A late comeback upset of 2025 grand finalists West Coast Fever wasn't to be, but Donnell Wallam looked right at home in her Super Netball return for the Sunshine Coast Lightning on Sunday.
Surviving a frenzied dying stages, the Fever claimed a 68-65 win to start the year.
The Noongar shooter ran out with her new club, and in a new-look circle up front, in Boorloo / Perth for the final fixture of round one after spending the 2025 season in Aotearoa / New Zealand.
She finshed with 43 goals from 49 shots, five from 13 super shots in addition, after the Lightning forced a nervous finish for the Fever in front of a packed home crowd.
Wallam's final stats took a hit through desperate two-point super shot attempts within a manic end as her side clawed back at a healthy lead for the hosts.
The Fever led by as many as 12 — led by new inclusion and veteran Romelda Aiken-George in GS, with five minutes on the clock.
Aiken-George stepped out of retirement to sign with the club as replacement for six-time league player of the year and Jamaica teammate Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, who's expecting a child.
It's one of more than half a dozen changes made to the Fever's playing group after heartbreak in last year's grand final.
Wallam herself comes in as a fresh face at the Lightning, slotting in as their no.1 shooter with Australian Diamond Cara Koenan at goal attack following the retirement of Stephanie Fretwell.
Millimetres were all that separated Wallam from sinking a string of super shots within a desperate late fightback into the contest, blowing out her percentage for the match in what was a strong return to Super Netball.
The Lightning had put Fever hearts in mouths in any case, Wallam and Koenan combining to cut the margin back down to three points with the home side able to hold on.
Within the comeback attempt was a string of six straight misses from long range hitting the wrong side of the rim - two points being the necessity for any chance of flying home winners.
The final result remained up for grabs into the final minute, the Lightning needing a super shot with the centre pass in their favour, though couldn't snatch the contest.
Wallam partners with Wakka Wakka midcourter Gemma Mi Mi at the Lightning for this season.
"I'm really excited to return to SSN next season, I feel like I still have more to give and more to learn from the league," Wallam said on signing with the Lightning in August.
"Lightning have a good mix of experience and youth and I'm looking forward to seeing how I fit into the team. I'm also loving the idea of living so close to the beach again.
"I play with a lot of passion and flare, and I'm excited to showcase that on the SSN stage again and in front of Lightning's passionate home crowd at UniSC Arena."
Following turbulent times for the club broadly in 2024, Wallam made the move to Aotearoa with ANZ Premiership side Northern Mystics, helping the club to the 2025 grand final, though unsuccessful.
Wallam finished her season in Auckland having shot 313 goals at 86.9 per cent.
Her season was interrupted with injury, before returning later in the year.
