Netball Super League 2025: Leeds Rhinos and London Mavericks win in opening round of new season

The Leeds Rhinos came from behind in their opening match of the new season to defeat the Birmingham Panthers, a new team in the Netball Super League, with a score of 71-63.

The Panthers led 38-36 at halftime, but the Rhinos capitalized on the new Super Shot rule – where shooters can earn double points for shots taken in a designated zone during the final five minutes of each quarter – to successfully turn the game around.

Rhinos shooter Joyce Mvula was named player of the match for her impressive display of shooting range, demonstrating accuracy both close to the net and from distance, contributing significantly to her team's victory.

The Panthers showed late signs of a comeback but were unable to close the gap sufficiently to earn a point – another new rule for this season, where the losing team receives a point if they lose by five goals or fewer. Birmingham are one of two new teams, along with the Nottingham Forest, to join the relaunched eight-team league, following the exclusion of Team Bath, Surrey Storm, Severn Stars, and Strathclyde Sirens.

Meanwhile, the London Mavericks also overturned a two-goal deficit at halftime to secure their first win of the 2025 season, defeating the Cardiff Dragons 65-56. These matches marked the opening of the 2025 season and the first games after the league's relaunch on its path towards professionalization. The first round of matches offered fans the first glimpse of the new rules, most notably the Super Shot – where shooters can score two points for shots taken from a designated zone within the shooting circle during the final five minutes of each quarter.

Alongside the point awarded to the losing team if they lose by less than five goals, it is hoped that the Super Shot will increase competitiveness and create more exciting matches for fans and players alike, adding a new tactical dimension to the game.