On the eve of the Vitality Netball Superleague 'Season Opener' weekend, Natalie Panagarry discusses how Loughborough Lighting will lean into the pressure of being the defending champions.
The 2022 season marks Panagarry's sixth with Loughborough Lightning, but it will be her first leading a side that are aiming to defend their title.
After suffering Grand Final heartbreak in 2008, 2017 and 2018 - with all three finals being lost by just four goals - Lightning banished their demons in June 2021 and beat Team Bath Netball by 17 goals.
"We wanted to do it for the club, we've never done it before," Beth Cobden said at the time. "For the girls who have been here for years and the coaches, we've made history for Loughborough."
With the Superleague trophy now having Lightning's name on it, they're in a position that Panagarry is relishing.
I'm excited to be the champions and for us to have that target on our backs," she said to Sky Sports' Hannah Wilkes. "For me, that's what I want. It's a privilege to get in that position.
We've worked so hard to be in this position now, falling short for all of those seasons and years before. We've wanted to make sure that we are the ones with the trophy and other people are trying to take it off us.
