Nottingham Forest Netball ended their inaugural Netball Super League season on a high, with a convincing 80–61 victory over Leeds Rhinos.
In front of an energetic home crowd, the Reds demonstrated grit, squad depth, and a glimpse of what’s to come.
After the match, Head Coach Chelsea Pitman and Player of the Match Brie Grierson reflected on the performance, the season, and their future aspirations.
"Every single person did their job.
“Every single person had the opportunity on court and everyone did their job, so I’m a pretty happy coach.”
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The Reds were trailing in the first quarter and had to dig deep to turn things around. Pitman highlighted the pivotal moment in the first half:
“The intensity needed to lift. Clinically and structurally we were doing really well and we were winning, but we just needed to go up another gear – and the girls did exactly that.”
A standout moment for Pitman came in the second half when Faridah Kadondi was subbed on in defence – a player who has had limited court time this season.
“I’m so proud of Faridah coming on. I know she hasn’t seen much court this season. Jayda had an amazing season herself. But Faridah came on and disrupted and did exactly what we asked of her.”
Chelsea Pitman - Forest Netball v Leeds Rhinos - 15062025
Chelsea Pitman - Forest Netball v Leeds Rhinos - 15062025
Player of the Match, Brie Grierson was key in helping Forest shift momentum after a shaky first quarter. Speaking after the game, she acknowledged the slow start:
“We had a slow start, so obviously we were disappointed in that – but we were so happy to grind out the win. And for our last game, it was amazing.”
The team’s ability to regroup and dominate the second and third quarters was a testament to the culture and fight Forest have built in just one season.
While the victory was sweet, there was a lingering feeling of what could have been with Forest narrowly missing out on a top-four finish and a play-off spot in their debut season. For Chelsea Pitman, the message is clear heading into next year:
“Absolutely – I think anyone who’s in elite sport says they just wanna participate and be part of it. But we definitely want to compete, and we definitely want to have the opportunity to be in finals and lift that such a wonderful trophy.
"We don’t want to be top five. We want to be top two."
The team’s hunger and ambition were echoed across the squad as they look to build on the foundation of a successful first campaign. Speaking on the disappointment of missing out on playoffs, Grierson summed it up powerfully:
“Missing out on last week’s win was bittersweet. But we know that we deserve to be in the playoffs, so I think it’s about having a rest and coming back stronger – because we don’t want to be in the top five. We want to be top two.”
Season One for Nottingham Forest Netball may be over, but it’s clear they’re just getting started. With rising stars, leadership on and off the court, Forest will return in 2026 not just to compete — but to contend.
Forest Netball v Leeds Rhinos
Forest Netball v Leeds Rhinos