Thunderbolts 'keen to rip in' against Sydney Comets in round one

Although coach Mitch Balderston believes they "couldn't have pulled a harder team to start the season" against, he said the Thunderbolts are eager to get their inaugural Youth League campaign underway.

"The guys are really keen to rip in and see how they position themselves in the league," Balderston said.

"We'll soon know on Saturday night if we can compete and play. The Sydney Comets have won this title numerous times, so if we're competing on Saturday night, then we know we're in the hunt for a good season."

The Thunderbolts will play in the Youth League 2 competition this year, as only a couple of players over the age limit of 24 turned up to trials and the Tamworth Netball Association saw the likely youth of the side as an opportunity to do some rebuilding.

But the team will be aided in its debut outing of the season by the opportunity to play in front of home fans at the Tamworth Sports Dome.

"We're super-excited to be back in front of the home crowd and back at the sports dome," Balderston said.

"That was a big point for our guys to get to play here in Tamworth, because there was a discussion early on that a lot of our games would be held in Sydney. But Basketball NSW looked after us there an allowed us to be a venue as well, which is great."

Though the team is very young and relatively inexperienced at representative level, Balderston has high hopes for the Thunderbolts this year and said they "want to win".

If the team is to produce its best results, the coach expects two players to be key performers.

"Matt Corney is one of our big guys, he's also the oldest in the team." Balderston said.

"This'll be his final year in the Youth League program ... and we're expecting big things from him.

"Bailey Keech, whose parents used to play for the Thunderbolts many years ago, he's one of our younger up-and-comers and can play really well."

The Tamworth Thunderbolts will take on the Sydney Comets in round one of the 2022 Waratah Youth League 2 competition on Saturday, March 26, from 6pm at the Tamworth Sports Dome.

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