Renae Ingles stuns in 'unreal' Super Netball comeback

Netball fans have been captivated by Renae Ingles' surprise return to the netball court for Collingwood in the final round of the Super Netball season last weekend.

Ingles, who helped Australia to gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 World Cup, was asked to fill in for Collingwood as a Covid-19 replacement on late notice.

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It was a high-stakes call-up for the 35-year-old, with Collingwood needing to either win outright against the Melbourne Vixens or lose by two points or fewer in order to secure the final place in the finals.

She had earlier made her return to the court for the first time since retiring in 2019 when she played for the Casey Demons in the Victorian Netball League last week.

Ingles, along with NBA star and Olympic bronze medallist husband Joe Ingles, have returned to Australia during the NBA off-season as Joe rehabilitates from a torn ACL suffered last season.

The former Diamonds star showed that the time away from the court hadn't robbed her of any of her underlying skill or talent, throwing a pinpoint assist to goal shooter Shimona Nelson in the second quarter.

Fox commentator and Ingles' former Diamonds teammate Laura Geitz told NewsCorp it was a vintage display from Ingles.

“She was always lethal at that,” Geitz said.

“That was her thing when she played, that’s what she does. And just the confidence to do that having not been in the game for so long to come in and have that confidence and ability to do that is pretty amazing.”

For her part, Ingles was simply thrilled to be back on the court - although she said her knees were feeling the effects of the strenuous competition after such a long time out of the game.

She took to Twitter to declare she was feeling pretty sore.

"Today, both of my achillies tendons are reminding me that they too, are 35 years old and haven’t played netball in 3 years," she wrote, to the amusement of fans.

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Fortunately for the Magpies, Ingles' presence helped them just barely secure that last finals spot, after the Vixens claimed a narrow 56-54 win.

Speaking to Fox Sports after the game, Ingles said it had been a real excitement to take to the Super Netball court.

“No one’s more blown away or surprised (than me), I’ll tell you that, but it’s so great to be here,” Ingles said.

“Two Melbourne teams, Melbourne crowd, family here. It doesn’t get much more exciting than that.”

Joe Ingles also took to Twitter after the game to pay tribute not only to Renee's efforts over the weekend, but to thank her for all the scarifices she had made in order for him to pursue his NBA dream.

He said it had been exciting to get to watch her back on court.

“We have been stuck in the states for 3 years with Covid + restrictions getting in,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Renae is always fit, but netball fitness is so different to marathon, triathlon or anything else she did since retirement.

“Renae HAS NOT TOUCHED A NETBALL, until we landed Monday (June) 6th & she played VNL on the 8th. Full game in centre.

“24 hours before a huge (Super Netball) game she gets a call from Collingwood to play & help them fight for a finals spot. Against her old team.

“Decides to play, literally fits in and kills it like she never left the game.

“Let’s not also forget she has 3 kids, 4 if including me. She puts the kids & I first everyday of the week, she has the kids ready & busy every single day, she makes sure our kids unbelievably happy everyday, she has put everything aside to make sure I can rehab as much as I need to daily. She’s clearly the rock of this family...All of this with a smile on her face at the end of the day!

“You are unreal Renae. I am so proud.

“You are an inspiration to our family & so many people around the world. Keep being you.”

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