Manchester Thunder clinched a record‑equalling fifth Netball Super League title with a 54-51 win over London Pulse on Saturday. The Grand Final hung at 51‑51 with under a minute left before Australian import Sophie Fawns slotted the decisive shot. Coach Tamsin Greenway called the performance “an absolute joy to watch” for the live Off The Court podcast today now.

Fawns finished with 18 points, scoring eight of ten attempts inside the one‑point zone and five of eight super‑shots, including the game‑winning two‑pointer. England star Tracey Neville praised her on podcast, saying the crowd lifted the moment she entered and that her presence on centre pass opened floor for play. The duo of Fawns and Lois Pearson accelerated Thunder’s tempo.

Fawns said Australian imports face unspoken expectations to dominate, but Thunder coach Karen Greig told her “don’t worry, just enjoy netball,” easing the pressure. She described moving from Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball to England as the best career decision, noting the need to sustain 60‑minute intensity rather than short bursts. Her success underlines the league’s growing reliance on overseas talent.