‘Dog eat dog’ for contracts in revamped Netball Super League

Cardiff finish the NSL season in eighth place, having won six of their 18 games this season and drawing two more.

That tally was far behind the likes of Manchester Thunder and London Pulse, but it marked a first season since 2019 when the Dragons did not finish in the bottom two.

The quality on the court and the professionalism off it have increased this season, with the side on the up as they go into the new NSL.

“The season as a whole has been a mixed bag, we’ve had some really good results and a couple which have got away from us,” said Jones.

“There have been games where we have played above ourselves and then games that have slipped away and we’ve rued missed opportunities.

“It was a fantastic way for us to finish, we couldn’t have wished for a better performance here in Cardiff, it was an amazing crowd.

“Hopefully it is the start of something special.

“To think about how far this club has come from when I first played here 10 years ago, to be packing out the Utilita Arena in Cardiff is amazing.”

Jones spent the majority of Cardiff’s final home game matched up with friend and Welsh Feathers team-mate Bethan Dyke.

Jones said that her thoughts, and those of the rest of the Dragons players, were with their Team Bath opponents despite the rivalry on the court over the years.

“Our emotion at the end of the game was for Team Bath and the other teams who have missed out going forward,” added Jones.

“We are hugely privileged that we were the last team to play them here today.

“They are such an iconic club. They are like the Manchester United of the Premier League – that’s the equivalent of what Team Bath are to the Super League.

“I wish all those players, in whatever they do next, all the best.”