Tipped as one of the competition's likely improvers after finishing second-last in 2022, the Thunderbirds endured patches of indifference throughout the first half before dominating the Firebirds 32-16 after half-time. The Giants showed some resolve in the fourth stanza but were ultimately undone by lopsided penalty (64-33), turnover (29-15) and rebounding (2-9) counts. Koenen drained 16 without a miss in the third term to help extend the Lightning's buffer to 48-34 at three-quarter time, a lead which was never in danger of being overhauled. Up 16-13 at quarter-time, the Lightning pulled ahead 32-22 at half-time after dominating the second period 16-9. The visitors, marshalled by Price, briefly stole the lead on an 8-1 run late in the first term as Matisse Letherbarrow temporarily broke free of Dehaney, before the Lightning regained control. In Harten's absence, Jamie-Lee Price stepped into the role of acting captain and - repeatedly and inspirationally - played a lone hand in trying to drag the Giants back into the game.
The Giants - who reached the preliminary final stage last season - were without injured skipper Jo Harten, who was incredibly missing her first ever game for the club.
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