the game, it will be interesting to see how clean and physical it can be.
“A lot of the balls will turn from both ends, so it will be a matter of who will be able to convert it.”
Meanwhile, Birmingham Panthers Sigrid Burger’s scorer was thinking about the loss of his team 71-63 of Leeds Rhinos after releasing a 21-15 lead in the first quarter.
“It was definitely a game we should have won. In the end, we made a lot of mistakes ourselves,” Burger said.
“Now it’s key, especially when a super shot is introduced, that when you have a lead, you really have to use and get into the following equipment.”
Panthers managed to achieve only six super shots during his match against Rhinos and missed Australian player Gabby Sinclair, who is known for his accuracy.
“We are really privileged to have a synclair with us, she is like a super recording and is currently returning to the game, but shows how much we miss,” Burger added.
“Having someone who hit it in Australia, she’s a great addition to the team and helps be able to use in the last moments of a quarter.
“Everyone gives him a crack in training and now we are installing it. Super shooting now plays a crucial role in the games.”
