NSL 2024: Sam Bird’s Mid Season Review

With nine rounds in the book, London Pulse have reached the halfway point of the Netball Superleague season and sit third in the table, well positioned to book a place in the top four for a third successive season.

With away trips to Manchester Thunder, Loughborough Lightning and Severn Stars on the horizon it promises to be a dramatic nine rounds of action.

We asked head coach and CEO Sam Bird for her review of the season so far, and what to expect in the weeks to come.

“I never, ever want to lose a game and whilst we’ve lost two out of the nine, winning seven I will take.

“It is important for us to remember that it is a really high achievement…there are only two other teams that have won eight games, so it is to be celebrated and recognised that we are doing well.

“For us the second half of the season will be looking at what our away form is like against those top teams as well. We played Thunder at a neutral venue, but the other two we played at home, we had a close humdinger of a win against Loughborough.

“It is making sure we do all the extra preparation that is required to really take on those teams, away from home with hostile crowds – especially when you go to Thunder. Stars also bring big numbers to cheer the home team.

“We are looking ahead to how we manage those games, that will be a test for what we are going to do in the play-offs, which remains our target.

RISING EXPECTATION

“It is new for us to deal with being a team that is expected to be at the top of the table, we are still new kids on the block in the Superleague and we have made some huge strides in a very short space of time.

“But I would like to think those other teams see us as a serious competitor and not an easy fixture.

“We are about winning through strong performance, not just winning for winning’s sake, but performing well so that we win.

PRIDE IN OUR PATHWAY

“We have just finished off the NPL for our 21s, 19s and 17s. 19s were champions again, 17s took silver. Our U21 squad has some outstanding talent too, some of which has broken into the NSL side this season. We have a really strong U15 group, so my belief in our pathway and the exciting development within that to push the seniors stands strong.

“We are a difficult club to play against across the board and we want to continue to be that. We are demanding on the pathway ambition but that is ultimately going to lead to our success at Superleague level.

“Knowing that you have strong players in your pathway pipeline that understand the expectations of the team and of themselves, the work rate that is required, the commitment that is required. Those are things away from the court that people don’t always see, but they put them in a position to be ready to shine and help the team to perform.

“We have such a strong and committed pathway lead in Rowena, and the coaches that work with her. We are very much all on the same page, and the ideology that runs through the senior team also runs through all our pathway teams.

“The coaches know the style we want to play, the ambition we have, they know not to fear losing. We don’t play in a conservative way- we try attack and to win games – the ambition is always there.

MORE TO COME FROM NEW FACES

“It is going to be a mix of continuing to take from training what our new players have brought and allow them to be confident to deliver in a match. They are not new players now, they are part of a Pulse team that is performing well at training and are knocking on the door to demand more court time.

“That is really important, as are the connections that have been made on and off the court, and that is showing in training.

“I feel that we now have more genuine options to bring on at the right time, we always want to bring people on to thrive in the situation and not feel under pressure, so we will pick the right moments to enable those players to shine but also stick to the over-riding purpose which is to win our matches and perform well.

TARGETS AND AMBITIONS

“The ambition remains to go one better. Whilst it is clear that is going to be hard, because Thunder and Lightning are playing well, Severn Stars are still in the mix and other teams are quite capable of a stronger second half of the season.

“That is the point, nothing worth having is easy. The ambition stays the same for us, we believe we have got another nine games to improve and be ready for those play-offs.

“It’s stepping up now. Knowing that we can we are in a good position now to make the top four.

“We all believe we can do it, but we know nobody is going to give a championship to us.

“We’ve seen how Thunder and Loughborough can be absolutely ruthless and, on their day, win big, but we have shown we can close out tight matches such as when we beat Loughborough in round 3, and Saracens in Round 9. We are growing into a very dangerous side.