Howard sisters set to line up together for the first time in the Netball Super League

It will be a special occasion for NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball when they take on LexisNexis Dragons at the Canon Medical Arena in Round 4, as sisters Cassie and Sasha Howard will take to the court together in the Netball Super League (NSL) for the first time.

For Cassie, it will be a milestone occasion in more ways than one. The defender is set to make her 40th appearance for the NIC Rhinos, while younger sister Sasha has been elevated into the NSL squad for this game after Jaz Brown was ruled out due to injury.

The journey to this moment has been years in the making. The sisters first shared the court as youngsters, developing their love for the game side by side.

“I remember playing together at school when I was allowed to play up,” Sasha said. “We also had a year together in the Netball Premier League before Cassie moved up to Leeds. It’s really nice to now be back together in defence.”

Cassie added: “We’ve done a lot of training together this year with Sasha coming in as a training partner for the year, and I’ve really enjoyed having her in the environment. I’m really excited for this opportunity.”

Sasha admitted the moment still feels hard to believe saying: “It does feel surreal, but I’m super excited. I love playing next to Cassie.”

While the opportunity may feel unreal for Sasha, for Cassie it has long been part of the plan as she said: “That’s always been the dream. There are three of us sisters and we all play netball, so the ultimate goal is to have all three of us on court together one day.”

Growing up, competition between the two was fierce, but over the years that dynamic has changed. “We were always very competitive,” Cassie said. “But now it’s just about being supportive. I know how hard Sasha has worked for this opportunity and how ready she is.”

Sasha agreed: “We’re probably more competitive off the court now, especially with things like board games! But on court especially playing in the same defensive unit, it’s all about supporting each other and pushing each other.”

Netball has been a big part of family life for the Howards. Inspired by their mum who also played, the sisters have been engaged in the sport from a young age. “We grew up watching our mum play,” Sasha explained. “She was always putting us into different activities and encouraging us to work hard. That support has been huge.”

Cassie added: “We wouldn’t be here without our parents. They’ve sacrificed so much for us, and our wider family is really sporty too so it’s always been a part of our lives.”

With both players playing in defence, fans can expect a strong partnership built on understanding and communication. “I feel like we know each other’s games really well,” Cassie said. “We can be very direct with each other which helps.”

Sasha added: “Cassie loves to hunt the ball, that’s her strength, while I enjoy more of the one-on-one tracking. I think our styles complement each other nicely. Sometimes it’s just a nod to each other and we know what’s going on.”

As she reaches her 40th appearance for the club, Cassie was keen to thank those who have supported her so far. “I’m so grateful to the fans who have supported me throughout my time at the Rhinos,” she said. “You really feel that support, especially during tough moments, and it gives us the motivation to keep pushing forward.”

Ahead of the match, both sisters shared a few words for each other. Cassie encouraged her younger sister: “Good luck, Sash I know you’ve got this. You’ve worked so hard for this moment and you’re ready.”

Sasha replied: “You’re going to win a lot of ball as always. And 40 appearances is just the start, there are plenty more to come.”

NIC Leeds Rhinos take on LexisNexis Dragons in round 4 of the NSL at 19:00 with the NXT Gen squad starting the action at 16:30.

Tickets are available online at: tickets.rhinosnetball.co.uk/content until 10:00, Friday 20th March and can be purchased on the doors at Canon Medical Arena.

The match will be live on Sky Sports YouTube and Sky Sports Mix for UK viewers and available on NetballPass.com for international viewers.