Advertisement

Giants take action over 'disgraceful' Super Netball send-off

Julie Fitzgerald, pictured here fuming after Kristiana Manu'a was sent off.
Julie Fitzgerald says the Giants will met with Super Netball officials over Kristiana Manu'a's send-off. Image: Channel Nine

The Giants will meet with Super Netball officials seeking clarification over Kristiana Manu'a’s send-off against Sunshine Coast on Wednesday night.

Manu’a became the league’s first player ever sent off in the Giants’ 58-57 loss to the Lightning.

Manu'a, a Diamonds hopeful and the Giants' vice-captain, was firstly warned for rough play and then removed during the third quarter for two minutes for a second offence.

‘DISGUSTING’: Uproar over newspaper's 'sexist' netball review

‘NETBALL IS DEAD’: Aussie fans fume over new rule change

A collision with Giants wing attack Laura Scherian early in the final quarter was deemed by umpire Andrea Booth to be a third offence and she was sent off, leaving the Giants with six players for more than nine minutes of the match.

With only one defender left in the goal circle, their seven-goal lead dwindled and resulted in a one-goal loss.

Commentators and fans were left fuming over the controversial call, with Sue Gaudion labelling it “disgraceful”.

On Thursday afternoon, coach Julie Fitzgerald said the Giants will seek clarification over the send-off and if the 23-year-old needed to adjust her game.

Despite the blow to their season with the team left in sixth spot, Fitzgerald didn’t expect any changes to the result.

“I've been around long enough to know that no-one will take any further action, the score is the score and that's where it stands,” Fitzgerald said.

“We played for almost 10 minutes with six players on the court and I'm really proud of the discipline they showed to try and keep that game under control for that length of time.”

Fitzgerald, who is the most capped coach in the history of the national netball competition, said she’d never seen a send-off and believed the offence needed to be something “completely out of the box” to warrant it.

Kristiana Manu'a, pictured here in action for the Giants in Super Netball.
Kristiana Manu'a in action for the Giants in Super Netball. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Netball world erupts over ‘disgraceful’ moment

Former Australian stars-turned-commentators Liz Ellis and Catherine Cox were among those to criticise the umpires' interpretation of “rough play”, saying neither act really warranted such a penalty.

“The first one was definitely a good contest and the history was that there was the warning before, so that was what happened there,” Cox said.

“The second one looked like clean ball, but I think by that stage one of the umpire's minds might have been swayed just a little bit by what had just taken place.”

Gaudion said: “We’re here to have an opinion on things. I’m going to give you one: as far as I’m concerned I think it’s disgraceful.”

“It shouldn’t have happened. I believe Kristiana Manu’a’s intent was for the ball only. It was the same in the moment before.”

Cox added: “We were all dumbfounded because it’s not happened before in a game, let alone happen twice - and the end result is a complete shift because of what happened.

“One hundred per cent there was nothing wrong with either of those contests. She was going for the ball and she’s not that kind of player.”

There was also major uproar on social media from players and fans.

with AAP