Netball Super League Grand Final: Manchester Thunder's Karen Greig looks to cement legacy with win over London Pulse
Karen Greig is looking to add to Manchester's plethora of silverware when her Thunder side take on the London Pulse at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester; Watch the Pulse vs Thunder Grand Final live on Sky Sports
Wednesday 17 June 2026 16:03, UK
The AO Manchester Thunder face the London Pulse in the Netball Super League Grand Final - and a title win on home soil is in touching distance for Karen Greig and her side.
Since her appointment as Thunder director and CEO in 2016, she has made three Grand Finals and won two titles - including an unbeaten league campaign in 2022 - but a title win in front of a home crowd at the Co-op Live Arena could be her crowning achievement.
They face a familiar foe in the Pulse. The Thunder have beaten Sam Bird's side on two out of three occasions this season, most recently beating them 60-56 in the major semi-final just under two weeks ago - setting up a tantalising title decider between undoubtedly the league's two best teams.
A win for Greig, then, begs the question - would a third title in her 10-year tenure make her Manchester's most successful coach?
"Pep [Guardiola] probably was [the most successful], wasn't he? He left after 10 years," Greig told Sky Sports. "But Manchester clubs this season have had a really, really successful year.
"[Manchester] City didn't quite get over the line in the league, but they won a couple of trophies - the FA Cup - and the women also won in the league and the cup.
"So I'm like, come on, guys, we've got to get amongst that silverware - and hopefully we can.
"I don't think I'd be the most successful coach in Manchester, but hopefully we'll add more to the legacy that our city brings."
Greig, though, knows the challenge that a reinvigorated Pulse side will pose, with her opponents having beaten the Loughborough Lightning 60-56 in the Preliminary final.
"That's the best I've seen Pulse play for a long time this season [against the Lightning]. There have been sticky points for them, and I really think they bought their A-game on Saturday.
"I thought they were, they were brilliant in attack and in defence.
"I do think it's going to be a game of chess.
"I've just got to be smart with how we're operating, how we're taking their lines, to not giving them the opportunities to run at things.
"We'll throw a couple of tweaks in there, but nothing outrageous, as you know, we want the players to be comfortable with how we're operating."
Bird: I'm backing us
After the Pulse's latest loss against the Thunder, head coach Bird gave a damning verdict on a "terrible" performance from her side - but her harsh words seem to have acted as a launchpad for their subsequent two wins to book their place in the Grand Final.
"I had so many messages of thank you for being authentic - but all I'm ever bothered about is really about how we represent the club and getting the most out of our athletes in the club.
"The leaders [in the dressing room] that you would expect to stand up said 'we know that wasn't good enough'. I think it's really important when it comes from the players.
"The fact that they knew that they could perform better was just really encouraging to me.
"I just knew then that we would be putting our right foot forward for the Loughborough game, and so it proved."
The reigning champion Pulse have been there and done it. Even after two straight losses to the Thunder - and a hostile Manchester crowd in the final - Bird is confident in her team's ability to get over the line.
"We want to make sure we're able to play the game we can play, and when we're on form - I'm backing us.
"If we can be nice and tidy and really respond well to the umpiring, not let the occasion overwhelm how we want to play, then I think it should be a cracking game."
Watch the Netball Super League Grand Final live on Sky Sports. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺
