Thomson signs on for second stint at helm of women’s team ahead of 2023 season

After leading the Northern Star Resources Goldfields Giants’ inaugural women’s team into their first year of the NBL1 women’s competition, head coach Robert Thomson returns for second season at the helm.

The women’s coach takes on his second year in the role following his prior three years at the helm of the Giants’ women’s team in the WABL competition, which finished top of the ladder in 2021.

On the season ahead, Thomson said the team is shaping up well and they’re on the right path to start off next year’s season better than the last.

“As the saying goes, you can be on the right path but if you sit down, you're going to get run over,” he said.

“We're on the right path, we had a good first up season, we finished eight and 12 and missed the playoffs but we're here to win.

“We certainly want to improve and at least make the playoffs this season – that would be our minimum goal and I think we can do that. We have recruited well, not only with our imports but with our local players too.

“They'll know what to expect straight up so hopefully we get a better start than we did last year, you know, going one and seven. We want to hit the floor running a bit earlier this season.

“So, yeah, we're looking for improvements. It’s going to take a little bit of time and we've lost a couple of players as well - a couple of local girls. Jaya (Scafidi) is going to Cockburn Cougars as she is moving to Perth to follow her studies and there are a couple other locals that decided not to continue but it will give some of our younger girls, like Kiriana (Hawaikirangi), another opportunity to step up and get more minutes, so that is pretty exciting”.

The women’s pre-season training began at the end of November with an open try-out on December 6.