8 Things We Learnt From The Jamaica Series

Series recap: Statement made. Loud and clear.

Australia swept Jamaica 3–0 in the three Test series, and the Diamonds just got better as the series went on.

Test 1 finished 72–41.
Test 2 finished 73–41.
Test 3 blew out to 80–33.

That is a 31-goal win, then 32, then 47.

Across the three matches the Diamonds were suffocating defensively, ruthless in attack, and seemingly unaffected by substitutions. Jamaica, meanwhile, looked like a side navigating a period of change.

With the Commonwealth Games later this year, this was not just a series. It was a live trial.

So what did we learn?

1. Cara Koenen has got her mojo back

Oh, she is BACK.

After looking hesitant in recent Diamonds appearances, particularly while Sophie Garbin has been building into a dominant, physical strike shooter, Cara Koenen looked like herself again.

By that I mean the clever baseline movement, the ability to create space where there seems to be none, the soft hands, the quiet confidence under the post.

There is something about Koenen when she is playing freely. She glides along the baseline, then appears exactly where the ball needs her to be. In this series her timing looked instinctive again and her connection with the midcourt felt sharp.

More importantly, she looked like she has her confidence back.

For goal keepers across Suncorp Super Netball, this should be noted. When she pulls on the yellow dress for the Lightning this season, she will be doing so with renewed spark.

And just quietly, this makes the GS conversation far more interesting than it was a few months ago.

2. Jamaica struggled without their big guns

There is no way to ignore this one.

Jamaica were without Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, who is pregnant and due in the coming months. Romelda Aiken-George retired from all netball at the end of 2025, although she has since returned at the Fever as a replacement for Jhaniele. Jodi-Ann Ward is recovering from an ACL rupture, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey is returning from the birth of her first child, and Shimona Nelson made herself unavailable for this series. Despite being in the squad for this series, Kadie-Ann Dehaney had managed minutes and therefore was largely missed.

That group has formed the backbone of the Sunshine Girls for years. They have carried the physical presence in both circles, the aerial dominance, the defensive intimidation and the attacking stability. Between them they have amassed hundreds of caps and anchored Jamaica through World Cups and Commonwealth Games campaigns.

Without them, Jamaica looked young and at times uncertain.

They struggled to convert centre passes cleanly under sustained pressure. Their finishing was inconsistent. Their trademark flair was there in patches but not across four quarters. Against the Diamonds in Australia, that is a very difficult place to be.

The key question now is what this means for the Commonwealth Games. Who returns, and in what condition? Shamera will have most (or all) of the SSN season under her belt, so should be back in her groove and will be integral. Will Ward be ready to step back into the intensity of international netball? How does Jamaica restructure their attack without Fowler’s gravitational pull under the post? And what does the future hold for Shimona Nelson?

This series felt like a reset moment. The next few months will be critical to Jamaica retaining their current World Ranking of 3rd, as England and South Africa breathe down their necks.

3. There are some green shoots for Jamaica

It wasn’t all bleak - some players stood up and took responsibility.

Shanice Beckford worked tirelessly. In GA she carried a high shooting load while also being Jamaica’s primary centre pass receiver. She covered enormous ground in the goal third, constantly trying to generate movement and create options. She demanded the ball, and was evasive as ever - and accurate on the shot (particularly in Game 1, with 17/18 at 95%).

Latanya Wilson was, as always, a pest (in the best possible way!). Across all three Tests she was Jamaica’s most consistent performer. Strong on the body, relentless in the contest and unwilling to let standards drop regardless of the scoreboard. She simply competes every time she steps on court - the Sunshine Girls need more of that.

Roxanna McLean, Gezelle Allison and Khadijah Williams all had moments that hinted at genuine potential. There were intercepts, creative feeds and flashes of attacking instinct. The challenge now is consistency - International netball demands sustained impact, not just moments.

The foundations are there, but the cohesion and composure are still developing.

4. All hail Queen Liz

Liz Watson notched up 100 Tests in the final game of the series, becoming the first midcourter in Diamonds history to hit triple figures - an extraordinary achievement.

Playing in the midcourt is relentless. The physical demand, the transition load, the responsibility to connect both ends of the court for sixty minutes - it’s not for the weak. To sustain that at world-class level for 100 matches speaks to her professionalism, tenacity and endurance.

She didn’t just cruise through her 98th, 99th and 100th test matches, she absolutely dominated.

She controlled pace, led the feeds across the series, picked up intercepts and continued to drive both attacking and defensive transition. She remains arguably the best wing attack in the world.

With the Commonwealth Games this year and the World Cup in 2027, the all-time Diamonds caps record of 122 (currently held by another Queen Liz - Ellis) suddenly looks within reach.

We are watching one of the greats continue to build her legacy.

5. The Diamonds WA position is secure

Here is the scary part for everyone else - while Liz Watson is still at the peak of her powers, the next generation is already emerging.

Georgie Horjus was outstanding in this series. Her vision, decision-making and court craft stood out. She played wing attack, swung into goal attack and changed the pace when required. She brought creativity without losing control, which is not an easy balance at this level.

What is most impressive about Horjus is that she does not just deliver the ball - she creates space and sees gaps others do not. She shifts defensive structures and is accurate on the shot when in the circle.

Although she did not feature in this series, Alice Teague-Neeld continues to build a strong domestic case for the position as well. With 3 test caps to her name, that number will surely grow over the next few years.

The Diamonds wing attack pipeline looks very healthy.

6. The shooter conundrum

This was the final international hit-out before Commonwealth Games selection, and the headache for Stacey Marinkovich is real.

At goal shooter, Sophie Garbin has been consistent and deadly. Physical, strong in the hold, commanding in the air. Cara Koenen, meanwhile, has rediscovered her confidence and brings movement, timing and baseline craft.

They are very different styles - both effective, and both seemed to have booked their tickets to Glasgow.

At goal attack, Kiera Austin remains rock solid - she is composed, intelligent and has a great defensive game for an attacker. Sophie Dwyer offers an effective change of style and is hugely accurate on the shot from anywhere in the circle. Georgie Horjus can swing into goal attack and change the rhythm of a game completely.

Flexibility has clearly been a priority for Marinkovich, and she’s made no secret of that. Austin can play wing attack if required, Horjus can cover wing attack and goal attack. That versatility opens up structural options elsewhere. While Dwyer can swing into GS if really needed, the Diamonds already have two superstars there.

Does Horjus get selected primarily as a shooter, allowing space for a specialist midcourter such as Amy Parmenter or Hannah Mundy? Or does Dwyer travel as a dedicated goal attack, with Horjus strengthening the midcourt depth?

For me, this is the biggest selection challenge heading into Glasgow.

7. Australia’s depth is frightening

In news to no-one: Australia is spoilt for netball talent. However, it does warrant recognising this as we head into another international tournament. One of the understated takeaways from this series was how confidently the Diamonds made substitutions.

Combinations were tested. Players were switched. The standard barely dipped.

When you have a bench that at times includes players like Jo Weston, Liz Watson, Courtney Bruce, Kiera Austin, and Jamie-Lee Price it’s no secret that the depth of the talent in Australia is staggering. Add to that Diamonds squad members like Amy Parmenter, Ash Ervin, Hannah Mundy and Alice Teague-Neeld and Stacey Marinkovich has a wealth of riches to choose from.

There’s more to it than just having a team packed with talent - the secret sauce is how they gel, how they read each other, how they combine on and off-court - and it’s clear that there’s something very special in the Diamonds environment that translates to success.

The ability to make changes without losing momentum - or making changes to boost momentum - is what separates good teams from tournament winners. If injury strikes or the current plan isn’t working at the Commonwealth Games, the Diamonds look prepared.

8. Defensive pressure still wins championships

Ultimately, the defining feature of the series was Australia’s defensive pressure.

As a unit of 7 players they generated turnovers consistently and, crucially, converted them efficiently. Jamaica were able to create opportunities at times but struggled to turn them into scoreboard pressure. Australia did not waste theirs.

It was clinical and it was controlled.

And that wins tournaments.

So what else did we learn?

Is there space for squad players like Parmenter or Teague-Neeld for Glasgow?
Has Matilda Garrett stamped her claim on the GD bib in Sunday Aryang’s absence?
How different does this matchup look if Shamera and Jodi-Ann return fully fit?
Will we see Shimona suit up for the Sunshine Girls again?
And how concerned should Jamaica be ahead of the Commonwealth Games?

As we wrap up international netball for a few months, I would love to know:
Who is locked into your Commonwealth Games 12?